Hope Grows — Rose Window crafted by Siobhan Lynch - Stained Glass, Teresa Seaton -Stained Glass, John Highley - Mosaic Glass, Joe Speck - Fused Glass, John Martin - Painted Stained Glass & Wooden Frame
Welcome to another intriguing edition of Small Change where we discuss issues not covered in-depth by mainstream media.
Today I’m joined by Siobhan Lynch, who loves to work with glass to shape the ‘Dance of Light’ into the expression of a story – and Siobhan says, there’s always a story!
Lynch wasn’t always a glass artist. At university she studied science and housing and community planning, worked as a legal secretary and spent several years working as a radio producer. And, like many of us, Lynch was a single mom.
That meant Lynch was juggling odd hours that didn’t always align with standardized childcare and eventually, the amalgamation of the radio industry became the impetus to make another career change. It was after taking an interest class in stained glass — something she claims didn’t appeal to her — that Lynch was hooked.
Lynch uses the copper foil method to make her brilliant glass art. She selects each piece of glass with real intention so that it weaves texture, colour and pattern into the piece ensuring light dances as it travels through the piece.
Lynch is really driven by the desire to define and capture the dance in order to evoke mood and movement through her non-traditional stained glass.
Flowing Quartet by Siobhan Lynch featured in the Burlington Sculpture Tour in Spencer Smith Park, May 2024
In 2012, Lynch co-founded the artist-run collective, Artistic Group of Glass (AGOG) with Tereasa Seaton – who also works with copper foiling and wire; John Highley – who makes glass mosaics; Joe Speck – who fuses glass; John Storey — leaded glass; and later, John Martin – creator of painted glass.
AGOG encourages members to a merge traditional techniques with contemporary themes, processes and interpretations.
AGOG achieved all of those goals when they created a stunning traditional Rose Window using themes from nature and the seasons and incorporating Celtic knots — a Christian symbol representing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but for ancient Celts these knots represented the feminine powers of Maiden, Mother and Crone.
Lynch’s Celtic knots, along with Seaton’s use of spun wire, really anchors Highley’s mosaics, Speck’s fused glass and Martin’s painted glass.
I remember seeing the six-foot wooden frame along with Martin’s painting of the little white mouse with sheaths of wheat at Seaton’s studio before the pandemic.
So, I was really excited to see the finished piece at the Hamilton Farmer’s Market this past June as part of Hamilton Arts Week where Lynch and Highley were showcasing their own fabulous pieces as well.
Lynch and I discuss how the idea for AGOGs Rose Window eventually became a reality – it really is an impressive, intricate and stunning piece of work.
We also discuss her glass career and how her art, and her business, have evolved over time.
Lynch shares some sound advice for other artists trying to make a living from their art and then, we take a look at what the future holds for Lynch.
This is a happy and engaging podcast that provides a much needed break from the usual doom and gloom reality of living in Ontario under an authoritarian Ford government. So, make the time to get to know Lynch, her fabulous glass work and her gift of story telling.
Perpetual Motion by Siobhan Lynch
Siobhan Lynch Glass Studio: 191 Grosvenor Avenue North, Hamilton, ON LBL 7T1 Phone: 289-260-8246
Lynch also teaches at Wink Glass Studio: 1165 Cannon Street East,Hamilton, ON Phone: 365-925-0167 info@winkglass.ca
Website: siobhanlynchglass.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siobhanlynchglass/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SLynchGlass
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SiobhanLynchStainedGlass/
Youtube: siobhanlynch317
Siobhan Lynch Photo credit: Doreen Nicoll
Almanac by Siobhan Lynch Photo credit: Doreen Nicoll
Thanks to everyone who read today’s article and listened to my podcast. With your continued support, a little Nicoll can make a lot of change.
Music: Real Estate by UNIVERSFIELD is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License. freemusicarchive.org.
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Glass artist Siobhan Lynch weaves stories through her innovative work