Susan Gott
Susan earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in sculptural glass from Kent State University, and has also studied at Pilchuck, Haystack, Arrowmont, and Penland Schools.She has worked with glass for over 20 years and specialize in cast glass to create one-of -a kind sculptures for commissions and individual galleries. Her glass can be found in public, private, corporate collections, in exhibitions at galleries and museums. Most recently, She has a one-person exhibit at the Polk Museum of Art in Lakeland, Florida.

About the Work
Susan's sculptural glass embodies an interest in mythological imagery, symbolism, and traditions from ancient cultures. She study these symbols and philosophies to develop ideas and create a new mythos, using glass as a sculptural medium. Ancient people recognized the cycles of life, of the moon, crops, and seasons through rituals such as making art, storytelling and dancing.

Through drawing and visual abstraction, Susan is able to find new meaning, develop a vision, and explore new directions. The unfolding of the imagery and the creation of this art work embraces the essence of the feminine and the creative process becomes her ritual. The resulting sculptures in glass are a visual re--presentation of the cycles of life. These investigations have opened new sources of inspiration for her work and strengthened a connection between her art and that which is timeless.

The Process
The art works evolve from research and drawings as she creates sculptures using one or more techniques for mold making, glass casting, or hot glass manipulation. Susan frequently works directly in a sand mold by carving cryptic symbols and 'painting' images with powdered glass colors. The casting process can be intense and often involves ladling the molten glass directly from the furnace. Planned images or inclusions may be placed in the interior of the sculpture, while intuitive decisions are made as she manipulates the molten material. The resulting glass reveals itself in layers by diffusing or transmitting light through the material; transparent or opaque, polished or rough, exposing or disguising the interior. The glass surfaces are further enhanced with enamels, copper, gold leaf, patinas, polishing, or sandblasting. The texture and forms obtained with cast glass combined with my aesthetic concerns allows an articulate yet raw method of expressing her connection of the ancient with the contemporary.