Tastes of my latest pieces

This is a sampling of some of the works I've been producing lately. I've been extremely busy prepping for a solo exhibition of my Glass Art. I've been asked to present 100 pieces of Glass. From July 9th until the 29th, my artwork glass will represent Burbank Creative Arts Center's first delving into the Glass World. Needless to say, I'm thrilled.

My stock had about 60 pieces and after culling through them, I've set a few aside as "Retired." I've been making tons of new pieces, ones I'm pretty thrilled with. With that being said, with a few months to go, I've got about 70 I'm happy with. 30 to go!

Deciding how to hang each piece has been a challenge to say the least. Glass, in its very essence, is heavy, fragile, delicate. Deciding how each piece is going to hang individually from the one next to it is almost as big a challenge as physically producing the pieces.

The next few months are going to be amazing!

The Gray Hotel - Milan's latest modern Inn

Stairway to Heavenly Design

The Gray Hotel, in the shadows of Milan's Duomo, is a forward-looking space in a city steeped in history. Interior Designer Guido Ciompi's mantra, "culture revolves around modernity", welcomes one to an oasis of contemporary design amongst the buildings and monuments of one of Italy's most stylish and aesthetic-conscious cities.

The hotel, rich in color bursts here and there, is on the forefront of a newer type of boutique hotel that seem to be popping up everywhere. While the stately establishments around the world are able to charge an arm and a leg due to their reputations, the smaller hotels, like the Gray Hotel, are able to afford the visually-aware traveller with an experience that is artistic, comfortable and a bit easier on the wallet.

Susan Clusener - Ceramic Artist

"My hands are convenient and frequent objects of interest. My fingers alone have so much going on below the surface: blood pumping, nerves sensing, muscles contracting. All of this movement, activity – life – happening unconsciously and for decades. Sometimes this unconscious becomes conscious. I become aware of all the goings-on under my skin, aware of my livingness. It is both exciting and frightening, this awareness of my vitality and its intrinsic finiteness." I like that. Seems like those words could have been spoken by sculptors, musicians, surgeons or just about anyone else that uses their own hands as another tool towards the desired end-result.

For Susan, It's not all about fruit. Her pear pieces, however, hold a certain appeal to me. Her "Stone" series, also thought-provoking and unique are certain to sooth eyes as well.

For more works by California-based Susan, visit her website; www.susanclusener.com