"Get Lit"! An innovative show of fused glass paintings by Randie Silverstein @Big Basin Vineyards Tasting Room and Tapas Bar

First Friday Santa Cruz, Artist's Reception:

Friday December 5, 2025 5-9pm

Big Basin Vineyards Tasting Room

525 Pacific Ave. Santa Cruz

“Get Lit”

Fused glass paintings by glass artist Randie Silverstein

Some say that glass art is considered incomplete until it is touched by the hand of the divine-- in the form of light, giving it spirit. Throughout the ages, glass has given levity to the human experience... being used in ritual and in places of worship and to tell stories. Without light, glass remains static and lifeless. Natural light varies with time, seasons, and weather, and affects glass based on its source—whether from behind, in front, or beside the piece. The way light is reflected, transmitted, or absorbed, and its placement in a window, wall, or table, all influence the color and experience of glass.

This new wall collection explores the contrasts and harmonies between light and form. I use “boxed” light -- a small L.E.D. positioned behind the glass to illuminate the image. By combining both opaque and translucent glasses I can conceal the light in one area and reveal it in another. This experimentation with focal light offers a dynamic effect that simply placing a piece in a window cannot achieve.

So if you look carefully, you'll observe the moon lit by the setting sun, reflecting softly on the water below. Dawn cracks open the night sky, bursting with color of a new day. A faint glow on distant mountains as the sun sets and the moon rises in a remote canyon. Captivated by the shifting light of sunsets and moonrises, I concentrate on the horizon—where the sky meets the earth—to express the tranquility and peace of these transient moments. This work is my joyful offering of hope and renewal. I am thankful for it and hope you enjoy this immersive visual experience.

About My Techniques

The technique of fusing glass, gives me a wide range of possibilities that stained glass will not. I fire all my pieces in a kiln used specifically for fusing glass, to a temperature of about 1500 degrees F. Many pieces have been fired more than once in a similar way you might come back to a painting once it's dry. My pieces are created using many pre-fired "brush strokes" and shapes that get integrated into a final firing. I am not painting on the glass, I am painting with it.

The box hangs on the wall on a nail or hook, no installation required. Each light box comes with a very long power cord with an on/off switch that can be plugged into a regular outlet. Larger wall sculptures are an easy installation and come with hardware and instructions.

Artist's Note: At BBV Tasting Room, I'm most known for my hanging glass disco-lights over head called "Looking Up" but you may not know I also curate the art for First Fridays there... So after about 3 years of curating other artists art for the walls, I put myself on the schedule!