VERO BEACH — Main Street Vero Beach’s May guest artists are Jim and Karen Lehner.
The opening reception will be Friday May 1, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the gallery located at 2036 14th Ave in the Arts District of Vero Beach. The glass show will be up until Tuesday May 30. Viewing hours are Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 2.
Karen and Jim Lehner have been busy creating handcrafted fused glass art in their home studio in Sebastian, for the past five years. Unique pieces art showcase a variety of techniques used in kiln glass such as frit (ground glass) painting, casting, dichroitic glass, glass weaving, glass mosaics, using silver and Bullseye’s new alchemy reaction glass, glass weaving, and glass painting. They make glass art, bowls, platters and plates, serving ware, vases, lamps, and whimsical pieces.
Karen and Jim have been working with glass, stained and fused, for more than 35 years. They both worked with stained glass art before they met 31 years ago and continued the art over the years. During this time they displayed and sold stained glass in Florida, California, and Hawaii. They now live and work in warm glass in Sebastian.
Five years ago Jim and Karen started exploring the magic of fused or kiln glass. Amazed by the variety of effects and techniques possible by melting glass they acquired the equipment and materials to explore this world. They learned the art and science of working with warm glass by continuously researching the new techniques and materials with other artists, suppliers and the warm glass community around the world. Since then they have exhibited and sold work at art and craft shows, on the Internet and patrons from Europe to California.
Every piece is a one of a kind and patrons can custom order pieces.