An Evening with
Melanie Rowe &
Leslie Rowe-Israelson
Twin Visions Glass
Molds for Glass
Thursday, July 8 , 2021
The twins, Melanie Rowe – current President of the Pacific Pyros, and her sister Leslie Row-Israelson, have been creating in glass for over 40 years. Melanie says they have been combining different glass disciplines into their glass art for many years.
Melanie and Leslie have been making and using molds for the last 20 years, then pouring molten glass and bronze into those molds to create their art. Mel has also used the molds as press molds. The “mold mix 6” molds that Melanie creates for flame-working result in very fine detailed images pressed into the beads.
We will watch Melanie use one of her molds to press a face bead and learn about the process, as well as the pros and cons of Mold Mix 6 molds and bronze molds. Melanie loves to create with both!
After the Demo Update!
(If you missed it, remember that members can watch the recorded demo on the Facebook Members’ Page, check it out! And if you aren’t a member but would like to be, visit the Membership page)
Melanie and Leslie have been working in glass since the mid 70’s. They have done residencies at both Pilchuck and Uroboros Glass Co and found them to be very helpful. The experience enabled them to do “impossible” things they could not have done in their smaller home studios – such as being able to use a 10 foot long kiln! They have also taught at Pilchuck and Corning Glass Museum and loved it. Melanie and Leslie say that having the opportunity to socialize with other glass artists is a wonderful part of their glass journey.
Both of the sisters are amazingly knowledgeable about making and using molds for glass, and generously shared their knowledge and passion for them with us. Melanie says she often enjoys the process and experimentation more than the finished pieces.
Leslie makes huge pieces. She cuts them up and takes them, along with her glass feathers and some of her other pieces, to a hot shop where she and another glass worker create large collaborative pieces for galleries.
We were given a virtual tour before Melanie showed us how she uses her bead presses – both at the torch and with kiln casting. She shared her favorite releases that she uses to easily release the pieces from the molds, and also how to create the molds themselves.
Melanie makes and uses more than one type of mold, and generously shared her insights about each type. We were taken though the process, and then watched as Melanie made a face bead using one of the molds.
She mentioned that although she has a Mid-Range torch, she most often uses the Minor flame by itself unless she is making large pieces. This illustrates that you do not have to use a large torch to make use of the molds.
Melanie and Leslie also make large pieces with their molds, and have been making the awards for the Banff Film Festival for about 25 years (see photo below.) We saw photos of some of the pieces that they have created and they are exquisite!
Leslie has a YouTube video about Mold Mix 6 and shared this link to some needed supplies
Thank you to Leslie and Melanie, for sharing your time and expertise with us!
Visit the sisters’ website to see more of their work and get information on any classes they may offer.
Dragon members have access to this recorded presentation, found on our Facebook Members Group.
