Spotlight on
Alice Tobermann Henry
Greetings and salutations from the surface of the sun, otherwise known as Florida. My name is Alice Henry. I have been working with glass for more than 25 years. I am also a retired pediatric/neonatal respiratory therapist. I worked in emergency and critical care, and was part of the transport and code teams (the helicopters cured me of my fear of flying). I have been a teaching assistant in 2-4th grade and high school, I co-managed a 125-member high school marching band and drum corp, and did sales for an amazing jeweler. I have always been enamored with glass and worked as a tour guide in the Dana Thomas House in Springfield, Illinois, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright…talk about stained glass windows!!
My personal journey with glass began when my husband and I bought a house with leaded windows that needed repair. I decided to tackle it and took a class in traditional stained-and leaded-windows. Let’s just say I never want to do another repair again. I’ve done several windows for homes and a church. My next foray was into the manipulation of warm and hot glass when I took a fusing class. I was hooked!
While looking to enhance my glass jewelry with metal, I became a certified instructor in Precious Metal Clay. Naturally, it didn’t stop there (you all know what I mean, right!?) I was purchasing glass beads from other artists and decided I wanted to learn to make my own, so on to torch-working! I’ve had the great fortune to take classes with numerous well-known artists, and will be going to Thailand in January to study with Astrid Reidel. While I do love fusing big bowls, platters and wall art, lampworking is my true passion.
Creating has always been an artistic outlet for me, whether it is with glass, metal, designing jewelry, or playing with different paints. I am extremely lucky to be able to make things that are from my heart and soul, and be able to sell some without the pressure of needing that as a livelihood. I am the former treasurer for The Glass Dragons, and a member of the ISGB and the ASGB. I exhibit in three galleries, and I’m on the board of the Island Art Association as co-director of the Art Education Center.
I live on Amelia Island, FL with my husband, and our daughter, son-in-law and 2-year-old grandson live here too, along with their two big dogs. My grandson has two speeds…full-out run and asleep! I’m a busy gal but I find gratitude everyday, my heart is full.
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