Spotlight on
Darlene Balkum
I live in Columbus, Georgia in the USA. I was a Respiratory Therapist for 38 years. I worked caring for neonates for several years then switched to treating children of all ages at Egleston Children’s Hospital which was located in Atlanta, Georgia. My husband is a Physical Therapist specializing in the spine and we chose to return to Columbus for his job and to be close to our families. After relocating, I continued my work in Respiratory Therapy but had to change to adult care after the move. I focused on diagnostic care with adults and found it to be rewarding and enjoyable. I retired in 2021 and am happy to have more torch time since retirement.
I was introduced to lampworking in 2001. I made pottery at a local art center and they offered a one day workshop learning to make glass beads. Deanna Griffin Dove was the instructor. I had no idea what glass beads were or how they were made. I learned how to melt glass onto a mandrel in the class. It was exciting and mesmerizing to melt a rod of glass and end up with a beautiful bead. Well I thought it was beautiful, I’m sure it looked rather ugly with its wonky shape and pointy ends. I left class with a bundle of glass, a hothead torch, a little knowledge, and a huge new passion for melting glass.
I torched every free moment I could capture; however; those were limited by my having a full time job, young children and a husband. In my early lampworking years I torched in an open garage which could be extremely hot or frigidly cold. I am fortunate to have been able to close in the area and I now have a comfortable space with heat and A/C. I have an overhead ventilation system with outside air exchange from behind and in front of me. I use a Bethlehem barracuda torch. I have a concentrator but no longer use it to run the torch but use it to fill my oxygen cylinder. My kiln is brick and I would like to try some fusing in the future. I have slumped some bottles in it but haven’t done any serious fusing at this time.
I have taken classes from many wonderful glass instructors, and each class has improved my lampworking skills in some way. I sell beads in the Facebook group “Lampwork Bead Market;” however, I do tend to make beads and stick them to the side and move on to making more beads. The time lampworking is far more satisfying than the time listing beads and I admit that I procrastinate in the listing of beads. I often tell my daughter that she is going to have a lot of jewelry or art to make with them some day.
My interests outside of lampworking are many. I took Anne Mitchell’s fine silver jewelry online class and hope to incorporate some of the skills I learned to make a few jewelry pieces with some of my beads. I love the look of metals and glass together. I also really enjoy eco-printing with leaves. It’s a fun process with quick results that easily gives a sense of accomplishment.
I have crocheted a little and am hoping to learn to knit and felt in the near future. I enjoy photography and the challenge of capturing that magical light. I’m lucky most of my family lives close to me and I can spend time with my kids and grandkids daily. Gardening is another activity that I love as it keeps me moving and I can see the results all throughout the year.
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