The Subconscious Self Portraits of LaceFace
The modern masterpieces of Lacey St. George-Walton, a.k.a. LaceFace, exemplify the power and spirit of woman while speaking volumes about the artist’s determination to succeed in the male dominated functional glass world. From her studio in Ashland, Oregon, LaceFace pushes the limitations of glass while serving as a motivated community leader.
“Most of the women in my work are looking towards heaven, reaching upwards in reverence and gratitude. The spiritualistic and ritualistic quality of pipes has always inspired me to create a higher form of functional art that can be portrayed as sacred, statuesque, or shamanic. The medium of glass, in combination with ancient sacraments, has given our society a way to reach a higher consciousness. Smoking provides communion with one another by bringing people together to perform a ritual as old as human history itself.”
The daughter of functional artists, LaceFace became involved in the expanding glass art pipe movement at an early age. As a flameworker, she put herself through Portland Community College, Portland, Oregon, where she earned an associates degree in art.
LaceFace has since been awarded some of the industry’s highest honors, including First Place in C.H.A.M.P.S. female division national flame off competition, Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2010. Named Breakout Artist of the Year by the American Glass Expo (AGE), Las Vegas, Nevada, and by the International Glass Show (IGS), Los Angeles, California, in 2011, the artist also took home the People’s Choice Award from the World’s Greatest Flame Off, Trump Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, that same year. LaceFace has been named AGE’s Best Female Glassblower in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.
Strong spiritual themes flow along the curvy lines of a LaceFace sculpture. Believing glass holds the energy of life with its unique relationship to fire and air, the artist has created a new series depicting the earth as a living thing. These large-scale elaborate sculptures will be unveiled in a solo exhibition opening February 1 at Walton Art House, Ashland, Oregon. The artist will also teach her progressive sculpting techniques at Glass Alchemy, Portland, Oregon, and the Eugene Glass School, Eugene, Oregon, this spring 2019.