Muskegon Native Unveils Giant Glass Chandelier For Inn At Harbor Shores Art Opening

It took glass artist April Wagner four full weeks to blow the 550 individual glass pieces needed to create her largest glass sculpture ever, and another six days precariously balanced on a lift to precisely dangle them from the vaulted ceiling.
 
 
epiphany chandelier La Vie d'L'eau at the Inn at Harbor Shores
epiphany chandelier La Vie d'L'eau at the Inn at Harbor Shores
June 16, 2014 - PRLog -- Now measuring  8 ft. in diameter  and 10 ft. in length, and comprised of 48 LED dimmable lights, 198 stainless steel cables and over 500 glass parts, Wagner’s custom commissioned glass chandelier - entitled L'eau d'Vie, will be the centerpiece at  the public opening of The Inn at Harbor Shores' art gallery on Friday, June 27, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in St. Joseph, Michigan.

The enormous chandelier is the largest in both volume and number of glass pieces that Wagner has ever created.  Her studio, epiphany glass (http://www.epiphanyglass.com/) in Pontiac, Mich., is one of only a handful of glassblowing locales worldwide that can produce the oversize pieces of high-quality glass used for commercial installations.  Her custom glass installations are featured throughout the U.S. in high-end hotels, restaurants, homes and corporate venues.

Wagner collaborated with the architectural design team of the hotel during the planning phase to incorporate the local essence and natural beauty of western Michigan’s coastal lifestyle into the piece and its space within the hotel.   From blues and blue-grey to hints of gold reminiscent of a sunset on the water, Wagner designed the chandelier to embody the waves and capture the natural beauty of the local dune grass surrounding the Inn.   The Inn is one of many hotels choosing to brand themselves using artwork and local artists.

“We believe the story of a place can be told through artists conveying memorable impressions and history,” said Ron Schults, a principal player in development of The Inn.  “Artists tell complex stories with more subtlety and elegance than traditional media. We believe guests will return and will influence friends, having come away with lasting impressions and an understanding of the history and fabric of our community. Original art enhances The Inn’s quality statement while providing Michigan artists a showcase.”

In recognition of the wealth and depth of talent of Michigan artists, the art program at The Inn has two components:  a permanent collection displayed in rooms and public areas, and rotating exhibitions in the Gallery curated by Susan Wilczak. Other highlights of the art opening will be oil paintings of various Southwest Michigan scenes by St. Joseph artist Kris Hosbein, whose work is the featured in the Gallery through August 4, 2014.

For a look at Wagner’s smaller-scale lighting projects, visit http://epiphanyglass.com/pdf/Chandelier_final.pdf.

The Inn at Harbor Shores, 800 Whitwam Drive, St. Joseph, Mich., opened to the public last  month.  For more information or visit www.innatharborshores.com.   Room reservations may be booked online or via phone at (269) 983-1111.

Epiphany Glass, www.epiphanyglass.com , located at 770 Orchard Lake Road in Pontiac, Mich. is a state-of-the-art, 4,000 sq. ft. glassblowing studio and gallery.  Since 1997, Epiphany’s distinctive look has been created by artist and owner April Wagner.  Wagner adds a contemporary twist to the traditional fazzoletto technique, which originated in the Venini factory of Murano, Italy, during the 1930s and was later popularized by Seattle glass artists. Her work is found in many public and private collections, including those of The Four Seasons – Vail, The Hyatt Maui Regency Resort & Spa, General Motors, Pfizer, Strategic Staffing Solutions, Vladimir Putin, Goldie Hawn and Kate Hudson.

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