From House To Home

A sprightly Santa, a red glass star, and a shiny tree done up in smoke-gray beveled glass hang from a rafter in glass artist Donna Murray’s tidy studio at Brush Art Gallery and Studios on Market Street in Lowell. Shimmering and bright, they say “Merry Christmas” to all who stop by.

The ornaments are the dazzling work of Murray and fellow Brush artist Lolita Demers. They are but three of more than four dozen trinkets the talented duo and their fellow Brush artists make each year for the holidays.

Last Christmas, the Brush artists—they total 13—collaborated on 50 ornaments in glass, paper, and painted designs.

“We did trees, Santas, stars, and hearts. We hung them on a tree and sold them all,” says Demers.

Priced between $5 and $25, patrons love the designs because they are inexpensive works of art, each unique and decorative. Sales benefited the gallery’s artists’ fund.

A mixed-media artist, Demers’ fondest times are spent at her potter’s wheel or crafting delicate pieces of jewelry. But when she looks for additional creative fun, Demers collaborates with Murray, a glass specialist, on fused glass baubles.

“Fused glass is cut glass that you put into a design and put in a kiln for a few hours. The glass melts and fuses together,” she explains, holding up a dramatic cobalt blue and emerald green design that would enhance any Christmas tree.

Murray, who accepts commissions for large pieces such as stained-glass windows and mosaic backsplashes for kitchens and baths, designs 15 or 20 glass ornaments each year.

“The small pieces are a great way to clear my mind and have fun. With large commissions, you are occasionally stuck. But these can be done in a short time, start to finish,” she says, putting finishing touches on a purple jewel enhanced with dried flowers and a ribbon tie.

Demers tries different designs, too, including throwing clay pottery ornaments on her rapidly spinning wheel.

“I make a variety of ornaments, 20 to 30 designs. I like trying different things,” she says.

Making ornaments feeds their creative juices, and they love that their work brings joy to others.

“It makes me happy that someone will hang it on their tree or enjoy it in their home,” Murray says.

Demers agrees, “It feels good to share my work with someone who will enjoy it and make it a part of their family tradition.”

Then they get back to work—Murray at her workbench, soldering pretty glass pieces into gleaming trinkets for someone’s holiday decor, and Demers at her wheel, throwing a clay ornament that will be fired, glazed, and hung on someone’s tree.