ARTIST OF THE WEEK | Victoria Belz of St. Charles

by Mindy Kyle

THE ART OF FLAMEWORKED GLASS

If you have ever been interested in how beautiful colored glass sculptures, jewelry and gifts like glass beaded pens and wine stoppers are made, take a stroll into the Water Street Studio in Batavia and watch Victoria Belz who is often working behind the torch. The art of flameworked glass demands complete focus and technical knowledge of its capabilities. “Working with it is both a challenge and an escape, as there is no room to think of anything else,” says Victoria. “Excuse the pun, but the rest of the world melts away. There is a tremendous satisfaction in executing an idea in glass.” Victoria was recently accepted into the 15th Annual Women in Glass edition of The Flow Magazine. Her piece, Bridal Suite, a floral glass and fine silver necklace is on the cover of the CD version.

Along with creating her fine art and sculptures, Victoria loves teaching others how to have fun with fire and work with molten glass. “Sometimes people are too intimidated to try their hand at making art,” she says. “I tell them there’s so much joy in the journey and even if you are never famous, expressing yourself will make you feel like a star.”

Victoria’s glass art and gifts can be viewed and purchased on her website www.tinkerbelzart.com and www.etsy.com/shop/tinkerbelz as well as on her Facebook and Instagram sites under tinkerbelzart.

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