Artwork copyright Richard La Londe. Photo courtesy of the artist, 1998.

Water, 1994-1998

Richard La Londe
American (born 1950)

Location: Robert Frost Elementary, Pasco

About the Artwork

Water is part of artist Richard La Londe's series of fused glass wall sculptures that illustrate his children's book “Heart of the World" which he self-published in 1994. This panel illustrates a magic world where water is sacred. The artist notes, "This water of life was celebrated and all the animals that lived in it rejoiced. The people traveled on the ocean in boats and their coming and going left no ripples. They sang: Celebrate the water of life."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Pasco School District.

About the Artist

Glass artist Richard La Londe creates elaborate glass murals that are pictorial narratives full of symbolism and color. He is also known for his glass handkerchief vessels.

La Londe grew up in Vancouver, Southwestern Washington. In 1972, he graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle with a degree in Geology. He immediately started making art and worked odd jobs. La Londe is a pioneer in the fused glass movement. He was one of the initial artists in the 1980s to work and experiment with Bullseye Glass Company's colored glass for fusing. He has taught glass fusing at the Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Northwestern Washington, as well as around the United States and Canada. Today, La Londe lives on Whidbey Island in Northern Puget Sound, Western Washington. His work has been exhibited and commissioned internationally.

Describing his technique, La Londe notes: “I outline the design on a clear piece of glass by applying a thin line of powdered glass that is suspended in a gum medium. Then I lay crushed colored glass into the outlined areas in a manner similar to sand painting. This is fused in a kiln, cooled, flipped over, and fused a second time producing depth.” The basics of this fused glass technique dates back to ancient Egypt, 3,500 years ago.