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Eye Candy: Exquisite dragonfly installation fashioned from recycled glass

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A Northern Virginia-based recycled glass artist creates a stunning glass work that goes far beyond it being just an ‘art installation.’ The recycled glass dragonfly installation is Cindy Ann Coldiron’s small contribution to Mother Nature. The artwork that the artist claims to be the largest and first non panel and non utilitarian (purely “art”) kiln-cast recycled glass project of its kind in the US is made by recycling different waste glass types like window glass, plate glass and bottle glass. Located in Barcroft Park in Arlington, Virginia, this amazing masterpiece came from glass that would have ended up in the waste stream. About 60% of the glass was donated by the Green Recycling Network which deconstructs buildings and salvages materials for reuse, while the remaining came from Freecycle and an auto glass business.


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This is what Coldiron says about her project called “Destination”:

Residing in a circle that is intersected by three paths, in Destination the dragonflies are all flying towards their goal of the center concrete and glass “pond.” Dragonflies symbolize renewal, change and activity and each of the three paths lead to different destinations in the park. Since the dragonfly lives a short life, it knows it must live its life to the fullest, in the shortest time. This destination for them is a pond but for each of us, it is something different. The number 40 signifies maturity and completion of a test or trial.

Coldiron created each dragonfly for this “green” project using 40 hand sculpted clay models that were cast in plaster and silica. After removal of the clay, the mold was filled with discarded bottle, window or plate glass. Colorants were added using frits and enamels along with a special glow powder for some of the molds. The molds were kiln fired at over 1550 degrees Fahrenheit. After cooling, the glass was cold worked with a wet tile saw and sandblasted. This pain-staking process took nine months to complete and looking at the final product I would say it was certainly worth the effort.

Thanks for the tip: Cindy Ann Coldiron

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