Mary Ila Duntemann

Artist Statement

I create art glass beads.

My inspiration comes from the colors, textures and patterns that surround me in the natural and human-made landscape. I capture these influences in the molten glass where each unique piece is worked by hand using traditional methods.

I am fascinated by the cross-cultural relevance of beads. Woven throughout world history, beads have been used for talismans, ornamentation, status symbols, religious articles and for barter. I see beads as meditative objects both in the creation and the function of the piece. I am primarily self-taught and have also studied with Kristina Logan at the Corning Museum of Glass in New York and Aja Vaz, Holly Cooper and Amy Waldman at the Third Degree Glass Factory, St Louis, Missouri.

I exhibit at regional art shows including the St Anthony Park Art Fair, Art-A-Whirl, Grand Marais Art Festival, LoLa Art Crawl and the Powderhorn Art Fair. Nationally, I exhibit at Bead Shows. And I teach at the Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center in South Minneapolis.