http://www.karirussell-pool.com/work daily 0.75 2024-10-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1425508020096-QNHC72K90S3CJHCVT82L/Eternally+Yours+detail_opt.jpg Series I have a tear catcher dated from the 1800’s that makes me wonder about its back story every time I run my fingers over the inscription which reads J.J. to M.W. March 26 1818. This was in part the inspiration behind the ‘Gardener’s Valentines,' also loosely based on sailor’s valentines. Exploring relationship is not new to my work, but I've set myself the task of making heirlooms. As artists we watch as collections make their way to the secondary market. I am curious to explore what makes an object dear; dear enough that it transcends the original owners, and acquires its own magic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1425477865643-44GPS1V6OCW9V81RGT3O/%2522Homeland%2522.jpg Series - Homeland 39"h x 34"l x 3"d - 2006 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1579546676783-L668S8W8I8VLNLFUHFWV/Loving+Cups.jpg Series - Loving Cup Series Approaching our 28th wedding anniversary, Marc and I did a quick search for the traditional gift. We learned that 28 was not considered anything special. After we laughed, we landed on the idea of designing a series of loving cups to celebrate the victory that is long-time love. Based upon traditional metal trophies, we set upon the collaboration. Having worked alongside each other for many years, but not together in the hot shop for two decades- we earned these trophies. The sweet surprise of this series has been working through the difficulties, allowing our individual talents to shine, and developing a genuine rapport in the hot shop — a true gift. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1563144863594-KXN0EB2PXAXAD6L0OK6T/Upholding+Community+Standards-Kent+small.jpg Series - Upholding Community Standards This body of work is about the particular pain of parenting teenagers, and comes from reflecting about Stolkholm Syndrome. How in the face of constant abuse by our kids/captors, it's still possible to nurture feelings of affection and love. What is a cage, and do we create our own captivity? My cages have no doors, they are part sanctuary and safety, but also freedom. Using 'mother' as a metaphorical element of essential structure and captivity, the cages contrast the ideas of the cage as confinement and refuge, places for solitary confinement and sympathetic equanimity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1469725665568-NX5MIY3HGDKFJE1KHT9E/First+Day+of+School+Medium.jpg Series - First Day of School Target 22.5”h x 30”w- 2016 Graphite, ink, watercolor, and gouache on paper. Perspective, a series of works on paper, is a departure in medium and content. Exploring the gaming of American policy during the fractious 2016 political season, I was focused on the high stakes of these games. Games by definition are reduced to winners and losers, devoid of compromise while compromise is the cornerstone of a strong democracy. As a woman with a mature and informed understanding of what it means to both choose and devote oneself to parenthood, I come to these issues with a perspective on access to birth control and keeping my children safe and innocent in their schools. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1425446559916-2N18Z0BPZNK1XEZ5RHFQ/lemon+1_2.jpg Series - Lemon detail The Trophies came about after listening to an NPR segment about how average people have been known to have trophies engraved in their own honor. I struggled for years with an undiagnosed thyroid disease. I felt I was not a good enough mother, artist, wife, or business person. Other people seemed to perform routine tasks with a joy and ease that I lacked. One day while putting together a slide lecture of my work, I was stunned by the quantity and quality of the work I'd managed to produce, so of course I decided I needed a trophy. My objective is often to elevate the ordinary to the extraordinary. Here I've celebrated my unique ability to draw upon a broad, subtle, and sophisticated color palette. I've celebrated a classical form, and I've celebrated my joy in creating large scale objects. But at heart, I've celebrated the accomplishments of keeping true to my artistic vision while raising two fantastic kids. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1563144468524-HHVQNVH09IW43QM10UAQ/Cage+of+Your+Own+Making.jpg Series - Cage of Your Own Making 20.5"h x 10.5" d x 10"l 2017 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1563146422661-I1460IZU1WNF1XJJ9VSC/Safe-tea+series+small.jpg Series - Safe-Tea Series 2019 As a child, my Nana would take out her tea cup collection for use at special family dinners. No two were the same, and we could choose which cup we would like to use. I remember feeling very grown up to be trusted with something so beautiful and delicate. My first forays in glass were bowls and bottles, but I was always thinking back to those tea cups. I’d been taught that you should always try to make the ordinary extraordinary. Form, line, color, and pattern are all very important to me. The way those things come together in a tea pot is really quite extraordinary. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1654020216269-AJOSGCE718N9QPCVEL9I/Blackberry+wish+bowl.jpg Series - Blackberry Wish Bowl Series This is my longest running series. Unlike my other work, I don’t work off any type of pattern for this series and they are built free form from the bottom up. They are all play and color for me. Asked early on what they could hold, I answered wishes- and that’s how the series was titled. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1635277571243-NOHMO9UPKAS4PBURINS1/inboxes.jpg Series - 3" & 4" Botanicals in gift boxes Handmade glass flowers collaged to 3” & 4” glass disks. Hit the inquire button for pricing and availability. Decal signed on the back, but available for special order customization. Perfect for commemorating a wedding or other special occasions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1427127055242-TR7WROC9NG62WF90V2UD/caneopt.jpg Series - Cane I pull my own glass rods, or canes. I am using soft glass, or traditional blowing glass. We gather clear glass from our melting furnace and color it by rolling the hot clear glass through powdered colored glass, and then encasing the color in another thin layer of clear. These gathers of glass are pulled into 40' lengths while still hot, and then cut down into the 1.5' lengths you see here. Coloring my glass this way allows me to both mix my colors and control their densities. I use these colored glass canes in a torch flame to sculpt petals, leaves, and small components which I further color using more glass powders. Having some color in my base canes allows me to work much as a watercolorist would use washes, and I can achieve subtle or dramatic color changes when I sculpt in the torch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1729012080832-8U6DO91LPSZU6AI5Q0TX/image-asset.jpg Series - Grey Banded Vessel with Dark Blue Interior 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1425424503573-MMLUH6IEQ52CI2T7FRRQ/DAHLIA+DETAIL.jpg Series http://www.karirussell-pool.com/new-page-1 daily 1.0 2025-03-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/a7f975ac-3628-4849-aac8-a5a6629a0e7d/distilled+composite.jpg Kari Russell-Pool - Our Distilled Life Series New collaborative work with Marc Petrovic. Click here to learn more and the series and find a link to our store which we maintain on Marc’s website. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/f2e1b814-fcb3-4afd-81fd-de39c332b9ed/cupcakes.jpg Kari Russell-Pool - Make it stand out I offer a variety of shippable works through our store located on Marc’s Web page. This LINK will take you there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/9ae54a60-6001-41c0-ae16-1ed8ad56a65d/portrait.jpg Kari Russell-Pool Kari holding a really BIG banded vessel blank in 2019. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/454afed3-5bf1-417d-9e9a-9369ed33202d/the+one.jpg Kari Russell-Pool http://www.karirussell-pool.com/our-distilled-life-about daily 0.75 2025-03-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1737557717793-JJZ96OFRAQSSHRNX8PTS/distilled+composite+small.jpg Our Distilled Life https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1737558869227-ROUU1JD5W9N40WBHRQTT/Crystal+Palace+Early+Warning.jpg Our Distilled Life - Crystal Palace-Early Warning 15.5” H x 5.5” W 2024 Blown, fused, hot sculpted, enameled, and carved glass, assembled. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1737558870411-B8JCDQOUGH2KEU6CJGO4/Knee+Deep+copy.jpg Our Distilled Life - Knee Deep 15”H x 5.5” W 2024 Blown, fused, hot sculpted, cold worked, and enameled glass: assembled https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1737558909609-JZ456AT13LQTH77854DZ/Waiting+in+the+Wings+web.jpg Our Distilled Life - Waiting in the Wings 17.25” H x 7.25” W 2024 Blown, fused, flame-worked, and enameled glass, with 23 K gilding: assembled. Leaves are applied hot to the bottle with our own invented technique. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1737558871171-GWAHEYXSDVKKLT90TR6T/pawns.jpg Our Distilled Life - Pawns 16” H x 7” W 2024 Blown, fused, hot sculpted, and enameled glass, with 23 K gilding: assembled. Leaves are applied hot to the bottle with our own invented technique. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1737558910318-X2U2FBDICN3TX6FB6GEQ/wallflower+web.jpg Our Distilled Life - Wallflower  17” H x 6.5” W 2024 Blown, fused, hot sculpted, and enameled glass, with 23 K gilding: assembled. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1737558871393-9BAWS3V876PJ3VFLSOZQ/sirens+call+lightroom+copy+2.jpg Our Distilled Life - Siren’s Call 16” H x 7.5” W 2024 Blown, fused, hot sculpted, cold worked, and enameled glass: assembled. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1737558941177-HHHB0U1VCH95FT3TZUD8/jane+new+medium.jpg Our Distilled Life - Run Jane 17” H x 7” W 2024 Blown, fused, and enameled glass, assembled. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1737558941440-EB3UJR7IW7LDIA2KJDMT/Jane+Side+medium.jpg Our Distilled Life - Run Jane- side view 17” H x 7” W 2024 Blown, fused, and enameled glass, assembled. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1737558925544-F7A2PT83K0EACCBPRQNF/Grace.jpg Our Distilled Life - Grace    17.5” H x 7.5” W 2024 Blown, fused, hot sculpted, and enameled glass, with 23 K gilding: assembled. Leaves are applied hot to the bottle with our own invented technique. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1737558925326-L7I6CUEEW26UXDZ2R70W/grace+detail+medium.jpg Our Distilled Life - Grace- detail 17.5” H x 7.5” W 2024 Blown, fused, hot sculpted, and enameled glass, with 23 K gilding: assembled. Leaves are applied hot to the bottle with our own invented technique. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1737558973835-OGN2XMQ29I0M2LLIO4HQ/Loves+Me+medium.jpg Our Distilled Life - Loves Me  15” H x 5.75” W. 2024 Blown, fused, hot sculpted, flame-worked, and enameled glass, with 23 K gilding: assembled. Leaves are applied hot to the bottle with our own invented technique. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1737558975949-ABRP2092C04PPBNW8NNH/Moonlit+web.jpg Our Distilled Life - Moonlit 20” H x 7.5” W 2024 Blown, fused, hot sculpted, flame-worked, and enameled glass, with 23K gold applications: assembled. Tree is sculpted from brass, and gilded. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1737558975494-SH6P8GR5H23LPFZ0LUGV/Make+a+Wish+web.jpg Our Distilled Life - Make a Wish 14” H x 7.25” W 2024 Blown, fused, flame-worked, and enameled glass, with 23 K gilding: assembled. Leaves are applied hot to the bottle with our own invented technique. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1737558974887-A7RZIOGR5R6A37KODUZ0/Make+a+Wish+side+web.jpg Our Distilled Life - Make a Wish- detail 14” H x 7.25” W 2024 Blown, fused, flame-worked, and enameled glass, with 23 K gilding: assembled. Leaves are applied hot to the bottle with our own invented technique. Clickthrough URL https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1737559003283-P904VAFGJFD897QL3A2O/not+our+circus+medium.jpg Our Distilled Life - Not My Circus 17” H x 6.75” W 2024 Blown, fused, flame-worked, and enameled glass, with silver foil inclusion: assembled. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1737559002274-RX918N1KDUS3Y83DLVY9/Not+my+circus+back+medium.jpg Our Distilled Life - Not My Circus -back 17” H x 6.75” W 2024 Blown, fused, flame-worked, and enameled glass, with silver foil inclusion: assembled. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1737559002951-GPNTK63P0ZYB38IDAWIG/not+our+circus+detail+medium.jpg Our Distilled Life - Not My Circus -detail 17” H x 6.75” W 2024 Blown, fused, flame-worked, and enameled glass, with silver foil inclusion: assembled. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1737559005649-62NLBZKM8X1CM712PWFH/Thoughts+and+Prayers++copy.jpg Our Distilled Life - Thoughts and Prayers  15” H x 5.75” W 2024 Blown, fused, flame-worked, hot sculpted, and enameled glass, assembled. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1737559003758-E72LY0SM216LOHMYNLIG/Sorry+detail+copy.jpg Our Distilled Life - Sorry  - detail 13.5” H x 7” W 2024 Blown, fused, hot sculpted, flame-worked, cold-worked, and enameled glass: assembled. Leaves are applied hot to the bottle with our own invented technique. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54f5e1bfe4b017e4706f2253/1737559003976-RDLMBFAS7KJDN4UL2L79/Sorry.jpg Our Distilled Life - Sorry 13.5” H x 7” W 2024 Blown, fused, hot sculpted, flame-worked, cold-worked, and enameled glass: assembled. Leaves are applied hot to the bottle with our own invented technique.