BEVERLY’S TROPICAL GLASS DESIGN

by Sandra Lee Buxton

Beverly Albert’s work in blown, etched and carved glass along with stained glass windows is collected worldwide. When you look at the photographs of her completed treasures, you can clearly see why. Maybe it’s just me but I would say that her chandeliers which are made in the Chihuly style are extraordinary.

Seeing them in person is just awesome and I mean that literally, you are in awe. Fortunately she lives in Naples and her works can be seen in her gallery and commissioned with personal specifications. Beverly herself is a petite woman with a soft voice and a quiet demeanor, not the size in stature that you would expect from such a LARGE and memorable art form.

She began her love of stained glass at a young age becoming enchanted with the windows of her childhood church. Beautiful colors which changed in intensity as light streamed through them were mesmerizing. Working in stained glass as a young adult was all encompassing and upon perfecting her craft she added carved and etched glass to her repertoire. Beverly developed an interest in working with “hot” glass but found that there was little information and instruction available. Not willing to be limited by “what wasn’t” she was determined to see “what could be.” She had an opportunity to work with experts in the field of hot glass in Miami, gleaned information then incorporated her own ideas and techniques. Beverly soon established her own hot glass studio and began making her mark in the contemporary studio glass movement. Her work is now collected nationally as well as internationally and showcased on the prestigious Oceania Cruise Line.

Beverly states that she is self taught and works almost exclusively in the medium of glass. Inspired by nature, architecture and traditional art forms her creative potential is limitless. She describes her art as “painting with light” and feels that her work is more than just a beautiful object but a window into a world of stunning beauty. I couldn’t agree more.

I’ll share a little information so that you can understand the complexity of Beverly’s work. Chandeliers can take between four to six months to create and weigh between 100 – 1,000 pounds, with a price ranging between $48,000 to $450,000.

Commercial installations are priced much higher since they are more labor intensive. Wall displays are in organic form and range from $15,000 to $150,000, table arrangement sets range from $2,000 to $30,000 and take 4-6 weeks to complete.

Stained glass projects are primarily made for large areas of a home and completion time can be between 3-6 months depending on the scope of the work. If custom beveling is needed or exotic glass is used that increases time and price.

Sections for this work are mouth blown. Sandblasted deep carved glass can take from three to sixteen weeks to complete. Carving is done by hand with the same equipment (pressure pot) that is used to carve tomb stones. I’ll let the photos tell the rest of her story. Meeting this humble artist is a delightful experience, her warm caring smile and welcoming attitude will make your day. Beverly can be contacted at naplesglass@gmail.com or by calling 239.455.0037.