Debra Adelson

In recent years, the global conversation around climate change has become a part of our daily lives. This prompted me to reevaluate my role within the ecosystem. After years of working with plastics, I began a journey to find more sustainable materials. I now choose to work with glass—not only because it’s renewable, but also because it is a process-driven material with a rich history. Through years of experimentation, I have developed a personal approach that blends traditional glass cold-working, jewelry making, and lapidary skills. By combining interdisciplinary and unconventional techniques, I’m able to push the boundaries of my materials in continually evolving ways. The glass technique I use is called cold-working, which involves sculpting the glass in its solid form at room temperature. To prevent shattering, I keep the glass submerged in water throughout the process. I begin by formulating color—laminating several sheets of colored glass onto a thick block of optical glass. I then cut the resulting slab with a wet diamond saw and sculpt it using flat-lap wheels or a slow-spinning, water-fed lathe with stone wheels or carbide grit. Each piece is completed with hand-fabricated settings made from sterling silver or gold, using traditional jewelry-making techniques such as sawing, raising, forging, soldering, and stone setting. My goal is to convey a visceral sense of depth and movement while exploring themes rooted in environmental awareness and delving into the relationship between manmade and natural elements.