Art atHome

Caroline Parent: Fusing Glass with the Natural World

In today’s modern world, art presents itself in countless ways and serves a multitude of purposes. Art is used as a way to express imagination, to communicate, to entertain, to work as a symbolic metaphor, and even to inspire social and political change. However, for Caroline Parent, an artist based in Dover, New Hampshire, art serves as an embodiment of healing others. Through her love of art, Caroline is able to spread the gift of spiritual and emotional healing and is proud to have her work located in several medical and long-term care facilities throughout New England. A New Hampshire native, Caroline uses New England’s natural beauty as inspiration and is fond of the idea of combining glass art with nature. Her pieces almost always incorporate the natural elements of beauty found in New Hampshire and Maine, including mountains, lakes, rivers, trees, and coastal scenery. Her ability to grasp this connection to the natural world emits a sense of comfort when people are experiencing strenuous times, especially when combined with the strategic placement of light sources behind the art to give off a feeling of warmth and comfort. To form these beautiful pieces of artwork, Caroline buys sheets of glass and cuts them into pieces, then assembles and fuses the glass in her kiln to make one large majestic creation. These pieces can be found throughout New England, with installations in numerous large healthcare facilities and medical establishments. While presenting a story on Caroline Parent, The NH Chronicle stated that “Her fused glass installations inspire peace and tranquility and adorn the walls of hospitals and clinics to provide comfort to patients.” Caroline has a gift for using her talent as an artist to spread healing and comfort even in the hardest of times. atHome Magazine recently had the wonderful opportunity to have a Q&A session with Caroline Parent.

When did you initially learn about luminous art and the various ways in which it is expressed?

Light is a vital part of making good art, it reveals the colors, shapes, textures and mood/emotion in a work of art no matter the medium, but with glass, it becomes a whole new level of expression. With my fused glass pieces backlighting, the glass became more interesting to me to enhance and better express the themes I work with. So as a way to better my art, I have been experimenting with how light can be used to enhance my art.

What inspired you to use your artistic talent as a form of healing and comfort for others?

Actually (many years ago), I was so moved by the dreariness of a hospital lobby I visited. It made me want to make the space better with art and help others who would wait in this space too. I actually sought out the hospital president and asked if I could

make art for the lobby/ waiting area. I was able to make a connection and got my first commission. It was a series of paintings. Paintings led to ceramic sculptures and then to fused glass art, now my primary artistic medium. Visiting France on a family trip a couple of years ago and seeing the stained glass windows in some of the cathedrals made a lasting impression and inspired new ideas ... amazing artists in history have used glass as a means of expressing beauty and giving hope and comfort to people.

What do you hope your art conveys and teaches people?

I hope my art inspires joy, gives moments of wonder, a time to pause and relax in thoughts of a happy moment. I hope my art shows the viewer’s state of mind a way to look, see and feel an inner warmth in the art and in the environment they are in.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career?

Most rewarding to me ... is to see people enjoying art that I have had the opportunity to design and create. It is rewarding as an artist to be part of a bigger picture by designing and making art that goes into healthcare, corporate and in residential spaces that people can connect to and enjoy. As an artist, I feel so fortunate to be doing something I love; the art gives me the opportunity to leave beauty behind in a space for others to enjoy and connect to.

Who or what inspires you to strive to be your best as an artist?

Gratitude, curiosity, joy. Inspiration to be my best artist is a fire within, a curious urge to make and express with new art ideas and works of art that can perhaps become a beautiful legacy. My inspiration comes from the beauty in nature. Growing up in rural New Hampshire in an era without devices or cell phones; I was happy to fancy myself as an explorer, wading through mud and small water pools in my folks’ back yard. (While) exploring the woods nearby, I was out looking at leaves, trees, mushrooms, frogs, grasses, the birds above, horses in the field next door, dairy cows down the street. My folks, my dear friend Kathleen Kimball, my grandmother, and Uncle Adolf have had creative talent that was inspiring. When I was going to UNH for my BFA, it really hit me just how fortunate I was. My grandmother worked in the mills in Newmarket and ran a farm and family. Later, upon graduating from UNH, I was able to rent art studio space in the Chinburg Cocheco Mill on the fourth floor. I would walk up the four flights of stairs to go to my studio to make art, feeling gratitude to be able to do what I loved. Wow, that was a while ago, and I’ve been able to make a studio in my renovated barn where I make art now.

You can find more of Caroline’s work at www.eyefeastart.com. For a memorable outdoor wedding ceremony, few settings are as breathtaking as Cathedral of the Pines, with its panoramic view of Grand Monadnock Mountain, its charming gardens, bells, and bridal suite.

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