Skip to content
Tree of Fulgurite #1
Steel & Borosilicate
2026
The way the jagged, clear glass branches spike and protrude from their metal base reminds me of the uneven edges of a fulgurite crystal, also known as petrified lightning. This natural phenomenon results from the extreme heat of lightning striking sand. It is similar to the level of heat needed to manipulate and form the glass and metal from which this tree is made. This is why I have called my mixed-media sculpture: Tree of Fulgurite #1. Like a lightning strike this sculpture has sparked ideas for other trees in the future.
Since training to be a welder, I have found that blending glass and metal has added a new spark to my creative journey, one that started decades ago when I first became a glassblower. Both materials move in a molten state, but in completely different and unforgiving ways. Trying to find new and interesting ways to blend the two mediums in a way that showcases both materials as equals has become a central focus of my craft.
After visiting and speaking with Thom Breitenbach about his vision and the mission for the sculpture trail, I knew right away that I wanted to participate. What an honor to be displayed next to so many other wonderful, innovative works. I knew right off the bat that I wanted to make something that looks organic by nature. I used a steel pipe for the base of the tree, so it would be heavy and sturdy enough not to need to be bolted down. I used a slightly smaller metal tube to weld short branches that would be used as sleeves for the glass branches. Using my glass-blowing torch and borosilicate glass, I created very large branches by melting and shaping the glass with the flame.
I designed the tree sitting without a plinth to stand on, with its roots digging directly into the ground, bonding it to the nature surrounding it. The high-polished steel blends almost seamlessly with the clear glass branches, making it a shining beacon amongst the woods it sits in. But it won't last that way forever. The thin coat of paint will fade and peel, allowing the tree's metal trunk to rust naturally as the seasons change around it. This will give way to the juxtaposition of the browning, rotting tree and the crystal-clear glass sparkling in the winter sun, allowing beauty in its decay.
To see this piece in person, visit
https://castlebreitenbach.org/sculptures/index.html