Unique Glass Art Panels Go Up at La Fiesta Square

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Published April 23rd, 2014

Unique Glass Art Panels Go Up at La Fiesta Square

By Cathy Tyson

Photo Cathy Tyson

Drivers heading into La Fiesta Square were treated to an artwork in progress recently. Artist Ellen Blakeley was busy over a period of two days installing the three lovely, large scale glass panels on the side of the iTrim building across from Mangia. Each panel came in three sections that required individual seems to be painstakingly covered in tiny bits of re-purposed tempered glass on site by the artist, then grouted. Blakeley said selecting the subject matter was a collaborative effort with input from Steve and Lisa Cortese for the highly visible wall near the corner of Mt. Diablo Boulevard and Moraga Road.

"We try to incorporate art projects in both Lafayette Mercantile and La Fiesta Square that the community will appreciate and enjoy," said Steve Cortese. "For this project we worked closely with the City of Lafayette and SZFM Design Studio. The artist we chose, Ellen Blakeley, really fit with our ideas for this public art work. The murals make an impact from a distance, and create a different experience up close."

Starting out as a professional ceramist in 1993, Blakeley was enchanted by the glittering heap of broken tempered glass she found years ago scattered across the sidewalk from a shattered bus shelter in San Francisco and stopped to scoop it up. She was intrigued that unlike clay, the glass was clear and could serve as a window to colors underneath.

The weather-proof art installation is completely covered in shards of glass with a colored substrate below, framed in the same substantial cornflower blue trim that surrounds the iTrim windows and entry. The subtle textures and patterns of glass come to life when viewed up close, highlighting tiny dragonflies, as well as glittering metallic bits that sparkle in the sun.



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