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Stained glass shines at Luminarie Designs in Largo

By Christina K. Cosdon, Times Correspondent


In print: Sunday, September 28, 2008

Sherry Rice’s Luminarie Designs on Clearwater-Largo Road is more than just her studio for creating custom stained glass. It is also a gallery for art glass and works in other media, such as paintings and ceramics.
	[JIM DAMASKE | Times]

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Glass has fascinated Sherry Rice since she was a child. It didn't matter if it was fragments on the side of a road or majestic, multicolored windows in churches. "I can remember getting off my bike to dig little broken pieces of brightly colored glass out of the road," recalled the native of Anderson, S.C. "In church, I would spend all my time gazing at the stained glass windows instead of paying attention."

After working many years as a computer consultant, Rice decided to take a chance on her talent as an artist and the one thing that had always been her inspiration: glass.

She fine-tuned her skills with studies in the art of stained glass design and opened Luminarie Designs in Seattle in 1996. She moved to the Tampa Bay area six years ago and worked in St. Petersburg and Belleair Bluffs before relocating the business to Largo in June.

Eight years ago, she developed an award-winning computerized pattern system for stained glass designs. The Peel & Stick patterns, carried in studios throughout the United States and Canada, are full-size designs, precut, self-adhesive, waterproof and ready to be placed on glass for cutting.

Her local work has included windows for Kent and Carol Hermes of Dunedin, Anne and Paul Neiberger of Safety Harbor and architect Mike Panetta of Panetta & Associates of St. Petersburg.

The Dunedin couple wanted something for a circular bathroom window that would give privacy and be beautiful. With its geometric shapes and different glass textures, Rice's design is the perfect fit, said Kent Hermes.

The Neibergers have a dark hallway in their home and wanted to bring in some light. Rice's rectangular design features an array of colors handpicked by the couple. Once installed, it will look like a window, said Anne Neiberger.

"I really do love it," she said. "It's beautiful."

Panetta said Rice created a large window that extended two floors for a local house he designed. The work, a colorful geometric pattern, let in lots of light but maintained the family's privacy, he said.

What services do you offer?

"Luminarie Designs is a working studio and gallery. In addition to working with architects, contractors, businesses and individuals, I teach classes for beginners to advanced students, as well as mosaics and a one-day suncatcher class."

Artwork currently featured in her gallery includes Frank Saso's tropical scenes in acrylics, clay animal sculptures by Rosemary Lutz, dinnerware by Beth Scott, photographs by Steve Roake and pottery featuring Florida fish designs by a Nicaraguan artist.

Where do you get your glass?

Sources include machine-made glass from Spectrum Glass in Woodinville, Wash., and Kokomo Glass in Indiana, handmade glass from Bullseye Glass and Uroborus Glass, both in Portland, Ore., and Youghiogheny Glass in Connellsville, Pa.

What is the appeal of stained glass?

"I think it has an unparalleled ability to move the spirit. I'm fascinated by the color and light that plays on a work. Creating can be very challenging and, at the same time, therapeutic. I love being challenged and designing and doing one-of-a-kind pieces."

Chris Cosdon can be reached at ccosdon@gmail.com.