All of April’s commissioned pieces are site-specific. That means each shape, color, and proportion is specifically calculated to fit the client’s home. In this case, the delicately transparent aqua bubbles perfectly match the chic hue of the ceiling, and the chandelier fits like a glove in this gorgeous entryway!
This Friday, you’ll be able to check out Sun-Roasted Pumpkin and its colorful brothers and sisters at the fleurdetroit Harvest Fest! Join us on October 1st, 10 am-5pm as we celebrate fall and all of its glorious decorating possibilities at the most beautiful flower shop on the block. We hope to see you there!
It’s getting to be that time of year where you might want a little somethin’ somethin’ to warm yourself at the end of a long week. Our awesome Michigan Humane Society decanter set with gorgeous tortoise coloring is perfect for having a few friends over for the classiest of drinks. Cheers!
Sometimes on Fridays, we have to get a little filing done before we go out and party it up. Hope your work isn’t holding you up from enjoying the weekend!
Happy first day of fall! We’re celebrating with our Caramel Latte Pumpkin, hot off the press from the Fall 2016 studio e line. This little guy has all the rich frothy swirls of your favorite coffee shop drink, with a surprisingly bright green stem. The combination is unexpected, but totally modern.
How great are the colors in this Whiskey and Ivory Bubble Chandelier? The subtle hues are the height of sophistication. Even though these neutrals can transcend any season, these warm, caramel tones seem to be just as fall-worthy as a cozy cable knit sweater.
The first day of fall is right around the corner (Thursday!) so we feel it’s TOTALLY acceptable to be pumped for Harvest Fest! Grab a pumpkin spice latte and head over to fleurdetroit where you can find the most beautiful plants, flowers, and gifts to spruce up your home for fall. We’ll be there with our Fall 2016 collection of glass pumpkins, so don’t miss out!
We bet you never knew the staff of epiphany was so big! Today, Meet Rebecca! With four years of glassblowing experience under her belt, we are so fortunate to have Rebecca as a studio assistant. Rebecca is a natural hustler, and we love her outgoing personality and hardworking attitude. Thanks, Rebecca for all of your contributions to epiphany!
Are you enjoying a relaxing Sunday? This shade of orange is so happy – we hope these sculptures bring a smile to your face!
Here’s a stellar idea for your Saturday: Grab a couple of our heart ringholders to keep on hand for last minute birthday presents! At $25 each, you can get one in every color! 
Check out the colors available online under “studio e gifts.”
It’s National Play-Doh Day according to our wacky holidays calendar – what a fun holiday! If you’re feeling creative, go grab a can of your favorite color and spend some time sculpting. In the meantime, enjoy April’s sculpting power in this video of her making a Volcano. Glass has that perfectly soft and stretchy look that *makes* you want to touch it… but alas, she’s gotta keep that hot glass at arm’s length!
With fall approaching, we’re all about the moody darkness of this week’s Throwback Thursday, “Black Pond.” Abstract shapes in poppy, lavender, cream, and chartreuse emerge from an inky well of black glass. This piece gives off such an air of mystery… what else is lurking within the ebony pond?
Can you guess what’s special about this lime and aqua Old School? It’s hard to tell in a photo, but this piece is actually a MINI Old School – about 2 inches tall! April made this exquisite miniature version of her classic epiphany vessels with all the same care and precision as the regular size. And just because it’s mini doesn’t mean it’s easy… a tiny piece like this can be even harder to make than the original!
It’s never too early to pencil in the epiphany glass holiday show! Bust out your calendars and mark December 2, 3, and 4 for one of the best local shopping haunts! Plus we’ll have demos, snacks, and merriment to boot, so don’t miss out!
On today’s edition of Meet the Team, we invite you to Meet Jamie Latendresse! If you’ve ever received an epiphany postcard, business card, or seen one of our beautiful posters or flyers, you can thank Jamie for the amazing graphic design work. Playing for team epiphany for over a decade, and has kept our brand looking goooooood the whole time! Thanks, Jamie, for all of your fantastic work!
April uses the art of making paperweights to explore relationships between color, pattern, and form. Our office collection is full of prototypes and favorites. Each one has a unique personality. A beautiful glass paperweight not only makes a delightful desk accessory, but can look awesome when sparkling on a window sill or other sunny spot.
We’re off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz! This Emerald City Pumpkin is part of our Fall 2016 collection and the rich color is sure to make you swoon. Swirled with the most delicate yellow and topped off with a golden stem, we can’t think of a gift any more magical! You might even say it’s a horse of a different color. And it’s available on the epiphany glass web shop!
We’re celebrating Friday with another fabulous new piece called “Bolero.” The saucy red color and stretching red ribbons remind us of a passionate dancer wrapped up in her art. A “bolero” is a slow-paced Latin dance, and we think this sculpture invokes the spirit of dance perfectly! This piece is available exclusively on Artful Home.
This Throwback Thursday goes out to all the elementary school kids, parents and teachers who are in the full throes of the Back to School madness! Hopefully this year brings many readings of the classic Dr. Seuss books. The whimsical and fantastical illustrations of Dr. Seuss inspired April to create series of flower sculptures in 2011. This one has a bold primary color palette with a totally Seussical vibe!
Today is “Read A Book” day according to our wacky holiday calendar. We’re all for reading, but when learning how to blow glass the best way is to get as much hands-on time as possible. April attended the College for Creative Studies where she could spend almost 24/7 in the glass studio. All those hours (plus thousands more after graduation) paid off!
Meet Brahma, the right-hand kitten in our Feline Dream Team! Brahma was hired on as the resident studio kitty at epiphany glass this past spring. She was born, like a phoenix, out of the fires of the Russell Industrial Center hot glass studios. Brahma graduated early with her PhD in Adorability and provides integral support to the day-to-day tasks of the studio. Her hobbies include climbing the screen door, taking cat naps on piles of paper, playing with string, and monitoring the overall efficiency and productivity of the studio. Meow!
You might not find a turquoise pumpkin in your garden, but our Blue Lagoon pumpkin shines in a gorgeous jewel tone. Check it out on our web store!
Yesterday we posted about the Michigan Humane Society Mega Marches. These are fun events where you can bring your dog out for a great day and support the MHS. But how can you get involved if you don’t have your own pup? Any purchase of our glass dogs will send a portion of the proceeds to the MHS! studio e doggies don’t shed, don’t bark, and will live forever! The perfect pet!
The Michigan Humane Society Mega Marches start Saturday, September 10! Take your pup on a lovely stroll Downriver – beautiful scenery and great camaraderie are sure to be in abundance. You can also join up with other Mega Marches at Belle Isle, Kensington, and Stony Creek! More info here.
“Red Sentinel” is the star of today’s Throwback Thursday! Dozens of red curls fit together to create a tapering tower of glass. We love how the sculpture looks a bit like one long ribbon of glass all tangled and knotted together. The shadows made by the curving glass introduce a spectrum of colors from the lone red.
It’s not too early to start priming your home decor for the refreshing cool days of autumn! After a hot summer, it feels so great to turn off the AC, trade out your iced coffee for a warm mug, and wait for the leaves to change to their glorious colors. Our Butterscotch Pumpkins celebrate the harvest season with its marigold hue.
There are some great subtle colors in this pulled flower bouquet. April’s glass is often wildly vibrant, but the more reserved colors really look great when nestled all together. The light plays off them in such a smooth, effortless way.
It’s Monday and so we want you to meet the #1 of our Feline Dream Team! Shiva works remotely from home most of the time, but occasionally comes into the studio to take care of some paperwork. If you’re one of her chosen favorites, she may deign to purr around your legs, but in her perfectly coy artist’s cat way, she’ll never stick around for long… she’s an independent lady!
Back to school in Michigan is just around the corner! We’ve got a few studio e pen holders that are just perfect for any teacher or student who wants to keep their desk space organized and looking beautiful. These make great gifts, too!
My, oh my do we love this Zanfirico bowl from the 2016 collection. It’s one big celebration of color and pattern here! The Zanfiricos are part of the classic epiphany line, but this year’s colors seem more vibrant than ever before!
Introducing the newest April Wagner sculpture, “Flambeaux!” Named after the gaslight torches that lined the streets of Mardi Gras in the 1800s, this sculpture is a burst of color and flair. Currently, this piece is available through the online art marketplace Artful Home. You can check out her profile here.
Glass and light go together like peanut butter and jelly! Today’s Throwback Thursday is to one of our favorite photos of the iconic epiphany Splash Vessel. This transparent aqua is simply gorgeous with a deeper turquoise stripe spiraling out from the center.
Attention, world! Our Fall 2016 studio e Glass Pumpkin collection is official available on our web store! Each pumpkin is handblown and made right here at epiphany. These pumpkins may be small, but they are rich in color and pattern. We’re pretty sure they’re the perfect way to usher in a beautiful fall! Visit www.epiphanyglassstore.com and click “studio e” to shop the collection.
Balance is the name of the game in “4 Stars Up.” The beauty in this piece is in the way the stars appear to float on top of each other. Even though each of these glass stars is fairly lightweight, it’s still a tricky process to get them to do their acrobatics so freely!
We’re back again with our Meet the Staff series! Today we want you to Meet Paul Runde! Paul has worked with epiphany since 2011. With over 20 years of glassblowing experience, Paul knows a thing or two about the best way to engineer, fabricate, transport, and display custom glass art. You might recognize him from some of our action photos because he often partners with April on installations! Thanks, Paul – the studio wouldn’t be the same without you!
April’s “Warp and Weft” pops off the wall like a jumble of bright ribbon. Pure white and electric red tangle together to create the warp and weft of this totally unconventional wall tapestry.
Here’s a glimpse of just a few of the lovely pumpkins we’re introducing this fall! Before we know it the leaves will be turning and the smell of pumpkin spice will be in the air… and everyone needs a charming glass pumpkin to grace their home! These will be on the web shop soon, so stay tuned!
We know you love our Throwback Thursdays, but how about we go crazy and have a little Flashback Friday!? (I know, we’re nuts.) “And the Pea” is a great piece with a fantastic title. We can just imagine the princess climbing up the layers and layers of glass mattresses and still feeling the tiny glass pea, disturbing her slumber.
How does a work of art go from individual glass pieces to fully developed wall mural? This time-lapse video shows the development of April’s newest piece “Evergreen” during installation. Seeing “Evergreen” start small and grow into a beautiful tree should give you an idea of the way April visualizes her art – many simple forms that come together to make a complex and dynamic whole.
Introducing the Petite Zanfirico! These small vessels are the mini-me to epiphany’s larger Zanfirico bowls. Although they stand a mere 7″ tall, they pack all the same punch and energy as their bigger counterparts. Perfect for nestling on a fireplace mantle or bookshelf among your other treasures.
Who watches FOX 2? Keep an eye out for some very special decor – our Michigan Humane Society decanter and glasses grace the kitchen set. These fun decanter sets can be purchased at our studio or on our web store! Click “store” above to shop.
What do you do when your glass sculpture needs a bath? Take it outside and soak that baby down! (Much easier done in the summer than our Michigan winters…)
Lighting makes all the difference with glass art! April’s new piece Evergreen is carefully spotlighted to throw beautiful shadows on the wall, magnifying the dimensionality of the piece. Concrete glass + intangible shadows = awesome composition.
This is for all you history buffs out there – archaeologists have uncovered the remains of an ancient glass factory! It’s awesome to see that the medium we still work with today has lasted so long. Read more about the discovery here.
Credit: Assaf Peretz, courtesy of Israel Antiquities Authority. Via www.livescience.com.
Mark your calendars – we’re hosting flower-making sessions on October 15, which just so happens to be Sweetest Day! If you’re looking for a great date activity, look no further than making a glass bouquet with us!
So many animals have been adopted at the new Michigan Humane Society’s Detroit facility – two cats made #999 and #1000 just yesterday, in fact! And with any purchase of our glass kitties, we’ll donate part back to this fantastic organization.
We found out that today is “National Lazy Day,” but who can celebrate that holiday when there’s amazing glass art to be made? Pieces like this Blue Peaz Bowl don’t come together on their own… each pea is blown and assembled by hand to create the stunning finale.
Tuesdays might not be the most thrilling day of the week, but we bet we can make yours a little brighter with this gorgeous shot of April’s “Primary Fete.” Those colors on a fresh white wall = pure visual delight! This piece has so much pop in it!
Meet Sherri and Jerry! When we have events and open studios, we call on Sherri and Jerry, husband and wife duo extraordinaire! From sales to packing glass to chatting with our guests or clients, these folks are there for us. Their impressive knowledge about glassblowing is just another reason that they’re such a great asset for the studio!
We’re finishing up our week of number crunching with an impressive stat… we work with our glass out of a furnace that heats up to 2,400˚ F. To put that in perspective, the surface of the sun is only a *bit* hotter at 10,000˚ F. So basically, glassblowers are some of the toughest, hottest people out there!
Our studio contains one of the largest and most sophisticated glory holes in the world. The glory hole is the chamber where glass is heated as it’s being blown and manipulated. The largest dimension of our glory hole is 52,” which means we can create single pieces of glass that are just a bit smaller than that. What’s your wingspan? 52” is probably almost as big as that!
Did you know that not all glass is created equal? The glass we use here is made up of 10 (count them!) ingredients: silica, soda ash, limestone, feldspar, lithium carbonate, sodium nitrate, zinc oxide, barium carbonate, fluorspar, and antimony oxide. You chemists out there will instantly recognize that when melted at 2000˚ this combination will produce crystal clear glass!
There are 1, 2, 3 ways to add color to glass. Rods of concentrated color can be added to clear glass after heating them in a color warmer. Frit, which is coarsely ground glass, can be added to achieve a spotted or speckled look. Lastly, finely ground colored powder can be used to layer multiple colors or create a gradated appearance. If you know one thing about April’s work, it’s that color is the name of the game, so she employs all of these methods on a regular basis.
In today’s installation of “Epiphany by the Numbers,” we’re counting 2 for the minimum number of glassblowers needed to create a work of art in the studio. Very few glass objects can be made by a single glassblower, that’s why this is a craft that relies on strong teamwork. Watching glassblowers work together is a bit like watching a dance – each member knows where to be and when to make sure the piece comes together smoothly!
Count along with us this week as we share some fun facts about epiphany! We’ll begin today with big ol’ #1. We have 1 giant furnace for holding clear glass. This furnace has been going strong for about 16 years, which is quite impressive for a furnace. Eventually we will have to repair the crack and rebuild the furnace, but it still works in the meantime! This baby runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – our #1 workhorse!
On this week’s edition of “Meet the Team,” we’d like you to meet Mike! When we need the handiest of handy men, we call Mike. He’s the definitive jack-of-all-trades, and assists with installations, engineering challenges, maintenance around the studio, and so much more! Thanks, Mike, for your amazing contributions to making this place run smoothly!
Moonlight Lily has to be one of our favorites. (Although who can really choose?) The cool colors are so calming, and then a little pop of rose is a fun surprise.
Did you know that epiphany’s studio was built by the same person who designed and built the studios of Dale Chihuly, Lino Tagliapietra, Steuben and the Corning Museum? Pretty awesome! It’s great to have world-class facilities at your fingertips.
All across the Detroit metro area, people are raising funds for the various Mega Marches in September! If you’re interested in joining up with these fun events, check out the Michigan Humane Society’s page for more information.
Image from michiganhumane.org
There’s nothing more Throwback Thursday worthy than a bunch of hot Old Schools! We don’t blame you if you’re drooling now.
As July winds down, it seems like summer is fading way too quickly. Even if you’re not a fan of seafood, April’s “Summer” panel for her Four Seasons series at the Stand Gastro Bistro exudes the laid-back ambiance of a warm evening by the shoreline.
Tornado decanter: $360.
Tornado decanter of second quality: $180.
TWO decanters of second quality: Buy one get one half off!
The joy of seeing a beautiful and functional piece of art in your own home? Priceless.
And the BOGO applies to all seconds in the studio! Shop our Summer Second Sale this Wednesday and Thursday, 4-7 pm. See you here!
It’s Monday, so we’re continuing our “Meet the Team” series. Today, we’d like you to meet Mary! Where would we be without the guiding light of our studio manager? We’d be in rough shape, that’s for sure. Mary runs this place like a boss, taking on everything from accounting to client relationships to events. Mary has been with the studio for about 5 years and we hope she’s here for many more!
Last week was National Ice Cream Day, but this week is a little bit more of a grown up holiday. It’s National Tequila Day! We get a lot of requests for tequila when we show off our liquor decanter sets at events. This beautiful gold set (made with real 23k gold!) is oh-so-classy.
Let’s play a game to see if you’re a glass expert! True or false? Mixing blue and red glass frit will give you purple glass if you put the furnace at the hottest temperature possible.
We’ve been adding videos to our YouTube page recently. There are some pretty awesome shots of glassblowing in action here, so be sure to check it out! You can even subscribe to our channel if you want to stay in on the excitement.
Sometimes it’s nice to have a few fun items on hand for that tricky moment when you need a last minute-hostess or birthday gift. Our flower paperweights are perfect for pretty much any occasion and they come in pretty much any color!
The Truth Booth is a very cool art project organized by artists Ryan Alexiev, Jim Ricks, Will Sylvester and Hank Willis Thomas. Inside the inflatable speech bubble, visitors are asked to fill in the blank: “The truth is _____.” Responses are recorded on video and the wide array of answers is pretty eye-opening. The Truth Booth is coming to Detroit at the end of July and there will be several opportunities to see it – we definitely encourage you to go and speak your truth!
Learn more about the Truth Booth.
Image from Cause Collective
It’s that time of year where everyone heads Up North for the weekends. April celebrated the Michiganders’ love for water and lakeside living in this “Lake Michigan Chandelier.”
Every Monday for the next few weeks we’re going to introduce you to one of our team here at epiphany. First up, meet Chris! An alum of the College for Creative Studies, Chris studied Animation and Digital Media but soon fell in love with glassblowing and never looked back. He’s a rockstar in the studio, assisting April on custom projects and bringing his own flair to studio e with a series of ornaments and pumpkins. Hands up for one awesome studio assistant!
It gets pretty hot in the glass shop this time of year. Good thing it’s National Ice Cream Day! Go out and get yourself a cone or two. What’s your favorite flavor?
We’re just over the moon for these little nest vases. Picking a favorite is nearly impossible…
We hope your Saturday is as carefree and relaxing as the calming colors in Violet Aqua Water Wall. Sparkly aquas + sea greens + deep purples = yes.
Throwback Thursday, “Christmas in July” edition! If you’ve ever wondered how April gets that perfect spiral on the Vivid Icicle ornaments, follow the link to our Facebook to see the mystery is revealed!
Click here to see the Vivid Icicles being made!
A heart ringholder is the perfect “just because” gift. Keep it by the kitchen sink or bedside table so you never lose your favorite jewelry!
Spring studio this year was a blast! We got some awesome photos from Detroit photographer Sebastian Sullen of our open studio and are having fun reliving the memories.
Using centripetal force is one of the best ways to change the shape of hot glass quickly and evenly! Then a steel rod becomes an extension of April’s hand as she shapes the piece further. Check out the video here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBVY02Xn7-j/?taken-by=epiphanyglass
“Prepare to be Blown Away!” We love this title! Thanks to Allison Rosbury and My City Magazine for a fantastic feature on April.
Read the story here!
Photo by Eric Dutro
Do you know what this is? No, it’s not a pile of crushed ice… it’s our leftover clear glass! Whenever April blows glass, there are little pieces that get trimmed along the way. We throw these clear bits in a bin to cool down. We can recycle clear glass a few times before it loses the clarity that is so important for April’s work.
All work and no play makes Brahma a sleepy kitty. Happy Friday, everyone!
We haven’t done one of these in a while… it’s Throwback Thursday! “Floating Bubbles” graces the wall at the Hideout Restaurant in Hollwood, California. With its expansive size and dramatic lighting, we can imagine a great many selfies are taken up against this backdrop.
“This project is a gamechanger for us.” We echo the Flint Institute of Art’s director John Henry’s sentiments. We are happy to cheer on the Flint Institute of Arts as they break ground on their own hot shop! Very excited to see this fantastic museum invest in artmaking.
Read on here.
Today is “Transformation Tuesday.” Can you believe that something so sparkly, clear and beautiful starts out as a simple mix of powdered minerals? Add a little color and a whole lotta talent and voila!
We usually call these sculptures “lilies” but they could just as easily be fireworks for the 4th of July! We hope everyone is having a safe and fun holiday!
Our patriotic ornaments make a great statement throughout the summer. The bright colors and simple patterns are perfect for hanging in a brightly lit room – then add it to your Christmas tree in December!
The holiday weekend is upon us! April created a line of patriotic ornaments that are perfect to hang in your window. The little stars are called “murrine” and start out as a cylinder of cane that is sliced into tiny discs. Then the cross-section of a star is revealed and placed onto the hot glass in the desired pattern. We still have some of these ornaments available on our web shop… click “Store” above to shop our selection!
Happy half birthday to the year 2016! What’s that saying… “Time flies when you’re having fun!” With a lot of projects on the horizon, this year is speeding along. We love being busy, though!
April installing “Primary Fete,” 2010
It’s that time of year when everyone needs to make sure to stay hydrated – and that includes your furry friends! You can give your pets the royal treatment with one of our beautiful handblown glass pet bowls. Glass doesn’t leech toxins like metal or plastic, so it’s the perfect way to make sure your pet’s drinking water is safe. And the bottoms of our bowls are no skid so you can have no worries! Each bowl benefits the Michigan Humane Society.
If you’ve ever watched even 2 minutes of glassblowing, you know what an amazing spectacle it can be. These artists are taking the performativity of glassblowing to a whole new level!
It’s getting hot, hot, HOT here in Michigan. But the 90-degree temps are nothing compared to the blazing 2400 degrees of our reheating chamber. This gig isn’t for the weak…
Monday mornings have got us feeling a little like April’s kinetic sculpture… lazily twirling whenever the breeze wafts by.
Today is our last day of the epiphany alphabet and it’s a good one! Around here, Z is for “Zanfirico!” These awesome vessels are crafted with colored cane that we make here in the studio. April arranges pieces of cane in various patterns and then the cane is picked up with a gather of clear hot glass. See Marc in action as he picks up the cane for a few zany Zanfiricos.
Y is for “You! (Yes, YOU!)” We probably don’t say it enough. Without the support of our friends near and far, epiphany studios wouldn’t exist. Whether you’ve bought an artwork, attended our open studio events, or introduced us to your friends, we appreciate YOU!
epiphany glass spring open studio 2016
Oy. Today’s letter of the day is X… before you judge us for this one, we challenge you to find a glassblowing term that starts with X! In the meantime, X is for “X-ing Boundaries” (as in *Crossing* Boundaries). Did you know that glassblowing is a field largely dominated by men? While we love ourselves some burly glassblowing hunks, you gotta give it up for April’s hustle and determination to make a name for herself despite the odds!
We’re celebrating everyone’s favorite letter … W is for Wine! The epiphany decanters are always a classy statement. From the performativity of a Tornado decanter to the cool and sophisticated Kayan, epiphany decanters are truly works of art.
Long-time epiphany fans will appreciate this one… V is for Volcano! April recently made a few of these throwback pieces and we captured the moment for you. The Volcano is a classic epiphany piece that pairs a base of clear bitwork with a gracefully waving body.
We may be biased, but we think U is for “Unstoppable!” April’s work continues to evolve as she refines her skills – even a master glass artist keeps growing and learning every day! She’s not stopping anytime soon…
T is for “Tweezers” and no, we’re not making any comments about your eyebrows… Our tweezers are HUGE and used in a lot of different projects. If you’ve ever made a glass flower with us, you’ve used the tweezers to shape the petals!
As you can imagine, S is a big letter for us. S is for “Sculpture,” “studio e,” “Splash Bowls” and “Shiva” (our “Studio” kitty)! All of these S words are just part of a day’s work at epiphany glass. Jealous yet?
Piggybacking off of yesterday’s post, we’re talking about another of the elements April employs for her sculptures. Today is R for “Rondelle!” A rondelle is a flat, circular disk that can be made in any size (as long as it can still fit in the reheating chamber!) The rondelle is created by spinning the pipe and taking advantage of centripetal force.
Bet you thought today would have us tripped up, but we are celebrating Q for “Ques!” Most of April’s sculptures involve a lot of smaller glass pieces combined together to create a larger work. A “Que” is one type of these smaller pieces – a flat ribbon of glass that twists or curls in a unique line. All of the Ques have a unique shape, but they become recognizable by their general style and proportion.
Today’s letter is P and our word might be new to you. P is for “Punty Rod” and we can’t make glass without one! This is the rod that attaches to the hot glass and allows us to hold onto the glass while we’re shaping it.
O is for “Ornaments” at epiphany and even though it’s not the holidays, we’re of the opinion that these gorgeous baubles can be hung all year round!
Whether it’s one of the originals or a brand new piece, around here, N is for “Nest!” The nest works show the many ways hot glass can be used – from the delicate strands of clear glass to the clarity of each colored core, the nest vases have it all!
Where would we be without M for “Marc?” One of our talented glassblowers, Marc VandenBerg brings a fantastic set of skills to our studio and helps us with a multitude of projects. One of Marc’s fortes is lampworking, which is a detailed sculpting of glass. Follow him over on Instagram at @marco2150 to see some great videos of his work.
April’s most recent show focuses on L for “Lilies!” If you get a chance to make it over to the Inn at Harbor Shores in St. Joseph, Michigan, you can see “View Through a Colored Prism,” an exhibit which highlights April’s large floral sculptures. (Not to mention, you can check out L’eau d’Vie – the largest chandelier April has ever made!)
Photo by Don Campbell, Herald-Palladium Staff
Photo by Don Campbell, Herald-Palladium Staff
K might be our favorite letter of the whole alphabet because K stands for “Kitties!” April is a huge animal lover and it shows through everything from our partnership with the Michigan Humane Society to the newest member of our team, Brahma. If you want to be part of the furry love here, you can shop our pet products on the epiphany webstore. Click on “store” above and then “MHS Gifts.”
Glassblowers use a very unique set of tools, one of which is our letter of the day, J for “Jacks!” The jacks consist of two long, metal arms that are connected at a spring-loaded joint. In this video, you can see April using the jacks to narrow the neck of the glass bubble she’s working with. No project happens without the jacks!
Over the years, epiphany glass has created some truly unique glass art, and that’s why I stands for “Innovative.” Whether it’s the flared body of a massive Volcano, or the delicate strands of a nest vase, April has been making work that’s truly one-of-a-kind. Watching her push the limits of glass on a daily basis is a pretty cool thing! #epiphanyABC
ABCDEFG… H! Now that we’re back on track with our #epiphanyABC, you might be able to guess that H is for “Hotshop!” This name is especially apt as the weather warms up outside, giving our air conditioner a run for its money. April and the team start working extra early in the summer to beat the heat.
Whoops – when we asked you if you knew your ABC’s, we should have double checked our own kindergarten knowledge…. We totally skipped F! Which is a shame, because F stands for “Flowers” here at epiphany! Not only does our studio have a sweet little garden outside, we’ve also got pretty flowers on the inside (and those last through the rough Michigan winters, too)!
The epiphany alphabet gets a little crazy when it comes to the letter G! Around here, G is for “Glass,” “Gallery,” “Gifts,” and “Gaffer” (the word for a professional Glassblower.) But maybe we’re most fond of G for “Glory Hole,” the hottest reheating chamber on the block. If you’re feeling gutsy, take a whirl with a piece of glass in this video. #epiphanyABC
Is it cheating if we say that E is for “epiphany?” Well, we’re happy to “Educate” you on the “Evolution” of our business’s “Epithet!” When April started “epiphany” in 1996, she was “Exploring” terms that could describe her “Expertise” in creating art. “epiphany” means an insight in to the “Essence” of an object or material. That’s “Exactly” what she was doing with her creative “Experiments” in glass. And the rest is history! We hope this lesson has been “Edifying.” 
D is for “Decanter” here at epiphany! Over the years, April has developed several unique designs that not only perform but look good doing it. A decanter might be a piece of functional glass, but there is definitely a fine art to making one. #epiphanyABC
In the epiphany alphabet, C stands for “Chris,” our studio assistant who rocks our socks! Unlike many art forms, glassblowing is definitely not a solo act. Most recently, Chris was part of the team that made over 500 glass tumblers for a special Detroit Grand Prix project. That’s persistence! #epiphanyABC
We’re continuing on with our epiphany ABC’s today and if you’re just joining us, have no fear! We’re only on B, which around here stands for “Bubble!” Many of April’s large commissions utilize the basic element of a glass bubble to create something great and marvelous. These chandeliers are the perfect example of the power of creativity. #epiphanyABC
Do you know your ABC’s? You’re probably thinking, “Of course I do, DUH!” But do you know your epiphany ABC’s? School may be out for the summer, but we’re going to teach you a thing or two. At epiphany glass, A is for “Annealer,” the special furnace that the glass goes into to cool down at a slow and steady pace. This removes stress from the glass so that it doesn’t break as easily. Don’t be fooled, the annealer is HOT too – starting out around 900 degrees. (Oh yeah, and it goes without saying that A stands for “April”… )
Happy Tuesday (that probably feels like a Monday if you had the day off yesterday)! This is a fun wall piece that reminds us of paper clips or bobby pins. Such simple forms, such a great juxtaposition!
Happy Memorial Day! We hope you’re out there celebrating the good people who have sacrificed for our country.
The Detroit Grand Prix is right around the corner! April’s “Racer” swoops with the zip and movement of any great racecar.
We get it. It can be tough (even impossible!) to buy art for someone else. What color, what style, will it “go?” That’s why we’re now offering epiphany gift cards! These can be purchased in any amount over $25 and make the perfect gift …. You can’t go wrong!
We’re excited to be going back to the Garden Party again this year! This is a great fundraiser that supports local students pursue their education in trade programs such as culinary studies and applied technologies. We can’t think of anything more worthy! We’ll be featuring our full line of beautiful decanters this year!
Learn more here.
We just updated our web shop with new glass kitties! These fun pieces have far and away been the most popular from our Michigan Humane Society series. New items include a few sleeping kitties – these go quickly, so nab them while you can! Click “Store” to shop.
“Rabbit Lives at Claire’s House” is certainly our new favorite sculpture. So many little surprises in this one!
Ever dropped your phone to find the glass totally shattered? Those days may soon be long behind us… part II to yesterday’s sweet video on advancements in glass. (Plus a great high-speed camera capture of a St. Rupert’s drop!)
Take a few minutes today to watch this really awesome video by the Mythbusters dudes. We bet you’ll learn something you never knew before – like that the internet would probably not exist without glass! (Not to mention, their high-speed cameras are AWESOME.)
April has always been involved in the local arts community. As a board member of the Friends of Modern and Contemporary Art at the DIA, she gets to help plan awesome programming for those who love contemporary art! If that’s YOU, head on over to the FMCA Facebook page and give them a follow – they post fun articles on art and announcements about local events!
Find their Facebook page here.
Get involved with the FMCA and be a part of the art scene at the DIA!
We’re in the process of creating a new website and so we’re re-editing a LOT of photos! This means a daily walk down memory lane. This sculpture takes us way back to 2004 when April started making her gorgeous lilies. This “Wing Lily” looks like it’s about to taking off in flight!
According to our wacky calendar, today is “Be a Millionaire” day. What would you do with a million dollars? We’d probably fire up the giant furnace and make some pieces just for fun.
FOX 2 in Detroit just installed a new kitchen for their cooking segments and it’s totally outfitted with April’s work! Let’s play “I spy.” How many epiphany pieces can you find?
Did you know that you can keep your memories of a loved one who has passed away in a beautiful paperweight? Cremated ashes are transformed into delicate bubbles when combined with clear and colored glass.
Our very own epiphany “celebrity” was interviewed by the Michigan Humane Society in their recent issue of Michiganimals! Since this interview, April has adopted another little girl kitty, too!
Happy Friday! Just a little shot of April’s personal collection of paperweights. Gorgeous!
“Rabbit Lives at Claire’s House” has extravagant vibrancy and color. This piece traveled to Flint where it will be raffled off at the Flint Institute of Art’s Party, their annual summer fundraiser. This event is a great way to support one of our state’s major art institutions, not to mention you could go home with this beauty!
Get tickets here!
Chris is spending the afternoon in this beautiful field of flowers! Each one will be signed with the name of the person who made them at our spring studio last weekend. Thanks to all who joined in on the floral fun!
Did you miss our spring show this past weekend? Have no fear, we’ve got lots of beautiful pieces available on our web store. Shop everything from studio e gifts to April Wagner sculptures!
Click “store” above to go to our shop!
Whew! Thanks to everyone who came out this weekend to make it a successful spring show! Your support is what keeps us going… thanks for shopping local!
Today’s the last day of our spring show! We won’t be open to the public again until December, so make sure you stop by today! We’ve got gifts for graduations, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays, and more. See you from 12-6 pm today!
Hmmm… it feels like something super special is happening today…. Oh YEAH! It’s the epiphany glass spring open studio! If you’ve ever wondered what the inside of a glass shop looks like, or if you’re an old fan, we invite you over to our studio today. It’s going to be a good day full of glassblowing in action and beautiful art! (Not to mention you can pick up that last minute Mother’s Day gift…) Doors are open from 12-6 – hope to see you!
Gifts available include heart paperweights, pen holders, MHS pet products and more!
Have you heard? We’re open tomorrow from 12-6 pm for the 2016 epiphany spring show! Here’s what you can expect…
– Glassblowers in action! See how the magic is made!
– Feel the power of our furnaces running at full blast… 2400 degrees hot.
– Bask in the sparkle of colorful glass art everywhere you look!
– Pick out the perfect Mother’s Day gift … it’s not too late!
– Chat with the artists of epiphany and our MHS volunteers!
Needless to say, we’ll definitely see you here. ☺
Happy Cinco de Mayo! For all you tequila lovers out there, we recommend a delicious margarita served up from one of our fun paw print decanters!
This is a great blog post by Michigan Humane Society president Matthew Pepper that highlights the lengths the MHS goes to in order to keep pets with loving families. Life might throw you some challenges, but the MHS is there for you and your furry friend!
Read the post here.
Check out a sneak peek of the pieces we’ll have at our spring show this weekend! Thanks to FOX 2 for hosting April last week!
Back in the depths of winter, April made a whole garden of new glass flowers. Come check out the glorious colors at our open studio this weekend!
Happy May Day! In lieu of dancing around a May pole today, we’re just reveling in the beautiful flowers of spring.
Ok, the official countdown is ON! Only 7 days until our spring open studio! We’re only open twice a year, so make sure you put this event on your calendar. There are still spots open if you want to make your own glass flower, or just join us to hang out and see the studio in action. It’s going to be a fun weekend!
Looking for something to do tonight? The College for Creative Studies Alumni Exhibition will be opening at the Center Galleries with a reception from 6-8pm. April’s work will be part of the show, along with other talented CCS alums from around the country. Come on out to see some truly awesome art!
Details here.
April has been on the road installing an exhibit of her work at the Inn in Harbor Shores in St. Joseph, Michigan. You can see it starting May 13!
Read more here!
‘Cobalt Lemon Cranberry Lily’ by April Wagner
April Wagner, “Sitting Pretty”
“Rabbit Lives at Claire’s House” is one of April’s newest sculptures commissioned for the Flint Institute of Arts annual Party fundraiser. This piece is such a fun celebration of nature and color!
Nothing gets our guests smiling more than the moment when they see their own creation come to life. You can make a glass flower with us at our spring show and experience the fun for yourself! We’ll be open May 7-8 and we still have open sessions on both days. Call us at 248-745-3786 to reserve your spot.
If this chandelier doesn’t send your heart pitter-pattering, we don’t know what to tell ya! The subtle colors of whiskey and ivory provide a surprising but chic contrast to the muted pink walls.
A former townhouse in Amsterdam gets a stunning makeover with a facade of glass. This is such an awesome and unique way to integrate glass into architecture. Glass always seems so fragile, but used in the right way it can be an extraordinarily strong material!
See the full story here.
Photos by Daria Scagliola and Stijn Brakkee, from dezeen.com
We’re getting the studio so fresh and so clean today for an event that was donated to the College for Creative Studies wine auction last fall. We love these events because we know the funds go to such a great cause!
In case you missed it, our glass is on display at the Bloomfield Public Library! Our mini show is only up until April 28, so be sure to stop by to see it before it’s gone!
Have you reserved your spot to try your hand at glassblowing at our spring show? It’s pretty hard to do glassblowing at home (we don’t recommend playing with fire unattended…) so why not take the opportunity to use our state-of-the-art facilities? Call us at 248-745-3786 and we’ll get you set up!
Whenever April makes a large sculpture there are always pieces leftover. And what do we do with all those extras? Sometimes they get made into coordinating artwork as in the case of “Turchina Filirana.” The clients were so in love with their wall piece that they requested a second, smaller table piece. Good thing there’s all those spare parts…
Today we’re spending the morning cuddling puppies and kittens at the Michigan Humane Society’s Bow Wow Brunch! Have we made you jealous? This Pawesome (ha. Ha. Ha.) event raises funds for homeless animals in our city. Such a great cause!
This retriever/husky mix, “Snow,” is currently available for adoption at the MHS. Find more info about snow here. We love how his cute ears look just like our pups!
Snow, a siberian husky/labrador retriever mix. Photo from michiganhumane.org.
You don’t have to be a oenophile to enjoy an epiphany decanter. This Stella decanter would look just lovely displayed as a piece of art. Beauty and function coming together as one? Perfect.
Stella Decanter
We’ve got new kitties in our studio! Our spring show will feature these sweet friends in a multitude of colors.
Time for a little Throwback Thursday! We love the play of colors amongst these transparent discs. And the punch packed by the colorful piece is simply terrific!
At any given moment, our studio has a table full of sculpture parts waiting to be made into something beautiful. April really has the magic touch when she creates her sculptures!
Our Mother’s Day flower-making sessions are getting booked up faster than you can say “Love ya, mom!” And what better way to show your momma a little love than to spend some quality time with her? Call us to book your flower-making spot at our open studio, May 7-8, 6-12 pm. 248-745-3786!
Happy Monday! This colorful piece always makes us smile. Can you imagine getting to see this in your house every day?
We’re very excited to be back at the Bow Wow Brunch again this year! Every year, the Michigan Humane Society hosts a fabulous brunch with silent auction items, delicious food and of course, adoptable furry friends! We’ll be there too with some awesome glass critters. As always, a portion of our proceeds will benefit the MHS. Tickets are still available for this family-friendly event – April 17 at 11:30 am! Get more info here.
April is known around Michigan as Glassblowing Month! To highlight our craft, the Bloomfield Township Public Library is displaying some of April’s works at their location on Telegraph and Lone Pine Road. Head over to see them – beautiful glass in an equally beautiful library!
Sometimes the perfect gift isn’t a thing, it’s an experience! Our Spring Open Studio is over Mother’s Day weekend this year, and what better way to celebrate than treating your mom to a glassblowing session? Pick up a gift card for $50 and let her make her own glass flower at our studio – it’s a lot of fun!
New Zanfirico bowls will star at our Spring Open Studio. These beautiful bowls are a favorite of art collectors and glass art lovers alike. To make them, April and her team utilize traditional Italian techniques to create patterns out of handmade cane. Each one is unique – we never use the same pattern twice!
Have you been loving our inside-look glassblowing videos? We’ve got even more good stuff on our Instagram. Follow us over there at @epiphanyglass!
If you’re like us and interested in art museums, check out this lecture at the DIA by Whitney Museum of American Art director Adam Weinberg. He’ll explore how the architecture of the Whitney has evolved over the years and informs the way museum ethos. The lecture is Thursday, April 7 at 6:30.
Get info here!
We have some exciting news! We are now offering epiphany glass gift cards! These cards are the perfect way to give someone a flower-making session at our Spring Open Studio. (Hint, hint, stellar Mother’s Day idea!)
A few weeks ago, each and every resident of the old MHS facility in Detroit trotted, walked and ran down the street to the brand spankin’ new animal care center (with plenty of stops to sniff along the way). You won’t regret watching this pet parade video – see what the MHS is all about and you’ll understand why we continue to support this amazing organization.
April (the month, not the person!) has arrived and that means spring is REALLY on its way, right? We have to admit though, we’re a bit sad that March and the epiphany rainbow is over. It was so much fun to see April’s (the person’s, not the month’s) work through the color spectrum. Let’s enjoy it one last time…
The farm to table trend is nothing new – check out these spaghetti farmers in Switzerland!
Today marks the last day of our epiphany rainbow! We hope you’ve enjoyed our travels through the chromatic spectrum. We’re ending the rainbow with the most classic “color” for glass – crystal clear. April’s crystal chandelier is a pure celebration of the media of glass. Sparkly from every angle, this piece de resistance is just fab!
The smoky gray tones of this swan sculpture are anything but dreary! Sometimes a neutral palette is the most sophisticated way to go, especially if you start off with a gorgeous, clear embellished base.
Two lavender curls top off this “Burberries” sculpture. We love the repeating circular forms layered over each other in this piece.
April made this piece for a Florida residence and it perfectly complements the mood and feel of a seaside life. The violet curls really add dimension and depth to the field.
We’re vibing on the springy colors of the Candy Shop Chandelier today. We hope all of the Easter eggs you find are full of yummy candy!
One of the coolest parts of transparent glass is the way the colors deepen when you look through several layers at once. This purple thistle sculpture is the perfect example!
These little burberries are the most fantastic indigo! Sometimes you don’t need a lot going on to make a sculpture truly shine.
We’re nearing the end of our epiphany rainbow, but we’re getting into some of the prettiest colors! Blues and purples are always popular. This gorgeous lily is full of shades of navy. The play of light on a piece like this makes it seem different every time you see it.
There aren’t too many royal blue flowers in nature, but the great thing about glass is that you can make it any color you want! This bright color looks so deep and reflective on the petals of one of April’s newest flowers.
Cornflower blue is such a lovely shade and some of the vertebrae on “Backbone” are just the ticket! When April made this sculpture for the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, she included one “bone” for each of the chamber’s 100 years of activity. Local businesses make up the backbone of our community – we’re glad to be part of this body of people!
This one is a fan favorite! “L’eau d’Vie” is definitely the largest hanging piece April has undertaken. With hundreds of hanging components, the visual effect is certainly impactful. We love the sky blue color that makes up so many of the hand-blown orbs.
Seafoam dreams await for you within this sweet sculpture. April achieves a soft, wrapped-up feel here – quite the feat when you’re dealing with glass!
The epiphany splash bowls are definitely a fan favorite. The stripes of this turquoise striped bowl shows off the curving perimeter of the vessel. Simple choices like color and pattern really count in a piece like this!
Olive is our color of the day and we’re really loving the muted green tones in April’s “Earth” sculpture from the Four Elements series.
Legend says that when you look at mythical Medusa with her snake-filled hair, you’ll turn to stone. Not so much with April’s “Medusa” nest. That emerald green color teeming throughout is just stunning!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! What a coincidence that our color of the day for the epiphany rainbow is kelly green! April’s “Delta” sculpture for Strategic Staffing Solutions is one of our favorites. Although its completely monochrome, the beautiful curls and swirls make this sculpture exciting and dynamic.
It’s a day for bright, sassy LIME as we color the rainbow here at epiphany! This little sketch sculpture is almost exactly the color of the citrus fruit. Now who’s ready for a little lime in their margarita? “You put da lime in da coconut and drink it all up…”
If you’ve been following us on Instagram, you may have noticed that April uses the word “juicy” to describe a particularly great sculpture. This sculpture is named “Juicy” and ow, ow! That chartreuse color is oh-so-bold.
Tan probably doesn’t strike you as the most exciting of colors, but today this beige gets an epiphany rainbow makeover! “Sahara Dancer” has anthropomorphic qualities as the two dancers engage in their tango.
“All that glitters is gold…”
April’s Gold Cirrus Chandelier certainly sparkles like all things gold! The rich color is perfect for its warm surroundings.
Today’s color is yellow and this sculpture actually seems to be celebrating the vibrancy and excitement of its own hue! We see a dancer leaning backward and reaching up with an extended arm. This is the best part about art – seeing something beautiful and inspirational in simple shapes and forms.
The color lemon feels so fresh after a long winter. “Insolent Dragon” rears its bright head with attitude. It certainly spices up this contemporary dining room.
Peach is the color of the hour in this sculpture, “Three Sahara.” Each curl is such a subtle, sophisticated color. We’re loving it.
The glass really glows in this shot of “Solar Flare” for today’s color, tangerine. This hot color is so spicy!
To highlight today’s color orange, we have a really unique sculpture made for the Farmington Hills City Hall. The glass blades slowly spin as air moves throughout the atrium of the building. April hasn’t made a ton of kinetic sculptures, but this one is pretty darn cool.
We see shades of mango in April’s “Feu Nymphe.” In fact, this curly pyramid contains a lot of shades of tropical fruits – we see oranges, bananas, pineapple… and now we’re hungry.
Day 6 of our epiphany rainbow is red. Sometimes we overlook primary colors as too plain, but “Red Sentinel” destroys any notion of plain or boring. This sculpture stands at the ready and looks totally fierce.
