Meet recycled glass artist, Jennifer Worden!

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

My name is Jennifer Worden. I live in Akron, Ohio with my husband, daughter, three cats, and dog. In my spare time, and when Ohio weather allows, I enjoy gardening. I’ve been kiln-firing and torchworking glass for 11 years.

What drew you to your craft?

When I was in high school I remember watching a PBS special about Dale Chihuly and his Venice installations. I was mesmerized by the pieces and felt drawn to glass art. Since glass blowing is not something that you can do at home, I began torchworking and kiln firing glass.

What is your favorite thing you have ever made?

Right now, my favorite piece is a mobile that I created a few months ago for a group show at Summit ArtSpace. It is by far the largest and most challenging piece I have created. It ended up being 8 feet tall and 4 feet in diameter and was taller than the ceiling in my studio, so I didn’t get to see how it moved until it was installed in the gallery.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was in elementary school, I wanted to be a florist when I grew up. I began college with the intention of becoming a horticulturist, but everyone on campus assumed I was an art major. I ended up leaving college after my first year and started on my art and maker journey.

How would you describe your creative process?

Ideas usually come to me when I’m driving, which is very inconvenient. I have a notepad with me so I can write it down as soon as I’m able to park. I’m not much for sketching. I might do a rough, basic outline but most of the time I write down words and descriptions to capture my idea. My process is very experimental. It usually takes a few tries of trial and error to achieve what I had in mind.

What advice would you give yourself 10 years ago?

If I could go back, I wish I would have started using recycled glass and also started creating more non-jewelry pieces earlier on in my career.

Why is it important to support local artists and makers?

When you support local artists and makers, you are not only supporting their art, you are also supporting the broader community and giving a value to art and items that are handmade.

Why do you love doing what you do?

I truly have the need to create and I’m grateful to be able to share my art with the public.

What advice do you have for other makers who want to start their own business?

It’s important to either build or become a part of a maker community. Having people who work in different mediums or have a different process can allow you to look at things in a different way and help you to grow as an artist or maker.

You can find Jennifer Worden’s artwork in the shop, including glass trees, birds, cacti and more!