Mooncatchers let glass art shine day and night

"Our mooncatchers have the appearance of fine cut glass that sparkles and dances in any level of light," said John Damron, president of AMIA Studios.

The art form is created from multifaceted, hand-cut pieces of beveled glass that are glued on to hand-painted backgrounds. This process allows for a higher quantity of light to be reflected, unlike catchers that are pieced together in framed segments.

AMIA manufactures its own glass and uses rippleglass (a natural-surfaced, textured glass with a rolling wave appearance similar to cathedral glass), which gives its products more dimension than the flat glass typically used in glass art.

The line, which offers a sense of serenity with its nature-themed designs, captures the beauty of botanics, birds, butterflies and sea life, and offers inspirational and religious icons such as the dove, the cross and the Star of David.

In addition to glass works featuring color, the company offers a more pristine collection, moonburst mooncatchers, which are clear glass designs made from hand-cut beveled glass in diamond, circular and petal shapes. Mooncatchers are priced from $15-$40.

From the Gardens of Sharon is a mixed-media offering of porcelain and glass. The line is a series of hand-crafted porcelain flowers applied to beveled glass crosses representing the Bible scripture, "I am the rose of Sharon, a lily of the valley (Song of Solomon 2:1)." Designs are calla lilies, tulips, iris, daffodils, roses and wedding bells.

Quilt Square Window Panes, square-shape suncatchers in white wood frames by artist Ursula Michael, pay homage to the folk art of quilting. Patterns include the rose wreath, triple tulips, "friendships are stitched with love" and bed of posies.

Also new to AMIA's 2003 line is the Hymn in the Cross collection, a line of six ornate hand-painted glass crosses on wooden bases that feature verses of popular hymns such as "Amazing Grace," "Rock of Ages," "The Old Rugged Cross," "Blessed Assurance," "Grace Greater Than Our Sin" and "Near the Cross."

A new offering in the Shining Moments (patriotic-themed) collection is a stars-and-stripes-designed glass cross that reads, "One Nation Under God."