Bold Journey interview - a sneak peak
About Bold Journey magazine
Recently I was contacted by the Bold Journey online magazine which was developed to tell "the stories, experiences and insights of our neighbors, friends and peers that are worth more than all the wealth in the world, as these stories are the most relevant and authentic sources of wisdom.
Their love of the storytelling format comes from our founding of VoyageLA almost a decade ago, where they ask folks to share the story of their lives and how they got to where they are today. there are so many lessons and so much wisdom within our communities – but not nearly enough coverage. Living life boldly means exposing yourself to all sorts of risk – risk of loss, risk of criticism and judgement, risk of mental, emotional, or physical distress."
Here is a sneak peek into my latest interview:
Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
"My purpose found me in a way…..sort of by fate. I saw someone flameworking in a mall back in 1988 and was intrigued by the flame and the glass and how he was able to pull a sculpture out of clear glass rods with just his hands. It really was fascinating! Being a very inquisitive person, I asked about the torch, where to get the glass, and what was needed. I was also a natural entrepreneur in that I always wanted to do my own thing and found a sort of power and purpose in creating my own artwork, which in turn, created my own income for myself, even though it was a struggle. I didn’t know I would be good at it, but I knew I was drawn to it, and it turned into a passion.
Purpose is the reason you get up in the morning and work hard to fulfill a need or a realize a dream. The work itself is satisfying because of the end result which is a beautiful piece of glass that captures a particular moment in time when it was made. My work challenges my creativity, my abilities, my talent, and my mental and physical strength. My purpose is to create and share something of beauty into the world and into the marketplace."
Read the rest of the interview below:
Meet Melanie Cech - Sumner - Bold Journey Magazine
"MADE HERE 2" Exhibit opening reception - you're invited!
JOIN ME FOR COCKTAILS AT THE CHIHULY!
Friday, October 27th, 2023 - 6-8 PM
Don't Miss this event - buy your tickets now!
This exclusive exhibition showcases multiple artist talks, all featuring Morean Glass Studio artists.
Located at the Chihuly Collection, you can meet the artists, enjoy live music from Deb Ruby, and learn the backstory behind the artwork in this special exhibition. (Exhibit opens Sept. 23rd)
These featured artists from ‘Made Here 2’ special exhibition will present on their art during scheduled gallery talks and mingle among their work throughout the evening. Enjoy light snacks, complimentary cocktails and an after-hours look at the Chihuly Collection.
Most of our visitors know the Glass Studio as the place to see live glass-blowing demonstrations, but it’s also home to local artists who share their knowledge of glass via personal “experiences,” workshops and classes, and who use the Morean’s studio (or other local studios) to make their own personal work. We’re proud to say that all the work in this exhibition was MADE HERE.
$55 General Admission / $50 Members
Participating artists:
Dan Alexander, Harry Boux, Melanie Cech, Patsy Monk, Adam Pacini, Susanne Sangricco, Anjali Singh, Tim Soluna, Benjamin Ugol, Kelsey Wright, and Christian Zvonik.
UPCOMING EVENT - ART SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT
ART UNDER THE STARS - 47TH ANNUAL MAITLAND ART FESTIVAL
Mark your calendars for the weekend of Nov. 10th - 12th, 2023 at Lake Lily Park in Maitland! It's been several years since I've exhibited my artwork in Central Florida - Don't miss it!
One of Florida's finest juried art shows, the 47th Annual Maitland Rotary Art Festival “Art Under the Stars,” is held at Lake Lily Park in Maitland, one of the most affluent suburbs of Orlando, Florida. The 47th Maitland Rotary Art Festival titled, “Art Under the Stars” includes a full weekend format, opening on Friday evening, November 10th through Sunday, November 12th.
The lakeside park is inviting with the cooler November days. With live entertainment, displays and demonstrations from our cultural partners, student art exhibits from our local schools and a Patron Program, the Maitland Rotary Art Festival is one of kind. Only 145 artists will be accepted for a place in this juried show.
Hours: 5PM to 9PM Friday evening, 10AM to 9PM Saturday and 10AM to 4PM on Sunday, surrounding Lake Lily in Maitland, Florida
Photo Gallery
Pearl Nautilus with tendrils in aqua, blue and green on coral base
Large custom octopus on Rare Black octopus coral - $1850.00
Angelfish earrings in turquoise and green
Red and butterscotch frit squid on coral
Octopus, new Charcoal and caramel frit - $300.00
Triple blue dolphins on white and blue coral - white gold trim
New Product - Sculpture ACCESSORY and furniture protector
New! - Colorful Resin Base for your sculptures!
Custom made resin bases are the perfect addition to any sculpture! They are great protective layers to place under any coral base sculpture to avoid any scratching on your furniture and also add another layer of texture or shine! They are completely customizable -you can choose the size, shape, and color or texture you prefer to pair with your sculpture! See color option photo included to choose your perfect match.
About my artwork
My flamework glass sculptures and jewelry are made with borosilicate glass rods. The pieces are sculpted in an oxygen/propane flame, trimmed with 22kt gold, an. All pieces are unique, one-of-a-kind designs, that are set in natural corals, shells, and stones that represent my love for sun, sand, and sea.
Photo Gallery
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