mission statement of a local St. Pete artist

VISION

Seeing things in my own way and knowing that I have the skills to create these glass sculptures brings my VISION into existence. Each piece reflects my love for sun, sand, sea, and the natural world and my VISION drives my CREATIVITY!

CREATIVITY

Resourcefulness, vision, and my unique perspective on life fuels my CREATIVITY. Pushing myself to work in a physically challenging space and industry builds my endurance, determination, and STRENGTH.

STRENGTH

The laser focus needed to create my artwork requires STRENGTH of mind, body, and spirit and is essential to maintaining and building my business and professional brand. The relationships that I develop along the way makes this lifelong journey all worthwhile!

ARTIST BIO

I was born in the Chicago area and moved to Florida at the age of 15. After high school, I was introduced to flameworking after watching a man make glass sculptures in a local mall, and quickly discovered I was drawn to this unique artform. With an interest in being an entrepreneur and having success as an award-winning marketing student in high school, I moved to St Croix, US Virgin Islands, at the age of 19 and opened my first gift shop featuring one-of-a-kind sea life themed glass work with a demo area out front. After 4 years in the islands, I returned to Florida and continued practicing and perfecting my skills behind the torch. During this time, I immersed myself in my work while raising my 2 sons. During this time, I expanded my business by offering my artwork to several galleries, gift shops, and museums in Florida including the Dali Museum, the Imagine Museum, and the Morean Glass Studio. I also enjoy exhibiting at many fine art shows throughout the state.

Most of my artwork is also offered through my website, MelanieCechGlass.com, which reaches a wider audience beyond the state. I continue to challenge myself to create larger artwork by recently upgrading to the Kobuki torch, and triple ring of fire torch that can melt glass faster. I continue to work hard every day to bring my vision, inspiration, and creative spirit to the community by collaborating and connecting with local women’s groups, aspiring artists, and visitors to the Tampa Bay area.

I produce my work at my private at home studio in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Melanie Cech Sumner - Owner of Cech Glass Creations, inc. and master flamework sculpture artist

"The Nautilus"

"The Nautilus design is a symbol of life, harmony, and the perfection of nature. The Nautilus shell evokes a sense of mystery and awe. The chambers of the Nautilus shell are symbolic of growth, evolution, expansion and renewal -- the stages each person passes through life. The spiral itself is a symbol of creation, movement, fluidity and evolution. It reveals the cyclical nature of life and the relationship between unity and multiplicity. With no beginning and no end, the spiral curls eternally inward and eternally outward with continual self-creation. As a path, the spiral is both the journey home to who we really are, and the journey to be one who we will become, for they are one and the same.

It's spiral structure displays perfect mathematical proportion, sometimes called the Golden Mean or the Fibonacci Sequence. The Golden Mean number is also known as PHI. The unique thing about the Golden Mean is that it can be found incorporated in all known organic structures. Viewing the proportions of the Nautilus give us a serene sense of balance and well-being. The Golden Mean number is widely used in art, architecture, and religious symbols. It reminds us that subtle changes, one after the other, bring big results."