 |
|||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
About the Artist
Juli was born in Olympia, Washington in 1959. As a child of a military man, she moved frequently. Morocco, Guam and Alaska were part of her early life and had profound influences on her life.
Following in her great great grandfathers footsteps, Juli is a glass artist. Stephen Slack was a stained glass artist whose work includes 
the Aspe of the Battell Chapel at Yale University. He did church and cathedral windows from coast to coast in the mid to late 1800’s. In wasn’t until 2001 that she found out she had glass art in her heritage.
In 1992 Juli began her love affair with glass art by taking a stained glass class. Continuing her exploration of glass with glass blowing and torch work before discovering her true passion in fusing glass. She incorporates the many skills she had learned from her long association with Pratt Fine Art in Seattle, as a student, volunteer, and instructor.
Juli had been exploring the sculptural aspects of glass worked in a torch, an organic study of shape and form coupled with the process of copper electroforming before leaving Pratt in 2006 to work in the studio she built in 2004.
Juli’s work took a dramatic turn. She went from “copper and white” to vibrant color. Her work became very personal. A journal of her life, transitions, struggles, challenges, hopes and dreams captured in the depths of the glass she fuses together. Her work often incorporates words, quotes. Sometimes the words can only be viewed from the back of the piece, a hidden message.
In January of 2007 she learned of her fiancé from 30 years ago, Ric, being incarcerated in Oklahoma in 2002 for 71 years on a non violent first time drug
offense. Their love had never died. After months of letter writing they spoke on the phone for the first time on July 1, 2007 and became engaged again.
The Discovery channel completed filming of their story, their struggles through the court system to get a fair trial, and her art in April of 2009. The one hour documentary is expected to air in 2010, one episode on a 13 part series titled “Prison Wives”
Chosen to be the Official Glass Artist for Seattle Pride events for 2009 she put together a rolling art show for the parade of her fused glass art and paintings. This honor also included an art auction.
Juli was juried into the 2009 EDGE program by Artist Trust. This artist retreat is for the professional development of artists.
Her art is currently on display at Uptown Glassworks. In Renton, Washington. http://www.uptownglassworks.com/index.html
Juli regularly contributes to fund raising auctions including for the Pilchuck Glass School, Pratt Fine Art, Glass Art Society, and The Men’s and Women’s Chorus.
Her work is included in several prominent collections in the Seattle area.
More on Ric and Juli’s story at ricandjulisipe.com
Contact her at juli@julisipe.com