James m. Frase-White paper glass art

The Glass Works, in three glittering ways: Circular, Storyboard and Style

Many of the following three presentations show works that were created in the period before I became a full time reading tutor and channeled my artistic drive into my elementary age students. Most are in private or public collections. There are recents works too. Since retiring I am able to resume the exploration of creative glass cutting as well as pursue my new love for cutting paper. Works are available at Northeast Kingdom Artisans Guild or personally.

Click to enlarge and/or for a slide show of works.

The Splendors of the Circle

Heraldic Window

One of my earliest windows, a bold step ahead. It is the only one I ever entered in the county fair, where it won a prize. Private Collection.

Violet in July 1993

This was designed for an auction for The Seacoast AIDS Relief Fund, in Portsmouth, NH. The circles of red, white and blue blend into purple.

Art Noveau Sunrise

1990's Playing with textures, monotones and extended borders in this early work, one of my first with leaded glass. Private collection.

Crow at Sunrise

Crows are the first birds we hear and see in morning, in this early celebration of those noble corvids. 1990's Private collection.

Starwheel 1995

This large circle, 3 foot in diameter was one of the first works displayed at the League of NH Craftsmen. From the mid'90's. Private collection.

Koi and Dogwood 1994

The is my tribute to John LaFarge's exquisite goldfish window at the MFA in Boston. His work inspired me to step outside the box of the eccleastic origins stained glass, as well as the confides of 2-D.

Marriage in the Stars

The great Hale-Bopp Comet was a feast for the eyes as we watched it night after night crossing the sky. So bright it was even reflected in the lake that I lived beside. And it was also the adventure of a marriage between our friends Mark & Beth. This was for them.

Jesse Tree 1995

A reflection of the Medieval beginnings of Stained glass, and the system of hierarchy which dominated humankind for millennia. Named after a biblical chain that shows Jesus' well-connected roots.

The World when I was 5

I have always loved old maps, the oceans alive with monsters and sailing ships. In our imaginations, the world is still a wonder. Dedicated to Suzan Gannett, it lives at Union Sanborn Elementary School, Northfield, NH 1998

Raven In Winter 2000

There is nothing quite as lovely as a Raven against the snow and the deep blue of a winter sky. Available at NEK Artisans Gallery, St. Johnsbury, VT

Die Zauberflote

I am obsessed with Mozart's opera, The Magic Flute & have never seen or heard a production that did not fascinate me. It is silly, passionate, deep and shallow; an exuberant romp of life. Here I design the set. NFS

Ice Flower 2010

Inspired by the design of an Edwardian Brooch, icey class paired with lush,sensual reds, and savage blues seemed a splendid combination. A gem of a window. Private collection. 24" Circle

Blue Cross 2014

A central fused panel balances a grid of cool blue and sunny oranges with the tease of bevels. 24" circle. Private collection.

Mio dos Corazon Mexicana 2011 24"

Frida Kahlo, feared and poetic, homely and beautiful, painted her suffering with a clear eye. Astrid Hadad, a contemporary musician takes on the mantle, with her audacious yet romantic compositions filled with passion and humor. I love these Mexican women with Universal hearts.

Heraldic Window

One of my earliest windows, a bold step ahead. It is the only one I ever entered in the county fair, where it won a prize. Private Collection.

Violet in July 1993

This was designed for an auction for The Seacoast AIDS Relief Fund, in Portsmouth, NH. The circles of red, white and blue blend into purple.

Art Noveau Sunrise

1990's Playing with textures, monotones and extended borders in this early work, one of my first with leaded glass. Private collection.

Crow at Sunrise

Crows are the first birds we hear and see in morning, in this early celebration of those noble corvids. 1990's Private collection.

Starwheel 1995

This large circle, 3 foot in diameter was one of the first works displayed at the League of NH Craftsmen. From the mid'90's. Private collection.

Koi and Dogwood 1994

The is my tribute to John LaFarge's exquisite goldfish window at the MFA in Boston. His work inspired me to step outside the box of the eccleastic origins stained glass, as well as the confides of 2-D.

Marriage in the Stars

The great Hale-Bopp Comet was a feast for the eyes as we watched it night after night crossing the sky. So bright it was even reflected in the lake that I lived beside. And it was also the adventure of a marriage between our friends Mark & Beth. This was for them.

Jesse Tree 1995

A reflection of the Medieval beginnings of Stained glass, and the system of hierarchy which dominated humankind for millennia. Named after a biblical chain that shows Jesus' well-connected roots.

The World when I was 5

I have always loved old maps, the oceans alive with monsters and sailing ships. In our imaginations, the world is still a wonder. Dedicated to Suzan Gannett, it lives at Union Sanborn Elementary School, Northfield, NH 1998

Raven In Winter 2000

There is nothing quite as lovely as a Raven against the snow and the deep blue of a winter sky. Available at NEK Artisans Gallery, St. Johnsbury, VT

Die Zauberflote

I am obsessed with Mozart's opera, The Magic Flute & have never seen or heard a production that did not fascinate me. It is silly, passionate, deep and shallow; an exuberant romp of life. Here I design the set. NFS

Ice Flower 2010

Inspired by the design of an Edwardian Brooch, icey class paired with lush,sensual reds, and savage blues seemed a splendid combination. A gem of a window. Private collection. 24" Circle

Blue Cross 2014

A central fused panel balances a grid of cool blue and sunny oranges with the tease of bevels. 24" circle. Private collection.

Mio dos Corazon Mexicana 2011 24"

Frida Kahlo, feared and poetic, homely and beautiful, painted her suffering with a clear eye. Astrid Hadad, a contemporary musician takes on the mantle, with her audacious yet romantic compositions filled with passion and humor. I love these Mexican women with Universal hearts.

Windows telling Tales

The Salmon Prince/Bear

Enchanted by a Tsimshian Storytelling Button Blanket in an exhibit "Crossroads of the Continents" in 1988, this work from 1994 tells the tale in glass. When Salmon return to their spawning streams the lead fish is reincarnated as a bear, The Prince of the Salmon. Private Collection (in Idaho!)

Raven Steals the Sun & Moon 2003

I first heard this tale from books of my 1st and 2nd reading students, and loved the idea of how Raven brought daylight and moonlight into our dark and gloomy world. Collection of Hall Memorial Library, Northfield, NH

The New Limpid World 1995

This is a based on a painting by Max Ernst that piqued my fancy with its surreal fruit-bearing artichoke trees, and the idiotic idea of a dragonfly on a leash. The tale it tells is one that Dada tells, in the halls of artistic fancy. This was later revamped after a breakage and is in a private collection.

Infant Krishna floating on the Cosmic Sea

According to the Hindu creation story, Baby Krishna dreamed the world into being, resting upon a Banyan Leaf floating in the Cosmic Sea. I grew up nursed on 'swaddling clothes and lying in a manger' so this unique version of a god--a blue god, sucking his toe-- well, was just too marvelous not to celebrate. One of my first works where I painted and fired my own images into glass. 1997

Jonah & The Whale

I first saw this Mughal miniature in my teen years, in a book my father had received from BOMC. I fell in love with the depiction of this fanciful Old Testament tale. It stayed in my mind & I had to create my own . 30 x 24 Painted Enameled glass, silver wire. My collection. 1997

St. Antony Preaches to the Fishes.

This was inspired by the Gustav Mahler song from Das Knaben Wunderkorn, to convey the parable of St. Anthony. He preaches to the fishes, after finding that humans do not listen to his holy words. The lyrics are from a poem written in 1805 by Clemens Brentano. The fish, mind you, return to being fish after the sermon. Private Collection.

Children's Reading Window

This is a story about stories replicates works by or inspired by my reading students. The central drawing by Zachary K., age 7, was traced directly onto clear glass. 2010 A Gift to the Children's Room, Hall Public Library, Northfield, NH

Joy

This window was a dream, a balance of earth and heaven, as man juggles his mortal being: delicate and fragile as goldfish, odd and beautiful. This is my testament to the joy of living. Collection of the artist.

The Salmon Prince/Bear

Enchanted by a Tsimshian Storytelling Button Blanket in an exhibit "Crossroads of the Continents" in 1988, this work from 1994 tells the tale in glass. When Salmon return to their spawning streams the lead fish is reincarnated as a bear, The Prince of the Salmon. Private Collection (in Idaho!)

Raven Steals the Sun & Moon 2003

I first heard this tale from books of my 1st and 2nd reading students, and loved the idea of how Raven brought daylight and moonlight into our dark and gloomy world. Collection of Hall Memorial Library, Northfield, NH

The New Limpid World 1995

This is a based on a painting by Max Ernst that piqued my fancy with its surreal fruit-bearing artichoke trees, and the idiotic idea of a dragonfly on a leash. The tale it tells is one that Dada tells, in the halls of artistic fancy. This was later revamped after a breakage and is in a private collection.

Infant Krishna floating on the Cosmic Sea

According to the Hindu creation story, Baby Krishna dreamed the world into being, resting upon a Banyan Leaf floating in the Cosmic Sea. I grew up nursed on 'swaddling clothes and lying in a manger' so this unique version of a god--a blue god, sucking his toe-- well, was just too marvelous not to celebrate. One of my first works where I painted and fired my own images into glass. 1997

Jonah & The Whale

I first saw this Mughal miniature in my teen years, in a book my father had received from BOMC. I fell in love with the depiction of this fanciful Old Testament tale. It stayed in my mind & I had to create my own . 30 x 24 Painted Enameled glass, silver wire. My collection. 1997

St. Antony Preaches to the Fishes.

This was inspired by the Gustav Mahler song from Das Knaben Wunderkorn, to convey the parable of St. Anthony. He preaches to the fishes, after finding that humans do not listen to his holy words. The lyrics are from a poem written in 1805 by Clemens Brentano. The fish, mind you, return to being fish after the sermon. Private Collection.

Children's Reading Window

This is a story about stories replicates works by or inspired by my reading students. The central drawing by Zachary K., age 7, was traced directly onto clear glass. 2010 A Gift to the Children's Room, Hall Public Library, Northfield, NH

Joy

This window was a dream, a balance of earth and heaven, as man juggles his mortal being: delicate and fragile as goldfish, odd and beautiful. This is my testament to the joy of living. Collection of the artist.

Windows for the Pure Pleasure of Decoration

Guitarzan

Luke was 6, He drew a rock and roll man. I made this for him, when he was best man at his parent's wedding. He grew up with this & it did him no harm. Luke 'rocks' in a post-graduate world, with a goal to make this beautiful planet even a better place for us all! Go, Man, Go.

Pinatubo

A Volcano erupts in the Philippines. A nephew announces he has AIDS. Our world is erupting. Geodes and geometric design produced this little window. 1993. For John, in his collection.

Coyote Calls to the Moon 1996

Playing around with a glass cutting saw, I was able to create these images. Commissioned for cabin near Mt. Washington. 18 x 36 Private Collection, North Conway, NH.

Irish Unity Window for Peace

Finished on the Day the Peace Accords were signed in Northern Ireland, this work was named accordingly: The antique glass glass diamond shapes were left over from a commission from an Anglican Church, and the orange from a prospective project for a Catholic Church. 1997

Waterlilies & Butterflies

This was the second of series of windows that all are based on waterlilies. I am now working on #'s 6 & 7. This one is 25 x 36, Privately owned. 1998

Mysterious Ice Planets & Moons

Pure fun with contrasting glass, geodes, bevels and symmetry. 20 x 24 1996 Private Collection.

Mirror Image 1999

This work came into being after a feisty red squirrel had a run about my studio knocking over a mirror that broke into 6 segments. When mixed with various 'scraps' of stained glass, a small b/w autoportrait, and 2 sections of smoked mirror it began life anew. Private collection.

Waterlilies for Suzan

A commissioned work, this lovely square gave a new charm to the watery world of the lotus. 2009 24 x 24

Wisteria 2001

A flower beloved as a child, I made this work for my dining room, where it glows in evening splendor. 24 x 36

Seeding the Planets

I recently renamed this work, from "Music of the Spheres". I was a great joy to do, playing with circles, creating suns and moons and planets. Yes, I listened to Holst-- and Janacek--often while working on it. 18 x 36

Porch Transom, Purple and Golden

A year after a friend suggested I decided to take some scraps of glass and add welcome color to this old house. Designing the odd space, from 16 inches tapering to 7 over a 5 foot space evolved into this delightful work. I am now redesigning for a new space in the studio of my new home.

Side panel, porch, Purple and Gold

And then there was the window beside the door. It also catchis the first rays of morning sun, dancing from the window across the way. 2013

Internal Flame

A work wrapped around a exceptional segment of glass gave birth to this design. It is, to me, the essence of life burning within us, our anima, our hope & desire. Private Collection of an artist who burns with the same glorious fire.

Front Hall with new Windows

When we moved here to retire, this old house was in need of much TLC. Living this close to Canada, the two side windows, facing N, earned a fleur de lis tribute to Quebec, our communal French heritage, & my favorite flower. 2013

1st Lotus Window, Revised

This work was first created in the early 90's; redone into lead from foil, mended several times after breakages, then finally given a new border last year. 25" x 30"

Waterfall 18 x 24

A straightforward design to give the illusion of space and movement.

A View to the Mountains, Winter

i had purchased two pieces of glass for their sheer beauty, reminding me of Oriental brush paintings, knowing that someday I would know what to use them for. Living in the wintry clime of Vermont brought out this, much like a crystallized view from my bedroom window in the midst of January. 12 x 18

Guitarzan

Luke was 6, He drew a rock and roll man. I made this for him, when he was best man at his parent's wedding. He grew up with this & it did him no harm. Luke 'rocks' in a post-graduate world, with a goal to make this beautiful planet even a better place for us all! Go, Man, Go.

Pinatubo

A Volcano erupts in the Philippines. A nephew announces he has AIDS. Our world is erupting. Geodes and geometric design produced this little window. 1993. For John, in his collection.

Coyote Calls to the Moon 1996

Playing around with a glass cutting saw, I was able to create these images. Commissioned for cabin near Mt. Washington. 18 x 36 Private Collection, North Conway, NH.

Irish Unity Window for Peace

Finished on the Day the Peace Accords were signed in Northern Ireland, this work was named accordingly: The antique glass glass diamond shapes were left over from a commission from an Anglican Church, and the orange from a prospective project for a Catholic Church. 1997

Waterlilies & Butterflies

This was the second of series of windows that all are based on waterlilies. I am now working on #'s 6 & 7. This one is 25 x 36, Privately owned. 1998

Mysterious Ice Planets & Moons

Pure fun with contrasting glass, geodes, bevels and symmetry. 20 x 24 1996 Private Collection.

Mirror Image 1999

This work came into being after a feisty red squirrel had a run about my studio knocking over a mirror that broke into 6 segments. When mixed with various 'scraps' of stained glass, a small b/w autoportrait, and 2 sections of smoked mirror it began life anew. Private collection.

Waterlilies for Suzan

A commissioned work, this lovely square gave a new charm to the watery world of the lotus. 2009 24 x 24

Wisteria 2001

A flower beloved as a child, I made this work for my dining room, where it glows in evening splendor. 24 x 36

Seeding the Planets

I recently renamed this work, from "Music of the Spheres". I was a great joy to do, playing with circles, creating suns and moons and planets. Yes, I listened to Holst-- and Janacek--often while working on it. 18 x 36

Porch Transom, Purple and Golden

A year after a friend suggested I decided to take some scraps of glass and add welcome color to this old house. Designing the odd space, from 16 inches tapering to 7 over a 5 foot space evolved into this delightful work. I am now redesigning for a new space in the studio of my new home.

Side panel, porch, Purple and Gold

And then there was the window beside the door. It also catchis the first rays of morning sun, dancing from the window across the way. 2013

Internal Flame

A work wrapped around a exceptional segment of glass gave birth to this design. It is, to me, the essence of life burning within us, our anima, our hope & desire. Private Collection of an artist who burns with the same glorious fire.

Front Hall with new Windows

When we moved here to retire, this old house was in need of much TLC. Living this close to Canada, the two side windows, facing N, earned a fleur de lis tribute to Quebec, our communal French heritage, & my favorite flower. 2013

1st Lotus Window, Revised

This work was first created in the early 90's; redone into lead from foil, mended several times after breakages, then finally given a new border last year. 25" x 30"

Waterfall 18 x 24

A straightforward design to give the illusion of space and movement.

A View to the Mountains, Winter

i had purchased two pieces of glass for their sheer beauty, reminding me of Oriental brush paintings, knowing that someday I would know what to use them for. Living in the wintry clime of Vermont brought out this, much like a crystallized view from my bedroom window in the midst of January. 12 x 18

Violet in July 1993

This was designed for an auction for The Seacoast AIDS Relief Fund, in Portsmouth, NH. The circles of red, white and blue blend into purple.