Step into Edge of Glass Gallery on 36th in the heart of Fremont, and you might just witness the impossible: lighting that shape-shifts between day and night.
James Curtis, the gallery’s resident artist, has spent 25 years mastering what he calls “metamorphic lighting” – glass art that transforms completely when illuminated. Picture sleek red and black pendant lights that suddenly bloom into vibrant, glowing sculptures at the flick of a switch.
“If they can imagine it, I can make it for them,” Curtis said during a recent demonstration.
The South Korea-born artist is apparently the only glass artisan in the world creating this particular magic. His secret? What he calls a “third eye” — an intuition honed over decades of working with glass at temperatures where everything glows orange, making it impossible to see the final colors.
“Experience helps, but it’s not the main support mechanism,” Curtis said. “You can help people gain knowledge and enhance their skills, but you can’t transmit intuition.”
His recent projects include an underwater-themed installation for the Mermaid Lounge, inspired by kelp forests off the California coast. The gallery showcases over 100 designs, from functional pieces to dramatic custom orders. Because Curtis builds both the glass and the hardware, he creates fixtures you won’t find anywhere else, including popular mushroom lamps.
Beyond lighting, the gallery features glass platters, vessels and an eclectic mix of vintage finds, including rare 1950s glass dinosaurs that Curtis has collected through a network of antique dealers built over 25 years.
Edge of Glass Gallery and Hotshop is located at 513 N. 36th St. in Fremont. Visit www.edgeofglass.com for more information.