"Stained Glass" by Mary Hunt

A stunning display of stained glass opened at the Museum and ran from July 6 to August 30, 2005. Platte, SD is the home of Mary Hunt’s “Emerald Artworks and Glass”. Born and raised in Virginia, several years ago Mary and her family moved from the East coast to Platte, relocating her thriving studio business there. With her, she brings more than 30 years of experience in a wide range of artistic mediums.

Her passion for landscapes and portraits on canvas progressed to working in glass. By studying the artisans of old, Mary mastered their techniques for vitreous staining and enameling on glass. Today she created stained glass panels for churches, businesses, and private residences. Some of her most recent work can be seen in Platte’s Trinity Lutheran Church, which houses five of her original figurative windows. They exemplify Mary’s use of line, color and techniques in her designs.

Mary also uses other traditional techniques in glass. She creates custom etched glass, which can be found in homes and commercial settings throughout the country. Creating etched glass depicting local or natural settings is one of her specialties. Many cabinet makers incorporate her etched and stained glass into their furniture. “Fused Glass” is the process of melting and shaping glass in a kiln to create bowls, platters and vessels of all kinds. Decorative soldering is the technique of using her soldering iron as a sculpting tool transforming molten solder into finely detailed artwork. This adds dimension to stained glass panels, box lids, and other small scale projects.

Mary Hunt was educated at Thomas Nelson College, Old Dominion University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Corning Museum for Glass and a variety of workshops throughout the country. The Creamery Gallery on Main Street, Platte, represents her work in South Dakota, where she co-ops with three other area artists.

Mary’s “Stained Glass” exhibit at the Museum highlighted her dynamic kiln formed vessels and stained, fused, and etched glass panels and stained glass windows. The Dacotah Prairie proudly welcomed this accomplished artist to our area!

To view other past exhibits, click here.