Medium Blue Cholla

Jennifer Francis

Born in southwest Oregon, Jennifer had the good fortune of experiencing her
early childhood in the wooded forests around her home. This proved to be an influential
force in developing her love of nature and helped to create her foundation of taking her
own artful approach to everything she does. Working at building and making things
came naturally to her as she remembers the lessons taught for weaving with grasses
and vines to create elaborate baskets and other vessels. She was also greatly inspired
by a teacher from a local Native American tribe who came to her school to teach her
class about bead weavings, the meanings behind the designs and the importance of
creating with a message of inspiration. This love of design and color with purpose along
with other art experiences with pottery, quilting, crocheting, as well as needle felting with natural fibers from local sheep and alpaca farms, helped prepare her for her glass
experience, which began about 15 years ago.

After learning about glass properties and some history of glass art from Italy, she readily
began experimenting and making her own glass art. She has been greatly influenced by
some esteemed glass artists in the industry and is constantly increasing her knowledge
and pushing the boundaries of what she can do. Her newest design is inspired by the
Cholla Cactus of the Sonoran Desert. In researching and meeting with people she was
delighted to see that many also see the ocean corals. Either way, the carved glass work
is meant to invoke the idea of movement and elegance of the earth, whether it be plant
or animal.

Jennifer currently resides in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.