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This bead is part of the permanent collection at the Kobe Lampwork Glass Museum in Kobe, Japan
Julia Landecker was raised in Marin County, just north of San Francisco. In her youth she expressed her creativity through dramatic arts, costume design, calligraphy and furniture decoration. After graduating from UC Santa Cruz with a degree in Russian Studies she accepted a commission in the United States Navy to pursue a career as a physical therapist. While stationed in South Carolina treating Marine Corps recruits, she discovered stained glass. Soon she was creating and selling intricate windows. In 2001 The Navy transferred her to Sigonella, Sicily and Julia took all her glass working tools and a ton (literally) of glass with her.
On a short holiday to Venice, Julia made a pilgrimage to the island of Murano, the glass blowing capital of the world. She stepped off the vaporetto (Venetian water bus) and walked right into a bead shop and a life-changing experience. The shop was owned by renowned Venetian bead maker Davide Penso and she spent an hour mesmerized as Davide created exquisite glass beads. Julia returned to Murano numerous times during her tour in Sicily, where she trained with Davide and learned the 500 year old art of Venetian bead making.
By her return to the States in 2004, Julia was working in the Venetian tradition while incorporating inspiration she found on her travels. This influence can be seen in the amphorae beads, shaped like ancient Roman oil vessels and the sea urchin beads inspired by early sailing trips with her parents. A subsequent tour in Okinawa, Japan had a major influence on her techniques, and she has a bead permanently installed the Kobe Glass Bead Museum. The jellyfish series is an exploration of an unfortunate event in Mexico with this rather painful animal.
Julia’s tools and glass come from Murano and from the American glass producers Double Helix. Many of her tools are made by Carlo Dona, a well-known bead maker in Italy whose shop is just down the street from Penso’s shop. Each bead is created by starting at the inner most layer and working outward, adding decoration and molten glass. The glass is heated to 1700 degrees and must be kept in constant motion to keep it from breaking. Because the intense heat changes the colors of the glass, the finished bead is always a surprise when it comes out of the kiln 5-8hours later.
Julia is now retired from the Navy and continues to work part time as a physical therapist. She lives in Santa Rosa, CA with her daughter. She took first place at the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival in 2022 for her glass implosion series.
“I love to travel and beads are like an international language; they are part of almost every culture. They make wonderful gifts, because everyone understands them. These beads are special because of the time, passion and skill that goes into making them. “
On a short holiday to Venice, Julia made a pilgrimage to the island of Murano, the glass blowing capital of the world. She stepped off the vaporetto (Venetian water bus) and walked right into a bead shop and a life-changing experience. The shop was owned by renowned Venetian bead maker Davide Penso and she spent an hour mesmerized as Davide created exquisite glass beads. Julia returned to Murano numerous times during her tour in Sicily, where she trained with Davide and learned the 500 year old art of Venetian bead making.
By her return to the States in 2004, Julia was working in the Venetian tradition while incorporating inspiration she found on her travels. This influence can be seen in the amphorae beads, shaped like ancient Roman oil vessels and the sea urchin beads inspired by early sailing trips with her parents. A subsequent tour in Okinawa, Japan had a major influence on her techniques, and she has a bead permanently installed the Kobe Glass Bead Museum. The jellyfish series is an exploration of an unfortunate event in Mexico with this rather painful animal.
Julia’s tools and glass come from Murano and from the American glass producers Double Helix. Many of her tools are made by Carlo Dona, a well-known bead maker in Italy whose shop is just down the street from Penso’s shop. Each bead is created by starting at the inner most layer and working outward, adding decoration and molten glass. The glass is heated to 1700 degrees and must be kept in constant motion to keep it from breaking. Because the intense heat changes the colors of the glass, the finished bead is always a surprise when it comes out of the kiln 5-8hours later.
Julia is now retired from the Navy and continues to work part time as a physical therapist. She lives in Santa Rosa, CA with her daughter. She took first place at the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival in 2022 for her glass implosion series.
“I love to travel and beads are like an international language; they are part of almost every culture. They make wonderful gifts, because everyone understands them. These beads are special because of the time, passion and skill that goes into making them. “
What is lampwork, and how is it done?
