Shattered glass artist opens gallery in the South Cape
A Cape Coral artist who upcycles glass and turns it into works of art will host a grand opening of her studio in the South Cape this weekend.
On Oct. 5, award-winning shattered glass artist Janet Sams will officially mark the opening of her gallery and studio along Southeast 47th Street. The open house-style event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will allow guests to experience Sams' captivating artwork, tour the new space, enjoy refreshments, enter a raffle to win original art and meet the artist in person.
"I've got my gallery set up so people can stop in and browse," Sams said.
Sams has been creating glasswork art for more than a decade, starting in an at-home studio first in Cape Coral, and then in Matlacha before Hurricane Ian came along and wreaked havoc. Her signature technique involves meticulously shattering glass and then reassembling the pieces to create multidimensional sculptures and installations that capture light and color in mesmerizing ways.
Having retired as a chemical engineer, Sams was encouraged by friends to send her glasswork to local galleries, and did so after some hesitation. The rest, as they say, is history.
"For some reason, I just started doing research into glass, because glass would always catch my eye, and I just let myself go and explore this, and now I'm hooked," she said. "It was a hobby at first. Just me enjoying working with glass. And then it turned into much more."
Sams moved to a small commercial space along Del Prado Boulevard after Ian before settling into her new spot at 869 Southeast 47th Street.
"And now I'm in heaven over here," she said.
The 2,200-square-foot location is divided into a gallery in the front of the house, and a studio workspace in the back.
Sams sources her materials from glassblowers all across the country, bringing in their scrap or broken items. She also finds glass at local yard sales, thrift stores, and from friends.
"There's a constant stream coming in," Sams said. "It's really important to me that the majority of it is being repurposed."
There is no limit to the creations that Sams can fashion from glass. She takes her pieces, lays them out to create an image, and layers resin for it to stick. She has her glass separated by color, so that she can easily choose what's needed for any given piece.
"It's like painting with glass, because your hand just knows what color to reach for next to get it to blend," Sams said.
Sams uses the glass virtually as-is, using nippers to cut it into whatever shape or size she needs, and occasionally sanding corners down to dull the edges.
Having relocated to Florida from Kentucky and Ohio 12 years ago, she said the surroundings of Southwest Florida have really made an impact on her style choices.
"To take the boat out, or go kayaking, and go to the state parks or even swamps or gardens, it's just gorgeous," Sams said. "There's a reason we all live here."
Her favorite works to create?
"The one that I really like is birds," Sams said. "Birds are little (where I'm from). Down here, they're humongous. I remember when I first moved thinking how large they are. I spend a lot of time on egrets, herons, flamingos, pelicans.
"I also really like flowers, trees — more of nature. I like underwater things, like seahorses and jellyfish. And I like landscape; palm trees looking out over the water, boats. Sort of everything that's coastal."
Sams' artwork can be found in galleries all over the country. She will ship works to areas in New England, the Midwest, Georgia, the Carolinas, all the way down to Key West.
Along with original works, Sams creates custom pieces and takes on commissions, something she said she enjoys very much.
"I love it," she said. "I do it all the time. It pushes me outside of my ordinary window of what I'm capable of. And I get to try new things."
Pieces range in size and stature, from small to large. Sams said she just created a massive five-piece abstract work for a home down in Naples, where each image continues a story.
Works can go from anywhere from $100, to $10,000 depending on the size.
The exciting move marks a significant milestone for Sams, allowing her to showcase her stunning creations in a dedicated space and expand her artistic endeavors. The new location is conveniently situated within the city of Cape Coral's designated Community Redevelopment Area, the parent initiative of the Creative Cape Arts Incentive Program.
The program offers financial assistance to individuals, non-profit organizations, and developers contributing to the city's vibrant cultural landscape. Eligible expenditures accepted for the program include the acquisition, development, construction, renovation, expansion, or improvements of real property within the CRA, including living and workspaces.
"I am incredibly grateful to have received support through the Creative Cape Arts Incentive Program," said Sams. "Our award from the city was instrumental in creating a beautiful and inspiring environment to create and display my artwork. I am proud to participate in our city's dedication to the vibrant art scene of Cape Coral."
Sams has a staff of just under 10 employees, all local, including students from Florida Gulf Coast University and Cape Coral High School.
"We employ kids who are in the art field working toward a degree or a career," she said.
Sams has hopes for expanding her studio in the future, as well as her staff, doubling down on wanting to pave the way for young, local aspiring artists.
"These kids do such a great job, and they have an eye for art," she said. "I love making art, but I also love watching them develop.
"I see myself continuing to work with these kids to watch them flourish."
Sams is available for custom, commissioned art requests specific to customer preferences.
In addition to her Cape Coral location, artworks by Sams are available at select galleries and online. For more information, call 239-940-6851 or visit www.JanetSams.com.
