To view recording of the demonstration, click here

Julie is a Bay Area born artist working predominantly in kiln glass. Drawn to many processes and materials, glass became her focus as it has a way of bringing many other mediums together. She studied printmaking and sculpture at the Art Institute of Chicago, where her instructors encouraged a conceptual and interdisciplinary approach. This allowed for the freedom to explore many different departments including textiles, laser cutting and lighting design. Julie always had the goal in mind of turning her prints into 3D objects by printing on textiles and acrylic. After graduating Julie worked in the commercial screen-printing industry for years before landing a job at Bullseye Glass in Emeryville. This job changed everything and she became immersed in the glass world. After learning how to fuse her prints into glass she knew she had found what she was looking for – a new way to make her prints 3d!

Bullseye not only enabled a new medium, but also allowed for the opportunity to teach. Julie jumped into teaching right away, learning and growing with her students. A passionate instructor who encourages experimentation, her classes involved a wide array of fusing techniques from printing to casting to coldworking. 

Julie’s artwork inspirations come from sacred geometry, the magical, and the mystical. She creates objects and artifacts that whisper to our subtle senses. Julie also makes home and garden wares to bring the magic into everyday activities. You can see more of her work and process at www.juliewalker.net or on Instagram @j.walkerglass

Julie will be demonstrating how she creates her 3D portalpieces, a series that she started last year (2020). The portal functions visually as a momentary mental escape, a window that offers a look into another dimension. Using Bullseye glass she cuts, shapes, and creates layers of depth requiring multiple firings in a glass kiln. Component pieces are then stacked together and fused into one thick final piece that can be viewed as a freestanding sculpture.