Gina Hamond -

A garden of glass flowers blooms at Liz Beth & Co. art gallery.

A 6-by-12-foot sculpture of nand-blown glass flowers in a garden setting is the large-scale centerpiece of hundreds of works by glass artists being shown May 10-July 14 at the gallery at 9211 Parkwest Blvd.

An artists' reception is 6 to 9p.m. Friday, May 9.

The larg flower scculpture is by Louisville, Ky., artist Brook Forrest White Jr. Also included in the exhibit are works by Louisville artist Susie Slabaugh, Cincinnati, Ohio, artist Oliver Debikey, Asheville, N.C., artist Naomi Stuecker, and Knoxville artists Polly Crisp and Gina Hammond.

The variety of glass art at Liz-Beth & Co. will include the Swedish Glassblowing technique "graal," which involves painting a cool glass core, they reheating it in blowing it to the desired shape. The paint is thus fused to the surface of the glass.

"I do not think any local artist or gallery has this type of work," says Lis-Beth has represented glass artists, Walkins Says. The gallery will continue to represent the six artists after this exhibit ends. The Liz-Beth & Co. Web site is www.liz-beth.com,

Story by Doug Mason.