Fused Glass Artist Marie Cogar

I had the pleasure of interviewing Marie Cogar on May 14, 2021 at her Studio and Gallery in Saranac Lake, New York.  Marie's devotion to expanding her artistic range is evident in the beautiful fused glass art that she creates.  The tools and materials in the studio and gallery reflect her dedication to detail and precision, and the energy in Marie’s life. Her pieces seem to capture Marie’s approach to life, as an opportunity to learn and experiment with a variety of glass techniques.  It’s not surprising to learn that Marie is not only a visual artist but is also a musician. 

Not all glass has the same COE (Coefficient of Expansion), therefore the same type of glass can only be fused together. Marie uses Oceanside 96 glass which comes in transparent, opaque, iridescent and dichroic sheets to name a few.  Fused glass pieces start with flat glass in sheets, which must be cut and then fired in a kiln.  It is  important to note that to fuse glass pieces there must be at least  two layers of glass. Some of Marie’s glass pieces are free formed, while others are given a form  by firing a second time using a mold.  Her fused glass art is both daily functional and decorative. The variety and versatility of the medium is inspiring. 

Marie has had a special appreciation for glass even before she took her first class more than fourteen years ago at the Lake Placid Arts Center.  She has been accepted at  Juried Art Shows in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York, especially in the Adirondack Region.  It’s over this time that she considered herself a professional artist! 

Marie is very methodical. Some pieces might require multiple firings.  Marie is happy to explain and demonstrate the process during Gallery time by appointment  or Open Studio Tours during the summer and fall months. While she has found a peaceful creative environment in the natural beauty of the Adirondacks, her own work seems to reflect experimentation and original designs.   It’s easy to imagine that Marie’s patience and listening skills previously as a family therapist have aided her in the learning the stepped process of creating fused glass pieces.  

Marie’s professional career, being one of possibilities and vision, was as a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist where she established a private practice and joined the Samaritan Family Counseling Center. She also has a Masters of Science and Education Counseling K -12 and worked in High Schools including Saranac Lake School District    She is now retired from counseling. Marie’s love of the arts is evident in music including singing with the Saranac Lake Madrigals, Northern Adirondack Vocal Ensemble, Northern Lights Choir, and the; St Bernard’s Choir. She has helped build the Saranac Lake arts community, and is one of the founders of the  Saranac Lake Young Artist Association, for which she is now a Board Member Emeritus. Marie also serves on the Board of Artworks.  Marie’s gallery is located 5 minutes from Saranac Lake. She plans to be open for visitors and tours during the summer. Marie exhibits at the Cape Air Gallery in Saranac Lake.  In the meantime her website is: wellspringsspectrumfusedglass.com.