Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine January 2020 | Page 154

The tiny tree frogs that live in JoBean’s kitchen also appear in
the glass of her beads and sculptures.
JoBean also teaches the basics of flame working,
so visitors to Saba can book lessons with her. You
will go home with ornaments, beads and the best
memories of your vacation. This is done in all of
three hours. Longer intensives can be arranged.
Among other things, you can learn how to
recycle glass bottles into beads and jewelry.
“How long does it take me to make a piece? A
tiny bead: 30 seconds; a gold and silver heart in
glass: 15 minutes; a mermaid: 26 years and 60
minutes. Practice . . . “ JoBean expressed. “Over
the years, Shane Ferro, Emilio Santini, Lucio
Bubbacco, Victorio Constantini are some of the
extraordinary teachers and glass artists that I am
honored to call friends. Penland School and The
Corning Glass School were life changing.”
The tropical sun sparkles through the waves and caresses Saba’s reefs.
She melts coral and fish from crystal, giving light and color new places
to dance.
She makes pieces from hurricane glass…
and old bottles that have been crushed, but not broken by too many.
JoBean is the first hot glass artist in the Caribbean and have set up this
business for local people on several other islands.
She works primarily with a torch and is driven by what will appear next.
“The wild orchids outside my studio are in bloom. They are next, but
first, I will finish the Floating Turtle Reefs for
Saba’s
Five Square Art Gallery.
Kakona, also in Saba,
carries a collection of my work but
my largest collection is in my Gallery/Studio
JOBEAN GLASS ART,
on Booby Hill Saba.”
JoBean’s work is also in St. Maarten, Bonaire and the USA.