I stumbled across the work of Susan Etkin a couple of weeks ago when I was surfing around and she’s a perfect addition for Lighting Week. Her work with hand-blown glass is truly her own. She began working with light in Murano, Italy working with master glass blowers there. Murano is famous for a particular style of hand blown chandeliers. You either love them or you hate them. Personally, they’re too frou-frou for me. But I love her unique take on the old tradition. She has breathed new life into an old dragon. They’re very sophisticated and not over-the-top in the decoration department. And, I really love the light bulbs. (I can see Martha Stewart stealing this idea with beads.)

Ms. Etkin opened her New York studio in 2001. But it’s not a lighting studio; she thinks of herself as a sculptor first. After working in Murano, she realized that designers were interested in incorporating her ideas and designs using and hand-blown glass into their projects. As she says on her site, “Thus began a series of unique collaborative ventures, often requiring complex design explorations…”

I have some knowledge of the difficulty involved in making glass bend to your will. My experience was with the simplest of forms. So, I have the greatest respect for the talent and imagination of Susan Etkin. Oh how I would love to interview Ms. Etkin! Maybe some day. I’ll put it on my list.

The bad news is that she does only custom work and doesn’t have an online shop. Nor does she sell to a retailer. However, please visit her site here. And if you’re ever in NYC, she’s in SOHO on Greene St.