Why I do what I do
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Little Hawkmoon Bat was a pretty special dog. He died in 2010 after a long and happy life. At the time I was at school studying Funeral Services and working part time at a funeral home. I looked at all the keepsake merchandise for cremated remains and didn't really like the way they hid the remains away. I was sure I could incorporate them into beautiful glass pieces, and I was right; the ash sparkles in glass. It just took me a while to figure out what I thought was the right way to encase them.
As a licensed funeral director, I understand the sensitive nature of working with cremated remains, and they are always treated with care and respect. Most of the pieces on this page contain a little bit of Hawk, and I like to think he'd be pretty cool with that. |
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Artist's Statement
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As a licensed funeral director who is passionate about both caring for the deceased and blowing glass, it is natural for Skytree Smith to combine the two. She believes that “everyone is beautiful when they are alive; there is no reason why they cannot be beautiful after death too”. A main focus of her work is incorporating cremated remains into glass designs where they are seen, and not hidden away inside something.
Introduced to glass blowing in 2005, Skytree has been a partner at Glen Williams Glass since 2012 and was immediately taken with it’s versatility. She is in awe of the planet she lives on, and this is reflected in much of her work; it’s organic and often reflects the five elements. |