| During this time Naida and myself were invited to set up our studio in one of Louisville's premire Department stores on what was then the River City Mall, Stewarts was the host of a Arts Festival where artist were given ample space to move into the store and demostrate their art and the studio at work. She created major works and tiny creations folks bought as jewelry.It was thrilling to see how excited folks were to see her at work. From this show we established movers and shakers of the Louisville art circle something we usually only hear about... ...this was about to change. Naida and myself were approached to create the first ever glass exibit at the Arts Club in the Heyburn Building at 3rd. & Broadway. For months Naida worked sometimes through the night to create her pieces for the show because of the energy she shared others wanted to be a part of it. |
| The ART of NAIDA RAIZOR |
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| It did not take long before others became aware of the talents of the tiny childlike artisian. She showed up on a regular basis on local television, news features as well as newspaper and magazines. Always shy, always humble she let others speak of her talents and that warm smile-a child with the gifts of an old master. I was honored to have such a artist as my studio partner-I always strived to challenge her-maybe even create a design she could not turn into a glass masterpiece-never happened. No matter what ny pencil would spew onto paper she would skillfully recreate in glass as if she-as I said before handpainted everypiece-I've designed hundreds of windows. Naida has designed 2 (sure, my designs are in homes, boats, bars, clubs you name it I probably have my art there because of her). Naida's 2 designs executed in her unique glass style-both were selected by museums-the only way I would ever get my work in a museum is to sneak it in. Red Hot Pokers-22 inch circular vision of the African Tourch Lilly (another of her window within a window) was selected by the Evanville Museum, Evansville, Indiana. She was catching the attention some people who understood they were witnessing an important artist emerge from the Louisville Glass Scene. Her second design "The Vase" (another window within a window a series that continued for over three decades) this was her design and once again, she nailed it! A local woodworking company was so impressed with it they created a free-standing walnut display piece that was amazing. Again her work was selected for display at a museum. This time it was the Ownsboro Museum, Owensboro, Kentucky. I was afraid I was going to lose her talents to her own studio (she sure didn't need me to degin for her) much to my surprise and relife she told me she wanted to create my designs in glass-I was never so honored in my life. |
| Naida Raizor, Glass Artist, Since 1977 Naida Raizor has taken art glass to a level most never achive-her craft is impecable-her color selection is as if she handpainted every sheet. As her studio partner for over 30 years I have watched her grow as a artist and craftsperson. Never worrying about the monetary value of her work only its artistic impact on the viewer. She pioneered... As my first student I would sometimes duck and run as pieces of glass were flying at walls or instructor while she perfected the mechanics of the craft of glass. She never quit until she mastered what she set out to achive. She put her soul into everything she created. Whether it was a major church project or a suncatcher, always the artist. I would watch as she would cut into full sheets of glass because of her quest for that perfect leaf or the flower petal that was so lifelike you would swear it moved. Her first studio was her grandfathers shed behind her chilhood home. She would spend hours honing the craft that would define her as a sought out artist. Naida soon moved her "studio" into a tiny corner of a pottery shop nestled in the far corner of the courtyard at the Cloisters in 1979 located in Louisville, Kentucky at the corner of Chestnut & Shelby Street Where it was not unusual for the crowd around her to be packed so tight she would not have room to complete a score accross the glass. Folks knew she was a force to be rekoned with, her projects in this space were small-but not for long she was destined to create memorable works not to be forgotten. It wasn't long before she was moving into the upstairs of Ed Hamilton. Located across from the Clostiers. Where she and I set up our studio. I was honored to become her designer and marvel in mastery of the art of glass-we became the Fantasy Factory Art Glass Studio. |
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| Naida Raizor at the cutting table in her studio on Shelby Street, Louisville, KY 1979 |
| NAIDA RAIZOR The Glass Mermaid . |
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| In the few years we spent at Ed Hamilton's Shelby Street Studios.Inspired by such artistic greats as G.C. Cox, the Grandfather of the African American Modern Painting-William Duffy a up and coming artist of as yet undefined medium-and of course Ed Hamilton who soon would become the legendary creator of monumental sculpture nationally. It was during these years that Naida established a wonderous relationship with Kokomo Opalescent Glass Company of Kokomo, Indiana and its bigger than life president, Mr. William Mallone.. Bill was one of the great figures in the glass arts.He took Naida under his wing-openened the factory to her even creating sheets of unique glass.to her specifications and whims.I would take her to the factory and it was like the return of the prodigal glass artist From the office to the folks who crated her selections, folks knew great things would come from those tiny hands. And they did. |
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| One of her first church commissions was with the help of one of its most famous members, Ed Hamilton Saint George in Louisville, Kentucky |
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| Naida in the showroom ajacent her studio. |
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