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This is the story of the life and times of Bella… July 6th, 1860 – 1954. I’ve used the medium of glass art to fully explore the adventure! I used a mix of painted glass, fused glass, etched glass and combined these methods to create unique pieces.

Mock-up of Final Project

The background is a large 4′ x 5-1/2′ (1.2m x 1.67m) piece of glass that I etched with the state outlines and names. Each state was also etched away to provide more surface for edge lighting. The individual states are mostly painted glass art, but some have piece fused on to them, or glued.

You can view the progress of this progress on this post.

Indiana Glass Art

Indiana Glass Art, Painting, fusing

Sara Isabella Dickson was born in Terra Haute, Indiana on July 6th, 1860 – Running on the Republican Party ticket, Abraham Lincoln was elected the 19th President of the United States of America on Tuesday, November 6, 1860 – The civil war officially began on April 12, 1861

Illinois Glass Art

Illinois Glass Art, Painting, fusing

Sara spent nearly 20 years in Vermillion, Illinois with her family from 1862 thru 1884- When she was a toddler she was held as they watched Lincoln walk in a parade – Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863 – In 1867 Nebraska becomes a state- On April 14, Good Friday, Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth –

Iowa Glass Art

Iowa Glass Art, Painting, fusing

About 1884, Sara & her family left Illinois for Huron, South Dakota by covered wagon – Traveling through Iowa & Minnesota – Sara met Samuel Sturman French and his family on their journey – A wagon train would typically travel 15 miles a day – It took about 55 days to make the 830 mile journey from Vermillion, Il. to Huron, SD. –

Minnesota Glass Art

Minnesota Glass Art, Painting, fusing

In 1884, Grover Cleveland was elected president – The first recorded photo of a tornado is taken by F.N. Robinson in Howard, SD – Mark Twain wrote The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – In 1885, Karl Benz of Germany produced the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, regarded as the 1st production automobile – Sara & Samuel married in 1886 – She always called him Mr. French and he called her Bella – In the 1880’s Minnesota had 3151 miles of railroad tracks and the population was about 780,773 –

South Dakota Glass Art

South Dakota Glass Art, Painting, fusing

Mr. French & Bella had 3 children; Dora Dean, b. 03/1889 in SD. -Iva P., b. 07/1890 in MI. – Orva R., b. 07/1892 in NE. – Mr. French farmed their S.D. land until they moved to Pender, NE. in 1892 – They headed towards NE. as the Woman Suffrage Movement was heating up– upon Samuel’s death, Belle made arrangements to fly his body back to S.D, by airplane. In 1954, following Bella’s death, her body was also returned to S.D.

Nebraska Glass Art

Nebraska Glass Art, Painting, fusing

After 1920, they retired from farming & moved from Pender to Lincoln by car – Dora attended the University of NE. where she met Clarence Emerson – He had arrived in Lincoln with the clothes he was wearing and $86 – 9 years later they were married 1/4/1911 and left for Chicago where Clarence, whom already had 3 degrees, attended Rush Medical Center – Dora & Clarence returned to Lincoln where he was a Physician for over 50 years.

The Story of Sara Isabella Dickson in Glass Art

3 thoughts on “The Story of Sara Isabella Dickson in Glass Art

  • Pingback:Custom Art Glass Project for Client (Progress) | Artist Cindy Chinn

  • September 19, 2020 at 6:24 am
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    Beautiful work…you have so much talent. I doubt there’s anything you couldn’t turn into art. You also are always willing to share and give advice to anyone that asks. Great artist and even a greater person!

  • June 23, 2020 at 10:30 am
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    As a lifelong artist myself, I have never seen ANYONE so skilled in so many different mediums. And not just, pretty good, but excellent. I just recently became interested in metal working and stumbled upon your work online. Wow! Do you ever sleep? You’re so creative and productive. I am humbled.

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