Artist feature: Gail Glagola experiments with various types of creativity

When Gail Glagola moved to the area to be closer to family, her art and life changed. She asks herself two questions when facing a big life change: "Where am I?" and "How do I fit in?"

Bringing her unique artistry to Zanesville has helped her fit in, especially at the Zanesville Museum of Art. Glagola draws inspiration for her various types of art from all aspects of her life − from family and friends, to work and personal reflection.

A full-fledged docent and teacher at the museum, her energy captivates and educates the residents of both Guernsey and Muskingum counties. Reconnecting with her high school friend and Cambridge local Gail Roberts at their high school reunion has helped to shine a spotlight on her work and talent.

Where are you originally from? I was raised in Parma, Ohio, in Seven Hills. Then I attended Normandy High School and afterward Notre Dame College in South Euclid, Ohio, when it was still a girl's school. Everybody went there to be a doctor, teacher or lawyer. My master's (degree) I got in Massachusetts at a teaching college and I received my graduate credits at Syracuse University and Oswego University in New York. I retired 25 years ago.

What type of art do you create? Currently, I'm into weaving and woodburning. In preparation for moving to this area, I started Saori weaving, which is a Japanese type of weaving from the '70s. The ideas behind it are, how do you feel, what is influencing you, and movement. Don't worry about the salvages, the edges. That is the beauty of it − to be in the moment. It's not perfect, it's not anywhere near perfect.

The wood burning came back to life when I was living in a very out-of-the-way rural place to go to school, but I had a beautiful bunch of trees in my yard. I decided while I was still taking lessons, that I would incorporate the trees from my backyard, and the earth and the sky. So I tried it.

How long have you been creating this type of art? I have been doing weaving and wood burning for about seven years.

What inspired you to begin creating this type of art? It's just sort of morphing. When you are a high school teacher in art you have carte blanche. You just keep expanding and learning. My mother was my first teacher. Notre Dame got me drawing trees. The nuns would take us out to the apple orchard and make us sit. And you can't say no to the nuns. I just don't want to be stagnant.

How do you face creative blocks? I don't know. When I moved here I was very sad. I left a job that I loved and I thought I would be at the job until I died. I was satisfied. And I moved here and I had culture shock. So, I've learned it's more important to put yourself out there and help somebody. When I have a creative block, which for me is not so much creative, but a time block, I have to say stop. Go. Do it. Creative block means go talk to people. Go look at somebody else's art. Read some books. Go take a walk out in nature. Think about what you want to do and then the steps will come. Fortunately, I rarely have a creative block because I have so many outlets.

Where can your art be seen? Right now, it's just at my house. I am starting a website called Artist Armoire, on Facebook. I haven't pursued it, however knowing my friend Gail, she wants my art out there. She suggested we make a stand somewhere in Cambridge. I'm working on making more art at this point.

What is your dream project and what are you currently working on? I'm doing it. When the kids were little and my husband was on the road, I did stained glass. When I lived in New York we did fusing glass. Even while I was teaching, if I saw something I would like to try, I was able to budget for it, bring it in, teach it, manage it, and then do it. The nuns taught me how to do calligraphy. Right now I'm in my tactile phase. I love the touch and smell of things. Whatever I'm working on currently is my favorite.

Who is your favorite artist and why? Charlie Harper. He's an illustrator and I find that Charlie Harper and Maxfield Parrish are my two faves. While I don't care for Norman Rockwell, it's the same genre. Harper did beautiful, natural work. He did Golden Books. Parrish is a wonderful tempera painter from the 1800s. Very classic.

What has been your favorite piece of work to create? My piece 'Transition.' It probably took about two months. It is me coming to Zanesville and using denim jeans to incorporate that into my art. It was a low time and it kept me going. I just love the colors. Every piece in it is from the Goodwill. You can see kerchiefs and I sew buttons on; use the hems of jeans. This was a big turning point for me. I'm a very tactile person and it just was a joy to create. It's not what is traditionally known as weaving − it is an experience. I was transitioning to life in Zanesville, and I have found wonderful people here.

What is the best way to contact you? What are your social media handles? Through Facebook, I'm on there as Gail Marie.

Currently, Glagola teaches adult art classes at the Zanesville Museum of Art and is museum education director Misty Johnsons' assistant. She helps with the Sunday Funday events that occur every few months. She is one of the organizers of the Y Bridge Art Fest, holds adult workshops, and will be working on an after-school program that kids can come to with their school.

For more information about Gail Glagola or the Zanesville Museum of Art, call 740-452-0741.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Artist feature: Gail Glagola experiments with various types of creativity