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Alan Masaoka just this last week was awarded a grant to create a public art piece for the city of San Francisco, namely to do a window for the Communication and Control Center for the Hetch-Hetchy reservoir in Mocasin. Alan's piece will span the entire building, a show of light in color, especially at night. "I seem to do quite a few public art projects here and around the country," said Alan who was just submitting a proposal for one in Alaska, a 20-foot high, 27-foot wide window.
How does he produce these huge pieces? "I work on small pieces in my studio here in Carmel Valley, then put them together like a puzzle." Sounds simple, but is it?
"My work is very architectural with modern glass forms," says Alan who uses lead not only to hold the glass in place, but to enhance the design. "The lead might move throughout the window which gives it a bold look-it transcends the stained glass."
Not everything Alan does is by commission. When you visit him at his studio in the Carmel Valley Village Center, you will get a friendly welcome and find some beautiful, one-of-a-kind glass pieces for gifts or to decorate your own home. There is glass sculpture, unique vases, and marbles-yes, beautiful glass marbles in different shapes and sizes, each a beautiful miniature piece of art.
Masaoka Glass Design |
For private projects, Alan usually works with architects and designers throughout the country. He just completed a pool house with 30 windows for a professor in Berkeley, and a window overlooking the parking lot at the Horizon Inn in Carmel. "One client called me personally from Chicago and had his architect send me a schematic of the building; I then designed the window for the front door," he says, "from then on our communication was via fax and email."
Alan, who has been creating his art for the past 25 years, is a third generation Japanese American or "Sensai" who grew up in the San Francisco Bay area, then moved to different parts of the country and then settled in Carmel Valley 20 years ago. "Why did I move here? I love the climate." Besides his art, he loves to cook, dance and travel.