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Page 8 July 2017 The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com
B u s i n e s s news
The Ar t in Glass at Rowland Glass Studios
Deb Spalding
Husband and wife duo, Photo by Deb Spalding space shuttles. The film
Sharon and Russ Rowland was quickly recognized
of Woodsboro operate two as a material that
glass businesses out of the could be effectively
former CVS store space used in glass.
in the Thurmont Plaza Russ said, “We start
on North Church Street with a sheet of clear
in Thurmont. Sharon glass and then sand
operates Art In Glass and blast it and put effects
Russ operates Rowland on it. We take it from
Glass Studios. The couple the beginning to a
moved the businesses into finished product.”
the space from Frederick Fused glass and
in February 2017. glass blowing are
Sharon was a registered Sharon’s passions.
nurse when she took her She just finished
first stained glass class in a class in a new
1978, and she has been Pictured are Russ and Sharon Rowland, owners of Art In Glass and Rowland Glass three-dimensional
doing it ever since. By Studio in Thurmont. technique that allows
1986, she had turned the you to have glass
hobby into a full-time career from about anything to decorate glass without an opening. The technique
her basement. The business was and mirrors from sand blasted was invented by a professor in
moved several times over the years, printed film, efficiency film, security Philadelphia.
and when the economy shrunk in film, or reflective film applied for Sharon gave a tour of the
2009, the business shrunk with it. decoration as well as providing new shop, offices, and gallery
Since then, the glass business has other benefits like reducing heat, showroom. In the showroom, she is
grown and they’ve adjusted. adding security, and controlling displaying pieces for purchase that
Russ left a lawn care business light. Russ said, “Architectural are cute and “kitschy” like bottle
when he met his wife and fell right glass has the power to transform cheese boards, jewelry, paw prints,
into the glass business. He went to a space from ordinary to dishes, and paper weights.
work for a custom glass company extraordinary.” It’s also a popular You can view completed
and ran that until 2014 when alternative to tiles and laminates. Rowland projects at the
the opportunity to purchase the The artistic effects are applied Majestic Theater in Gettysburg,
business was presented. Rowland to different types of glass, but it Pennsylvania, the McGowan Center
Glass Studios was born. doesn’t interfere with integrity at Mount St. Mary’s University,
Sharon’s Art in Glass business of the glass. New edge-lit signs in bus shelters in Arlington,
completes commissioned stained introduce light from bottom or Virginia, and in private residences
glass projects and various special sides creating unique effects. The throughout the region.
artistic techniques for commercial Rowlands recently completed For more information about Art
and residential decorative glass use a job where edge-lighting was In Glass or Rowland Glass Studios,
or for gallery pieces and jewelry. used in conjunction with dichroic please visit their showroom, offices,
Since 1998, Rowland Glass film—looks one color one way and workshop in the Thurmont
Studios has been creating elegant, and another color the other way— Plaza Shopping Center at 224 A
custom-etched tempered, laminated to mimic the Northern Lights. West Church Street in Thurmont,
and annealed architectural design Dichroic film was developed for call 240-568-9135, or visit www.
in glass. The Rowlands do just NASA to reflect light and heat in rowlandglass.com.
