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About the artist
Ron Reichs is a former diamond tool industrialist who spends most of his available spare time creating works in glass.
He is a self taught artist who began by carving jade, gemstones and other hardstone materials.
He is a versatile carver and sculptor with considerable technical knowledge and a great affinity with the medium in which he chooses to express himself.
He has become an accomplished metalsmith & jeweler.
His interest in glass started with his need to find answers to the problems related to polishing this material. He began by carving and hand polishing large blocks of glass cullet made available by the closure of the Pilkington plant in Whangarei and is now regarded by his peers as one of the foremost exponents in coldworked glass.
Because the process of carving and polishing large glass sculptures is very time consuming only very few pieces can be produced in a year.
Each piece is unique. The form is suggested by the shape of the rough material while the use of convex and concave surfaces within the piece enhances the light gathering properties of the glass and intensifies the colour.
Now with the purchase of his own kiln he is able to apply many of his previously learned skills to create works in lead crystal using the lost wax casting process. His works may incorporate bronze, steel, wood or other materials in combination with the cast glass.
Jewelry, works in cast glass and glass sculptures by Ron Reichs have already found their way into private collections in the United States, Australia, Britain, Samoa, Tahiti and New Zealand.
His vision is to create a sculpture garden at his home in the Waitakere Ranges, where works will be available to view.
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