JHP September local artist of the month: Mary Bebie

The Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery is excited to announce Mary Bebie as its September Local Artist of the Month. A Grand Marais resident, Bebie's beautiful art glass pieces are a result of a lifelong love of creativity and inspiration from the North Shore.

For Bebie, working with glass is more than just a craft; it’s a therapeutic and joyful process. "Creating unique glass is very therapeutic and gives me a peaceful getaway," she shared.

Bebie's process starts with a simple idea and all the way into a finished piece. She sketches her designs, selects the perfect glass, and works through each step—cutting, grinding, and firing—until the final work is ready for display. Her recent explorations have brought her into the world of tapestry pieces, where she is captivated by the "lines and spaces that are so appealing to the eye and the mixed colors that draw the viewer in."

In her work, Bebie is heavily influenced by the natural world around her, from the forests and streams of her youth in northern Wisconsin to the vastness of Lake Superior and the boreal forests she now calls home. Her art also pays homage to celebrated artists who have shaped her vision. She cites Frank Lloyd Wright's "simple beauty of line and space" as a strong influence on her designs. The innovative techniques of Klaus Moje, who is credited with using strips of glass laid on edge, have also inspired her, leading to thicker, more dimensional pieces with a distinctively "crisp linear side and a somewhat organic side because of the way the glass melts."

Another unique component of Bebie's work is her use of iridescent glass. She explains her fascination with its unique properties: "I lay out linear designs that reflect the light off the glass instead of having light go through the piece." This approach creates a surprise for the viewer as the surfaces "glow with radiance," adding another layer of depth and light play to her art. Bebie also experiments with organic, crackled designs, created by spraying powdered glass with water and firing it, resulting in "unusual art" with unique textures.

With a master’s degree in education and a 34-year career as an elementary teacher, Bebie's journey into glass art began in earnest after her retirement. The "love of glass caught her,” and she pursued her passion through classes at places like the Grand Marais Art Colony, Pittsburgh Glass Center, and Mesa Arts Center. She has since shared her expertise, teaching glass classes to both adults and children at the Grand Marais Art Colony.

Her home studio, perched on a hill overlooking Lake Superior, serves as the perfect backdrop for her creativity. Ultimately, Bebie hopes her art brings the same joy and beauty to others that she finds in the creative process. "I want the viewer to find beauty and joy as the light reflects or the light shines through my art glass," she said.

Mary Bebie's art will be on display at the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery throughout the month of September.