Lexington glass artist Dan Neil Barnes will demonstrate stained glass on Saturday, April 23, from 10:30 am -3:30 pm at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea.

Dan Neil Barnes was born in Henderson, to a family of builders and craftsmen. His father and uncles built homes and his grandfather was a custom cabinetmaker giving Dan the opportunity to learn woodworking at an early age. Barnes took art all through high school and after graduating he worked for his father a year and a half as a finish carpenter before going to college at University of Kentucky. At UK, Barnes received a degree in Human Environmental Design studying under Arturo Sandoval, Miles Weiner and John Tuska.

After running a successful upholstery and furniture design business for fifteen years, Barnes  studied stained glass under Laura Hallock of Lexington,  changing careers to followed his love affair with glass. Barnes’ designs are unique and his use of Art Glass is very three dimensional. Using the copper foil technique, where the pattern is drawn onto the glass, and then cut, Barnes then covers the edges of each piece with copper foil and the pattern is reassembled and soldered together.

Barnes also likes to use other materials such as metal and wood in his designs with glass. His large wall lamps often begin with a huge wooden lathe turned disk, which incorporates glass, and metal for embellishment and to allow light to pass through. Barnes also fuses and slumps glass into shapes for functional use as platters and bowls and his use of dark rich colors and geometric shapes makes his work stand apart.

Dan Neil Barnes is a member of the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen where he serves as Vice-president. His work has been featured in the magazine “Árts Across Kentucky” and on KET’s television programs “Mixed Media” and “Kentucky Life.” He is also a juried member of the Kentucky Art Council’s Kentucky Craft Marketing Program where he recently was awarded the “Best New In-State Exhibitor” award in 2005.

Dan Neil Barnes’ work is regularly featured at the Kentucky Artisan Center, located just off Interstate 75 at exit 77 (Berea). The Center’s exhibits, shopping, and travel information areas are all open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the café from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Admission is free. The Center currently features works by more than 520 artisans from all across the Commonwealth. For more information call 859-985-5448 or visit the Center’s web site at www.kentuckyartisancenter.ky.gov

The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea is an agency in the Commerce Cabinet of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.