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Prairie Fire Glass
SPOTLIGHT ON
Over 20 years ago, Jim Downey, a former
art student, followed a career path that had
him initially managing a copy shop on the
University of Illinois campus, before going
on to serve as a district manager for the
company, then finally overseeing training
across the Midwest. During this time, he
discovered a class on glassblowing. With
only one spot available, it was a toss-up
between him and his wife, and he ultimately
won out. The moment changed Jim's future
as he discovered the art that has given him
purpose for two decades.
Jim defines bliss as " when he loses time. "
In his studio and gallery on the historic
Square in Monticello, Jim finds bliss the
moment he steps in front of the fire. With
a background in painting, Jim approaches
glass blowing like a canvas, looking at a
color story and letting the colors tell him
how to use them to create one-of-a-kind
pieces, from glass vases and ornaments,
to lamp shades and garden ornaments. His
restless creativity allows him to bounce
around and create what inspires him in
that moment. Looking around the gallery,
vibrant colors pop out at you through the
natural light streaming in, and various
techniques are on display, showcasing his
evolution over the past twenty years.
His muse is always, " What if? " What if he
used this color, or made this shape. He
states, " I have to have courage to follow
through these what-ifs as sometimes it
takes me to Ugly Town, but sometimes it
brings me to Coolville. "
It's these stories and inspirations behind
his pieces that brings connection to his
customers. He learned from his brother
that relationship-building is part of being
an art business. People connect with the
stories and that imbues meaning to his
art. The relationships have led him to new
offerings and allowed him to explore his
creative passion while still maintaining a
business.
One day Jim recalls a customer
approached him about creating a piece
to memorialize a lost loved one using
ashes. He found a personal connection
with their story before he created a piece
for each sibling in the family and was
present when they all received them. The
powerful moment impacts him to this day
as he realized that his art created a new
purpose for him, one that helped people.
His Spirit Glass work, utilizing ashes of
lost loved ones from family to pets, is one
of the many things he's introduced that
continues to impact him in a profound way,
hearing people's stories and using those
as inspiration in front of the fire.
Jim feels lucky every day to create in his
space and have customers tell him that
what he made is beautiful. " How many
people get to find that? " he asks. " It's a
privilege. "
Shop Prairie Fire Glass in Monticello or
online at prairiefireglass.com.
22 Official Champaign County Area Experience Guide
https://www.visitchampaigncounty.org/things-to-do/shopping?id=574418
http://www.prairiefireglass.com
ExperienceGuide2022
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