Daily Inspiration: Meet Pola Galindo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Pola Galindo.

Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
My art story began in San Francisco, California, in 1993. Before this time, I worked in the medical field as an administrator, even though I knew in my heart that I did not belong in that position.

Ever since I was a child, I knew art was my passion. I would draw, paint, and sculpt all day and every day. I had amazing art teachers in school who took their time to answer my endless questions. I had a growing flame for art inside of me, but my family constantly tried to put it out, steering my ambition away. Upon graduating high school, I tried to follow my passion and enroll in Art school, but my family discouraged me. I had an empty feeling inside then after 20+ years in the medical field, I decided to fill the void in my heart and follow my passion for art. I first started by making jewelry from store-bought beads, giving them to family members, and then selling my pieces to delighted customers. Yet again, I was unsatisfied since the store-bought beads were not truly my work.

Around 1993, I started researching how to make beads. I found lampworking, a technique that uses a propane and oxygen-induced flame to melt glass to sculpt and shape the lava into colorful beads. I could now take my fire-sculpted beads and make them into bracelets, earrings, etc.; not only was I making my beads, but I also worked with silver or gold to encase them so my art could be worn. I was happy.

Then in the summer of 2005, my family and I moved from San Francisco, California, to a small town named Hermiston in Eastern Oregon, the land of ranches, cattle, watermelons, and rodeos. I decided to put my craft to the test and attempt to create a fire-sculpted western boot. I gained my inspiration for the western boot from the world-renowned Pendleton Roundup. After many failed attempts, I made my very first glass western boot. It took me years to perfect the glass boot, and in the process, I also became a self-taught jeweler.

I then took my Art pieces and entered them in ART Walk competitions around the area, and I won. Soon after, I was asked to be a vendor by the Pendleton Main Street Cowboys, then asked to be a local artist featured in the Boardman Sage Center and then Hermiston jewelry store, Alexander Daniel Jewelry Works, who still carry my art pieces.

I lived in Eastern Oregon for over 17 years, perfecting a process for making cowboy boot jewelry that is unique to me; I hold the copyright, trademark, and maker’s mark to my cowboy boot jewelry. I take immense pride in my work since each piece of glass jewelry is one of a kind; no two are the same. None of my hand sculptures are replicable and are all made of high-quality glass ranging from Oregon Bullseye, Italian Moretti / Efferte, Japanese Satake, and many more!

Fast forward to 2020, my family and I officially made Arizona our forever home. Soon after moving here, I started researching my family lineage and discovered that my paternal grandmother was born here in Arizona. The same grandmother after whom I am named after. Knowing this has made the move here even more special to me.

Then in December 2022, I signed up as a vendor for the Roots N’ Boots Christmas and the vendor selection committee was impressed with my Art, they asked me to participate as a sponsor for the March 2023 Roots and Boots Queen Creek Rodeo.  I was given a vendor booth, a commercial and my logo was flown around the arena on a horse flag by a cowgirl. I smiled the entire time.

I also recently participated as a vendor for the White Mountain Balloon Festival in Pinetop-Lakeside.  Happy to be a local artist to both Queen Creek and Pinetop-Lakeside since I split my time between the valley and the white mountains.

To this day, I credit the state of Arizona and its natural beauty for being the biggest inspiration for my artwork. From the deep terracotta-colored clay on the hillsides to the vibrant colors of the sunsets, I draw inspiration from Arizona’s natural beauty all around me. My family and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to live in such a beautiful and welcoming state.

“I hope my artwork will astonish you and your family for years to come. A glass boot pendant and a fine piece of Western jewelry.” Pola Galindo

Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
It’s been an uphill path, but having my family and friends’ support keeps me going. Some of the hurdles I experienced as an artist included being self-taught in glass and silversmithing, trial and error, and having to save money to purchase equipment and create my ideal studios, one for glass and the other for jewelry. I tell people that it took years to build up my equipment, supplies, and studios where it is today. It took many shows to earn money to turn around and invest back into my art. I did not pay myself, and it has not been easy. It took me years and many broken boots to design the cowboy boot pendants, but I finally have the correct boot after years of perfecting the art boot. Having six children, balancing my artwork and family life is difficult, but I succeeded over the years despite the lack of sleep. I love what I do, and it shows in my art pieces. Keeping my creativity alive, having people recognize my vision as an artist, and selling fewer pieces than I had hoped were all challenges I had to face. As most artists have encountered, some disagree with the value I place on my work; yet, I have maintained my pricing because I spend endless hours crafting a single item. My artwork is an investment, much like a painting or sculpture, it has taken me 27 years to reach this stage. One huge milestone I accomplished was that I was able to obtain trademarks, maker marks, and copyrights on my art. I would gladly do it if I had to do it all over again to get to this place in my life.

Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
I am a glass artist, a jeweler and I specialize in lamp working, which is sculpting free hand in the fire using an oxygen and propane torch which the flame can get as hot as 2700 Fahrenheit. I have to be very careful not to get burned, and yes, I have been burnt! It comes with the job.

A potter can touch his clay, and a painter can touch their paint, but a glass artist must use tools to touch their art. I use glass, graphite, and stainless steel tools to create the one-of-a-kind art pieces.

Creating glass sculptures can be incredibly challenging, let alone creating tiny sculpture to wear as a pendant. I have been specializing in lamp working for about 27 years now. I am known for the cowboy art boot pendant, which now is copyright and trademark. The copyright and trademarks took the lawyer three years to complete.

Going the extra mile separates me from others; if a customer breaks their art piece, I will replace it, one time, if they return the original and the certificate of authentication. The replacement will be different since each piece is one of a kind.

I am very happy and proud to have created the glass art boot. It is my design, after countless hours, many broken boots, and never giving up, even when I wanted to return to a regular job, my dream has kept me going, and I get to be a full-time artist. Blessed! One day at a time, I am still here and genuinely happy!

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory was when I was a small girl, around 6 or 7 years old, my grandmother lived around the corner from us, within walking distance, so my mother and my younger siblings would often visit her. My fond memories are of me looking through her hutch at my grandmother’s collection of depression glass and milk glass, such beautiful rich colors like cobalt blue, deep reds and pink and amber glasses, and vases. It was then that I fell in love with glass. I spent so much time there gazing at the glass, not knowing at the time it would inspire me to become the glass artist I am today. I am thankful for my grandmother and her collection. I could look at it, but I could never touch it.

Pricing:

• Pricing ranges from 175.00 to 3,500.00

Contact Info:

• Website: https://polagalindosglassart.com/
• Instagram: polasglassart
• Facebook: Pola Galindos Glass Art