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Transforming what would otherwise be discarded into art is what drives the work of Isabel de Almeida, 56, an interior designer and glass artisan for over ten years in the town of Igarapé-Açu, Pará. Her relationship with glass began in 2012, during the creation of a decorative piece. From that experience, the material began to occupy a new place in her daily life and in her creative outlook, ceasing to be just a common element and becoming an aesthetic possibility and recyclable raw material.
What began as an experiment in decoration took on new dimensions. Lamps, centerpieces, utensils and utilitarian pieces have become part of his production. The bio-jewelry, made from recycled glass, emerged naturally from her direct relationship with the public.
By using her own creations as everyday accessories, Isabel aroused people’s interest. “They started asking for smaller pieces, such as pendants and ornaments, and so what wasn’t the focus before became consolidated as another front of my work, maintaining the proposal of transforming discarded glass into art.”
Even with her recent focus on smaller pieces, the artisan plans to expand her production, which currently varies between 50kg and 80kg and can be increased depending on demand. The goal is to reach 500 kilos of reused glass per month, which depends on acquiring new equipment and expanding production capacity. According to her, the amount of material already available from different sources demonstrates the initiative’s potential for growth.
Transformation and work techniques
The raw materials used come from different sources and reflect the initiative’s growth. In the beginning, glass was collected from family and friends. With the recognition of the work, it started coming from bars, restaurants and the community itself, also revealing a change in perception about the destination of this material. “Today, as well as bottles, I also use flat glass, such as doors, windows and leftovers from carpentry and industry, expanding the possibilities for creation and reuse,” she explains.
The transformation process involves continuous learning and mastering specific techniques. Over the years, the artisan has sought training, including atelier courses outside Brazil. She currently works mainly with two techniques: carving and vitrofusion. While carving allows glass to be cut and shaped without the use of a furnace, vitrofusion involves high temperatures to melt and give new shapes to the material. Each piece combines this technical process with artistic experimentation.
The work carries a direct message about reuse, recycling and possibilities. For Isabel, discarded glass is not worthless waste, but a resource that can be given new meaning. By transforming this material into artistic and functional pieces, she contributes to reducing waste and cutting down on the extraction of new raw materials, while at the same time building her own source of income.
“My work shows that it is possible to turn waste glass into art. As well as reducing waste, it also supports me and my daughter, so it’s a way of taking care of the environment and our own lives,” she concludes.
IPAM Communications Analyst*
