This is my entry in to the Glass Art Challenge. I had a great time combining materials to create Pele-the Hawaiian Goddess of Fire, birthed from Father Sky and the Earth Mother. Pele is still considered to be a very important icon in Hawaiian culture, who is responsible for the constant eruptions of the Hawaiian island volcanoes since early 1980's. It is said that by angering Pele she will have her revenge on you and you will be cursed. One way visitors anger Pele is by taking volcanic rock from the islands, so many visitors have expereinced bad luck after taking a piece home that they ship the rocks back to try to break the curse. It is also said that Pele's tears are shaped like red tear drops of glass, from the broken heart she suffered when her lover ran off with her sister/another woman..

My Pele has a lovely glass face surrounded by black metal hair. Her body is made of a sea shell as the sea could not hold her back thus she rises from the sea to create Fire. Her arms are also glass and she holds a glass bead in the shape of her red lava tear.

The lava and lava rock spill down the volcanoe towards the sea, where you catch a glimpse of the under water world of fish, corals, and plant life that will soon be destroyed by lava and boiling water. The turtles are made from glass, and the fish are also trying to swim away. I also have a glass garden.

In Hawaii, the volcanoes erupt and spill in to the oceans they also are creating new land mass daily. New micro organisms are found that can live in the heat of the boiling lava waters and a whole culture still passess on the legend and traditions of Pele.