Star Vasquez (Feminine Mystique Art Gallery)

BIOGRAPHY

Star Vasquez, Glass Bead Artistry

Star Vasquez was born in San Antonio, Texas.  Since her father was a career U.S. Air Force military man, she experienced living in a number of different places and cultures:  Japan, Texas, Kansas, Arizona and Germany.

In the 1970’s she experimented with pottery, macramé and stained glass.  In 1994 she took a class at Pima College where she learned to make beads out of scraps of glass and she immediately loved the process and the beautiful results.  For five years she worked with glass rods (from Italy or Germany) and, working with a torch, she formed the glass into beautiful beads and created jewelry with them.

Though Star was a single mom with a daughter, she managed to keep improving her skill by taking art classes at Pima County Recreation Center, which she says offers excellent teaching and equipment.  Eventually, Star married a man who had six children and they happily blended their families together.  Their marriage took place in Port Townsend, Washington, where she was taking some further classes.  Her husband has always been very supportive of her art and helped build her a workshop/studio in their home.

Star is a member of a group called “The Gathering – International Beadmakers.”  Every year they meet in a different city and exchange ideas and witness demonstrations and hear lectures by various artists in their field.

Presently Star is teaching beadmaking at a local Tucson stained glass studio.  Many of her lovely creations may be seen and purchased at Feminine Mystique Art Gallery, in Tubac, Arizona, a thriving art community.