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Gomm Stained Glass LLC Receives 2011 Best of Provo Award

U.S. Commerce Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement

NEW YORK, NY, December 14, 2011 -- Gomm Stained Glass LLC has been selected for the 2011 Best of Provo Award in the Home Décor category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

The USCA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

About U.S. Commerce Association (USCA)

U.S. Commerce Association (USCA) is a New York City based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USCA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

The USCA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

SOURCE: U.S. Commerce Association

CONTACT:
U.S. Commerce Association
Email: PublicRelations@uscaaward.com
URL: http://www.uscaaward.com

Covey Center gives community a little 'Comfort and Joy'
Mel Sundquist - Daily Herald Daily Herald | Posted: Thursday, December 23, 2010 12:05 am

The opening of the new December art show at the Covey Center For The Arts may have been their best show to date. With 15 artists displaying over 50 original works of art, it is a very eclectic mixture of art. The show, titled "A Collective Season Of Joy," shows different aspects of how various artists celebrate the holidays. 

Some of the art was a bit of a stretch in meeting the theme of the show, for example, a large Art Nouveau piece of stained glass by Gomm Studios was "Christmassy" because it was based on the look of the North Pole in the movie, "The Santa Clause Two." Other pieces were right on, a nativity scene by Emilie Kamachi made of polymer clay many would find familiar in their own celebrations.

Local artist and glass instructor, Andrew Kosorok, recently completed a course of study in Alchemy and has used that new knowledge in many of his art pieces. His piece entitled, "The Birth," made of etched and fired glass is a reflection on the Nativity as it is told in Section 19 of the Qur'an.

No stranger to art shows and competitions, Bronze sculptor and retired art instructor, Nick Ryan had several pieces of note in the show. He felt that since the holidays, especially Christmas, are a time that people reflect and think about spirituality, his "Lineage," bronze will strike a chord with many of those of the LDS faith.

Rick Prazen, another sculptor, who welds his art, entered several pieces in the show. Of note is a mixed media piece which is a tribute table to the late Gordon B Hinckley, prophet of the LDS church. It features three legs which are metal canes similar to one he carried frequently, metal oak leaves and a walnut table top, all elements that had significance in the life of the Prophet.

Anne Weber, respected and world renowned pastel artist had the honor of having one of her painting featured on all of the promotional materials for the show. The painting, "Christmas Lights," graced the front of the postcard invitation that was sent out to many attendees of the opening gala. New for this year, the Center had additional copies of the poster and life size prints of that painting. Anne was on hand to sign the prints for those who purchased them. 

For those who attended the show at the Covey Center last year, there was an echo of familiarity. As in last years show, there were a large number of stained glass pieces. These were done by several artists rather than one studio like last year. "When we were invited to work on this years show, we were honored, but worried that we might not be able to furnish enough original art to fill a whole show," said Jeanne Gomm, who designed several stained glass pieces for this show. "What we displayed last year was the result of several years of work and we knew we could build a few art pieces for the show, but weren't sure how to fill this large hall."

To solve their dilemma, the Gomm's invited many of the artists that they are friends with to be in the show with them. This included relatives, friends, business acquaintances and even some of their stained glass students. "This show is especially fun and rewarding for us," said David Gomm, "Because it's a great collection of wonderful, colorful and intriguing art, but it's also art work that has been created by people we know and care about. I'm sure that there is something for everyone in this show!"

The show will run through January 2nd at the Covey Center for the Arts, located at 425 West Center Street in Provo, Utah. They are open from 10 to 5, Monday through Friday and then have additional hours in the evenings and Saturdays when other events are scheduled.

"This is a really great place to show your art," David Gomm stated, "I'm a little surprised that our skylight (Signs In The Heavens) looked so small when it was placed here in the gallery. It's a very nice venue to display our art and we're lucky to have such a nice place in our community."

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Last Night’s Opening of the art show, “Visions Of Light” at the Covey center was spectacular. The show opened at 6 pm and ran till 9 pm. Stained Glass artists Jeanne and David T Gomm displayed their work and were in attendance to discuss details about stained glass. Oil color artist and historical costuming expert Lynde Mott also displayed many of her original oil paintings. Dressed in a period full length dress, Mrs. Mott happily told stories that gave new life and meaning to many of the paintings on display. All through the evening, hundreds of visitors at the opening were entertained by vivid images that the artists described about their work.

This is the first time that so many works of any of these artists have been on display at one time. Lynde has gathered many of the works that have since been sold or were originally commissioned to clients for this show. “I seriously doubt that I’ll want to do this again anytime soon,” Mrs. Mott said Friday night, “The time that goes into planning and setting up this kind of show is so consuming. But I must say, The Covey Center is a really beautiful place for this kind of exhibit.”

The Gomm’s were equally happy with the venue. “This show really came together,” Jeanne Gomm stated, “We like the way that the hanging stained glass kind of floats in the air in the center of the room and then Lynde’s paintings fill the walls with such vivid colors.”

The exhibit really is a colorful one. The hues in the oil paintings seem especially vivid and the stained glass panels look very good with the gallery’s lights trained on them. “Of course, stained glass always looks better during the daytime,” David Gomm commented, “I’ve been encouraging folks who have come tonight to come back during the daytime to see the windows at their best. The four panels that we built for the center and are on permanent display over there in the north wall look so much better with the light coming through them during the day.”

The windows that Gomm was referring to are a four panel scene in mostly clear textured glass which Gomm Studios built for The Covey Center For The Arts. The mountain scene is a representation of the actual mountain skyline to the East of the arts center, even featuring the “Y” of the mountainside. “People have asked me why the Gomm’s put the “Y” in the stained glass,” Kathryn Allen, community relations spokesperson for the Covey Center said, “And I tell them that we are a Provo based art center and the “Y” is a symbol of our community that is real and represents an important part of the community. It’s also why the tulips are in the window, because we have tulips planted downtown and that image is part of the area.”

Rain and snow didn’t seem to dampen the enthusiasm of the crowds in attendance at this opening. Scheduled to coincide with the First Friday Gallery Stroll that is a monthly event in downtown Provo and with a one night concert by The Utah Premiere Brass, hundreds of people were in attendance.

“Visions Of Light” will run through the 27^th of December during regular hours of  The Covey Center. They are open from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. The exhibit is no charge and all members of the community are welcome to attend. The Covey Center For The Arts, located at 425 West Center Street in Provo (the site of the old library) promises to be a true gathering place for the community. Many events are featured on their web site www.coveycenter.org .  “We’ve already hosted several shows and concerts in the short time we’ve been open,” Paul Duerden, general manager of the Covey Center said, “We see this place becoming a cultural center for the community.”

“It has been an honor to work with the people at the Covey Center,” David Gomm remarked, “Most people I’ve talked to haven’t heard of the center and haven’t yet attended any of the concerts or plays here. They’ve already hosted four large art exhibits and each one of them has been first class.”

Jeanne and David Gomm live in Provo and build stained glass windows in their home studio. You can see many of the pieces they’ve built at www.gommstudios.com  Featured in an article in the Daily Herald in October, 2004, they are slowly becoming well known for their unique method of stained glass building. “We build stained glass in the style that Louis Comfort Tiffany pioneered in the late 1800’s,” Jeanne mentioned, “It is a very labor intensive method, but is very strong and allows us to create a great deal of detail that other methods wouldn’t allow us. It also lets us create a patina, which is a coloring to the lead line of the window, which isn’t available using other methods.”

“Stained glass has allowed us to meet many people that we wouldn’t have, otherwise,” Jeanne continued, “We met Lynde because she saw our work in the Parade Of Homes several years ago. She asked about us and we’ve been doing work together ever since.”

Mrs. Mott admits to loving the art of stained glass, “I have 44 windows in my home and only 5 stained glass pieces, so I still need another 39 before I’ll be done.” She said that a few years ago, now she has built at least another 8 stained glass panels. When she arranged to have the Gomm’s to build the first panel that they made for her, she said, “I can’t build stained glass and I have the scars to prove it.” But after seeing the techniques that the Gomm’s use for building stained glass, she felt she could do it. “The methods they use are so much easier than the one’s they taught in my college stained glass course.”

The gothic angel figure that hangs prominently in the exhibit seems to say a lot about the artists featured in this show. Jeanne sketched a small representation of the angel they wanted to create. Lynde redrew it in a larger format and added details to the design and then David redrew the design in AutoCAD so that parts of the window could be drawn with exactness and the size could be any that they wanted. “Lynde wanted it to be eight feet tall when we first started with the design,” David revealed, “But I thought it should only be six feet high, then when we printed out the pattern, Lynde gawked at it.” “I don’t know what I was thinking!” she admitted. They eventually built the Angel to be the 4-1/2 feet high that she is in the show.

 “You know, we didn’t plan it but there really is a Christmasy feeling about this show,” Jeanne concluded.

News Release………For immediate release Mar 20, 2006

Stained Glass panels are in the process of being installed in the new offices of Dave Gardner, local real estate developer. The windows are big, beautiful and highly decorative. What makes them especially unusual is that three, sometimes competing, local businesses are working together to complete the project.

Local decorator, Dennis Alger, first contacted Gomm Stained Glass last October to come up with a design that would work in harmony with the décor of the offices. Gomm Stained Glass then worked with Glass Images in Provo to have the completed art panels encased in 3/16 inch tempered glass. The installation was then done by Glass Doctor in Springville.

“It was great to work on such an ambitious project,” David T Gomm said, “It’s always gratifying to be able to build a stained glass piece which is unusual and great art.” David and Jeanne Gomm (husband and wife team) worked together on the windows and based the design of the transoms and some of the doors to the building on designs of Frank Lloyd Wright and other designers of the Prarie and Mission Style movements. “We were very happy that Glass Images agree to encase the art glass in the tempered glass for us. We knew it would be very heavy and awkward to work with and they take very good care when they work with our glass.”

Dave Lynn, owner of Glass Images in Provo, said, “We treat everyone’s glass as if it were our own. We know how much work goes into building a piece of stained glass and we try to show respect for the work.” He told Gomm that he was a little surprised that it took so long to get the finished panels installed.

“There were a few snags,” Gomm admitted, “One of the transom openings was a little taller than planned and new wood trim needed to be made for the project.” And that wasn’t the only thing that went wrong during construction. A week or two after offices were set up and the office staff had moved into the offices, a leak developed in the roof of the building. Some water damage was the result and the install had to wait while some damage to ceilings was repaired. “They were really in panic mode for a week or two, cleaning things up.”

“We were hoping that Glass Images could help with the install of the glass when it was complete, but their schedule was just too full,” Gomm said, “Dave (Lynn) recommended the folks at Glass Doctor in Springville, and we couldn’t be happier with their work. They made several extra trips, delivering glass to the door manufacturer’s, Burton Lumber in Lindon. They met and exceeded our expectations all around.”

The main pieces of glass were installed in the front door and in a sidelight in a conference room March 8^th. The Art Nuevo design of the conference room is based on a 1920's design on the elevator doors of the Chrysler Building in New York City. Gomm named the piece “The Egyptian Fan.” The sidelight is 34” x 90” (just under 3 feet by seven and a half feet). “The glass weighed a lot and it was great to watch the guys from Glass Doctor attach suction cups to the big panel and hoist it in place, “Gomm said.

The new office building, located at 724 N 1890 W Unit #35 in Provo by the Independent School, should be getting the final transom window installed sometime this week.

“We never feel that we’re really in competition with one another”, Gomm stated, “We really find that there is plenty of work for all of us to do and we enjoy working with others who know the business and appreciate the subtleties and challenges that each of us face.”

March 20, 2004 Jeanne and I attended the tenth annual Stained Glass and Bead Expo in Las Vegas. It was the first time we've attended the expo. Every year we've wanted to go but we always seem to feel that we're too busy. This year we've been emphasizing the professional side of our business more and felt that it would help to attend and rub shoulders with others in the industry. It was great to met our stained glass salesman (Scott at D&L) and renew acquaintances with people we’ve worked with. We met one friend (Mike at Merry Go Round in Springfield Missouri) who we haven’t seen in twenty years. It’s great to see people who have been in the business so long and are still having fun and enjoying the art and beauty of stained glass. A large emphasis was on the hot glass end of the business. There were good examples of hot glass work, slumping and fusing. Many pieces which inspired us. In fact we’ve decided to expand our glass inventory to include the Wissmach Glass line. Some of the mixed colors they offer will complement the color palette of the Spectrum glass that we already offer and is very affordable. 

The glass Expo isn't for everyone. We sent our daughter, Camille, to the Expo for us two years ago and she didn't pick up any literature or talk to anyone. Afterwards she described it as high priced and boring. And it's true, glass beads at five bucks a pop are expensive, but when you consider the cost of dichoric glass and the effort put in to bead making, it seems more reasonable.

But while we attended the glass expo, I was able to renew my subscription to a couple of the glass magazines that I've let expire and found a new one that I wasn't aware of. Now all I have to do is READ them !

I would only recommend the Expo to those in the business, although there are some fantastic classes (at fantastic prices) for those who want to stay the full four days of the expo.

Diagnosis gave woman impetus to pursue dream
KAREN HOAG The Daily Herald on Monday, September 16, 2002

PLEASANT GROVE -- For DeeAnn Thaxton, a life-threatening illness helped make a lifelong dream come true.

Thaxton, 48, of Pleasant Grove has always wanted to create a stained-glass window, but it took a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis two years ago for her to be inspired to pursue her goal in earnest. Last week, the mother of five unveiled a 57-by-34-inch stained-glass window to family and friends in her home studio.

Called "The Kid's Dream" by husband, Scott, -- who gave DeeAnn the nickname "The Kid" -- her piece depicts a cowboy on horseback leading a packhorse. The scene reminds Thaxton of her grandfather, who was a sheepherder.

Of the 400 pieces of glass, 100 of them are in the border -- an American Indian in design.

"I like the outdoors," she said simply. "It's not a blue sky; I wanted it early morning when the sun was coming up." The stained-glass art blends in with other Western pieces in the Thaxtons' home, with a saddle and tools from the family farm on display.

Now that her dream has been realized, she wants to do more projects with stained glass. "When you have a chronic illness and can do something creative, it kind of boosts your spirit," DeeAnn said. "You never know when you are going to have a relapse."

She was diagnosed at the beginning of 2000 and laid flat in bed from February to September that year.

Her symptoms were numbness and heaviness in her legs, chest and back. Other symptoms include difficulty seeing, hearing, swallowing or remembering things.

A magnetic resonance imaging showed a lesion on her spine and three lesions on her brain. "I must have had multiple sclerosis for a long time," she said, but would brush off the symptoms -- facial numbness and falls -- because she was busy with her children.

"The year before I had problems with my back and weakness in my legs," she added. "Then I woke up in the middle of the night and could feel numbness in my toes and go up my body to my back and I couldn't walk." Scott rushed her to the emergency room. Next, a neurologist diagnosed DeeAnn with multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system. According to Dr. Robert Satovick, director of the MS Clinic of the Western Neurological Association in Salt Lake City, the causes of the incurable disease are unknown.

Satovick, who is Thaxton's neurologist, says the unpredictable disease may or may not be disabling.

The artist remembers seeing a movie before her diagnosis of a woman with multiple sclerosis whose husband divorced her. "So I asked myself, 'Will my husband divorce me? Will I end up in a rest home?' "

A son, Jason, 29, has Hodgkin's lymphoma, so throughout his radiation and chemotherapy and her numbness and burning sensations they give "buck up" talks to one another.

Running a marathon is another dream of Thaxton's, but that's out of the question. However, she and son Nick, 18, decided to run the 5K at Strawberry Days in Pleasant Grove this year. "I  finished fourth place in my age division," she said proudly. "That's a real success for me. Of course, I couldn't do anything the rest of the day."

Thaxton and family have adapted. Hiking is too strenuous, but she's discovered four-wheeling, and the family continues to go camping. "We don't rough it as much or go as long," she said. "We go in cooler times of the year." The heat saps her strength.

"There are times I can't do things -- the fatigue is too bad," she said. "I can't walk as well and have to plan out things. I can't clean my whole house at one time like I used to."

Cooking is a joy to her, so sometimes she "saves up" her energy to cook for her family.

Since the onset of the disease, Thaxton's symptoms have been treated and her health has improved. Weekly shots of a medicine called Avonex have kept the disease from progressing.

Thaxton has a part-time job arranging flowers at Perennial Gardens in Orem. She works four hours a day, four days a week to pay for the expensive medicine that's not fully covered by insurance.

The stained glass venture "makes me happy" she said, and added, "If I have to do art with a paintbrush in my teeth, I'll do it." The diversion has added a dimension to her life.

Her instructors at Stained Glass Studios (www.gommstudios.com), David and Jeanne Gomm of Provo, went beyond the six-week stained glass course with DeeAnn. "All the students stopped by to see what was happening with DeeAnn's window," Jeanne said. "Not a class went by when she didn't say, 'I'm so excited about this.' "

David, upon seeing the unveiling of her huge window, said in awe, "I just have to sit here and look at every piece of glass. The cowboy's coat looks like leather and around his collar it looks like fleece."

The class brought a feeling of accomplishment after some depressing times for the artist.

"At first I had a really hard time and asked, 'Why did this have to happen to me?' and was pretty down about it," she said. "After awhile my faith, my family and thinking positive helped. Even if I end up in a wheelchair or rest home, I feel like I can deal with it."

Thaxton says her life is much fuller now because of her appreciation of all things.

"Just open your eyes and be grateful you can see," she said.

Angel Herring, one of our students, won the drawing for the window

.

Our Spring Show was fun. It was great to show some of our work and spend time with friends who stopped by.

1989

Stained glass nativity a gift to Pierce City

By Marti Attoun - Globe Staff Writer - PIERCE CITY, Mo.  (Joplin Globe, Joplin Missouri, 12/1989)

  After four years' work, Jeanne and David Gornm have completed their Christmas gift to the city - a three-panelstained glass nativity scene.
  When the Gomms started making the 12-foot-wide. window, they- had no idea that they would be piecing; their lives. together along with the window.
  "The city of Pierce City commissioned the piece, but since that time our house burned down. We had to completely replace walls and ceilings. The window is so huge, you have to have a room just for it," says Jeanne.
  While the Gomms rebuilt their home, they and their six children lived in a former chicken house: Jeanne says they were fortunate, though, that no one was hurt in the fire.
  "We really have a better house now because the wiring and plumbing and everything is new." They also built an addition and included an upstairs workshop which is where they set to work again on the stained glass.
  The city paid for the glass, about $1,000, and the Gomms donated their labor and talents. A Pierce City resident willed money to the city specifically to be used for a religious picture.
  Jeanne designed the window, which depicts Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus at the manger. David cut the more than.500 pieces in it.
  "I consider Jeanne the artist and I'm the craftsman," David says. He formerly owned a combination stained glass studio and video store in Pierce City.
  The Gomms wanted to build the window to show their gratitude to the cornmunity and also to promote their art work. They moved here from Colorado about six. years ago and are active in community affairs. Jeanne is former president of the Chamber of Commerce and the couple organized the fall festival one year. They're also active in .the local Cub Scouts.
  "This is really a nice place to raise your family. We don't have any crime rate," says David. "If you see someone speeding, you just talk to the chief of police and he'll go and talk to them or their family."
  David says it was easier to start his own business in a small town. At one time, he owned the only video stores between Joplin and Springfield - in Pierce City, Aurora and Mount Vernon. When business lagged, he worked on the stained glass.
  After he sold the businesses, David went to work at Ozark Center in Joplin and also to college to pursue an industrial education degree. He has taught stained glass to some of the kids at the Ozark Center, a home for troubled children.
  "It's pretty rewarding to give the kids something that looks so good," David says. "I think people ought to build their own stained glass. There's something so satisfying and rewarding about building a work of art."
  Jeanne says the relaxing work "reminds me of putting together a quilt or a puzzle."
  For the Gomms, looking at the elaborate stained glass nativity scene also spurs memories.
  "My youngest son would practice his reading while I worked on the window, so when I see some of these pieces, I think of The Hardy Boys," Dayid says. Their youngest daughter, now 5, was a baby when they  started on the window.
  The window now will be displayed at City Hall for all the townspeople to enjoy. The Gomms, meanwhile, will continue piecing their home back together.

Mr. Gomm has had eight years experience with stain glass work and has been actively involved in the business and teaching for over a year. His business hours…