Houston Llew Spiritiles: Aspire

“The man on top of the mountain didn’t fall there.” —Vince Lombardi

Every Spiritile has its own story that inspires, uplifts, and brings a hopeful connection to life. Handcrafted in Charleston, each is made with finely ground colored glass that is hand-painted, fused to copper in a kiln at 1500 degrees, and then wrapped around a wooden frame (see more here). Spiritiles can be hung on the wall or displayed freestanding, and withstand direct sun, humidity, and even outdoor conditions. Care and hanging information here.

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Artist Statement About This Piece: Suspended above the earth, partway through the ascent, a dangerous question enters the mind: Am I prepared to make the summit? Despite the readying before the climb, doubts about our capacity to reach the top creep in. When we imagine the person at the top of the mountain, what we see is the summit and accomplishment. What we often miss is the mental struggle of solitude and doubt during the climb. Being so close to the mountain the climber is blind to what lay above, but sees so much behind and below to tempt turning back. To succeed we must have faith and take the next visible steps.

Product: 235 Aspire
Dimensions: 5.25"w x 8.5"h x 1.75"d 
Release: May 1, 2019, Summer 2019 Collection

MADE IN USA

ABOUT THE ARTIST 

Houston Llew
Charleston, South Carolina

Through fortuitous circumstances, Spiritiles creator Houston Llew met the master enamelist Zingaro and learned the craft of glass enameling. His artistry has evolved from enameled imagery to a combined image and story design. This has become the cornerstone of his work.