In Gayle's words:
I grew up in the household of
a German model maker, Herman Otterstedt, in Setaulket on
Long Island. Even though I was never allowed to use any of his
wood working equipment, I can’t help but think that I picked up so many of
the attributes of being a creative and skilled artisan from the beautiful,
yet isolated surroundings I experienced there.
It may have been a natural
course to select a life with certain similarities and ultimately joined
forces with William Rolfe in producing floral embedments on our farm in Aquebogue, NY.
I was thrilled in knowing that I was an instrumental force in an artistic
endeavor that enabled us to make a living. We grew flowers, picked them,
preserved them and embedded them in plastics. I have not seen anyone else
capable of producing a similar product, since then, especially with using live specimens.
Our old pieces are regularly sold as collectibles on e-bay.
Shortly after that, I moved to Floyd, VA.,
where I reconnected to an extremely rural existence and renovated my own very
old falling down farm house, learning electrical and plumbing and
construction skills along the way. I remarried; helped build up an
electrical and plumbing service company and ultimately attended a local
college to earn a degree as an architectural and mechanical designer.
In the early 90’s I ventured
into signwork, design and glass work. Carving came naturally to me out of my
heritage from The Little Shipyard. More recently I have become enamored with bending
and kiln forming glass. I have found a niche that I feel inspired by
and comfortable within.
Gayle Rolfe has been creating
custom work for over twenty years. Her accomplishments have
encompassed fine art, book illustrations, technical
design, flower embedment, fine
signs, and is now focusing attention to
sandblasting and decorating
glass.
The glass in her repertoire
includes architectural detailing, conservatory work, entrance ways, windows,
lamp decoration, antique ornamentations, church windows, awards etc..
