About the artist:

Charles Blaze Vukovich (March 25, 1918 - January 7, 1986) was a New York City artist who was known for his work in religious art, as well as his technique with glass, glass in concrete, and metal. New Jersey artist who graduated from the national Academy of Design. He started his career illustrating magazine covers, books, and book jackets. Later in his career he made his living doing large commissioned stained glass windows, steel sculptures, and mosaics for churches around the world, including the Christophers located at 12 E. 48th St., NYC, Immaculate Conception church in Newark, NJ, Covenant House, NYC., and Saints Peter and Paul Church, in Omaha, Nebraska. He also created the stained glass windows at the Howard University Law Building. During the late 1960's and early 1970's, his most notable work, "Prophets and Martyrs of the 60s" addressed those who were active in the peace and civil rights movement. From an article in the Independent Record Helena, Montana April 1962 "Charles Blase Vukovich, of Maywood, N. J., broke into the field of art five years ago (from an article in 1962) and he's been shattering glass over since. Vukovich creates mosaics by embedding multi-colored glass fragments in wet concrete. Utilizing wine, whisk}' and even old medicine bottles, the 43-j'ear-old artist is blazing new trails with his bold glass mosaics which are eagerly sought after by art collectors and religious institutions. The majority of the artist's works have a religious theme. Vukovich is never at a loss for raw material. His neighbors delight in depositing their old bottles on his doorstep almost every morning Not all of Vukovich's art follows a religious theme. This sad-faced clown gave artist a change of pace. Fashioning spiritual art from a spirit bottle the artist scores section with a glass cutter The foundation for art. Here are, the raw materials saics. Wire mesh is nailed to frame to hold the con- from which Vukovich creates his broken glass mo- crcfe when poured. Glass pieces arc then set in place. Huge glass-and-concrete mural depicting Christ on the Cross nears completion in studio.