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| Glass artist Dounyo Montbazet at work in her shop in Mouleydier |
I am one of those people who, when passing an artisan’s shop, peek in the window but am shy about actually entering because I think I may be interrupting the artist or be pressured into buying something. I explain this to artist Dounyo Montbazet during a recent afternoon visit. She laughs, and says that she sees people like me pass by her shop frequently.
“There’s no reason to be shy,” Dounyo says. “You aren’t interrupting me. In fact, the thing I love the most is to show people what I’m doing.”
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| Glass artist Dounyo Montbazet at work in her shop in Mouleydier |
What she is doing involves glass tubes, powdered paint, fire, safety goggles, a rubber tube, a heavy apron, steady hands and an artist’s skill. Her new shop, La Verrerie de Dounyo in Mouleydier (24) opened in March. Located on a prominent corner in this village along the Dordogne river between Bergerac and Lalinde, the shop is filled with wine glasses, vases, jewelry and lamps in graceful shapes and swirling colors.
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| Artist Dounyo Montbazet creates unusual glassware at her shop in Mouleydier. |
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| A pineapple-shaped vase starts to take shape from the flame and breath of artist Douyo Montbazet. |
The 41-year-old artist learned the craft of glass-bending after attending university in Strasbourg where she studied chemistry.
“It was through chemistry that I discovered glass and torches,” she says.
Unable to find a job in her field, Dounyo turned her attention to art and embarked on a two-year apprenticeship with a professional glass-blower.
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| Unusually shaped wine glasses by artist Dounyo Montbazet |
Meanwhile, Dounyo married longtime family friend François Montbazet and had the first of four sons. The boys are now ages 4 to 18. The family moved to the Bergerac area from the Paris suburbs in 2011.
In addition to glass arts, Dounyo’s passions include ballet (she still takes classes) and writing. She has written and published a book of short stories and four novels. She says that it was Stephen King who inspired her to write.
“I read a preface in one of his books that advised those who want to be writers to start by simply sitting down and writing,” she says. “Although with the shop and the children, I have very little time to write these days.”
While Dounyo struggles to repair a hole in a pineapple-shaped vase, François is busy upstairs refurbishing an apartment that the couple plans to rent to vacationers. As the torch blazes, Dounyo shows me the technique of patching mistakes in her creations. Eventually, with a resigned shrug, she turns off the burner and puts aside the unfinished vase.
“Some days are just like that,” she signs. “It seems as if nothing goes right.”
But I have no doubt that other days, things go quite right for this talented artist.
La Verrerie de Dounyo is located at 1 rue du Dr. Daudé Lagrave in Mouleydier. Summer hours are 3-6 p.m. Mondays, 10 a.m. to noon and 3-6:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to noon and 3-6 p.m. Sundays.
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| Coquetiers (egg cups) created by artist Dounyo Montbazet |
In addition to glass arts, Dounyo’s passions include ballet (she still takes classes) and writing. She has written and published a book of short stories and four novels. She says that it was Stephen King who inspired her to write.
“I read a preface in one of his books that advised those who want to be writers to start by simply sitting down and writing,” she says. “Although with the shop and the children, I have very little time to write these days.”
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| Vases created by artist Dounyo Montbazet displayed at a recent exhibition in Monbazillac |
While Dounyo struggles to repair a hole in a pineapple-shaped vase, François is busy upstairs refurbishing an apartment that the couple plans to rent to vacationers. As the torch blazes, Dounyo shows me the technique of patching mistakes in her creations. Eventually, with a resigned shrug, she turns off the burner and puts aside the unfinished vase.
“Some days are just like that,” she signs. “It seems as if nothing goes right.”
But I have no doubt that other days, things go quite right for this talented artist.
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| Vase-in-progress by glass artist Dounyo Montbazet |
La Verrerie de Dounyo is located at 1 rue du Dr. Daudé Lagrave in Mouleydier. Summer hours are 3-6 p.m. Mondays, 10 a.m. to noon and 3-6:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to noon and 3-6 p.m. Sundays.
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