Hello!

Here’s some info on my current collaborative work: “Breaking Through: The Glass Ceiling Project.”

Collaborators on this project:
Amy Vidra
Erin Kaczkowski
Heather Hogan
Ianna Nova Frisby
Muzi Li Rowe
Natalie Sakurai (Lead Artist)

Main Idea:

This collaborative project is an inquiry regarding the “Glass Ceiling”. Is it still a relevant metaphor for how women are treated in the workplace today? Has the definition changed over time to include the loss of fundamental rights? What will it take to “break the glass ceiling”?

Overview:

The glass ceiling is a complicated thing. Turns out women have been reaching the highest levels in many fields for some time. The ceiling appears to have been cracked and broken in many places around the world, but for some, ideas of the ceiling and its strength haven’t changed. Women are still earning a fraction of what men in the same positions earn, proving that those biases still exist. This is especially true for women of color. What would it take to “break the glass ceiling” completely - and is that possible?

Does this idea of “The Glass Ceiling”, first coined by author and activist Marilyn Loden in 1978, still only refer to women being held back in the workplace, or has it actually expanded in general use to refer to women being held back in other aspects of life? Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, there has been a clear attempt to hold women back, with women of color being more at risk. Is this part of the glass ceiling as well?

Throughout this project, I have questioned my collaborators as well as women in my community about their views of the glass ceiling, and what I’ve learned has been very eye opening. There are definitely women who still feel that the glass ceiling is relevant to them, and particularly to women of color. There are others who have told me that they don’t believe the glass ceiling is currently relevant to them. I’ve learned about different work places, and the steps some are taking to mitigate or eliminate gender bias. Through research, I’ve learned that the ceiling may be holding fast because women are still shouldering the majority of child care responsibilities, and if that shifts to a more equitable situation, the ceiling would become much weaker. This is clearly linked to the Dobbs decision, which will only strengthen the glass ceiling.

A Different Kind of Collaboration:

Our collaboration for "Breaking Through" was guided by a unique structure focused on exchanging ideas and working with shared materials—broken glass.

Phase One:

  1. I began by meeting each collaborator individually to discuss their views on the “glass ceiling.” We explored what it meant to them, its relevance today, and its evolution since 1978 when it symbolized gender biases preventing women from advancing to top positions. I asked them to envision it as a tangible object—its appearance, texture, and personal impact.

  2. Based on our conversations, I crafted a 14”x 14”+/- glass panel for each collaborator, fusing various glasses in a kiln to represent their perceptions of the ceiling and my aesthetic interpretation. The choice of fused glass was particularly fitting, directly referencing the glass in the metaphor. It also symbolized the concept of breaking something to create something new. I cut large sheets of glass into smaller pieces, arranged them with intention but without complete control over the outcome, and then fused them in a kiln. I worked intuitively with the results to align them with both my aesthetic and the collaborator's vision, aiming to create something beautiful while also encouraging the desire to break it.

Phase Two:

3. Upon completing the panels, we gathered as a group. Each collaborator broke their panel, symbolically shattering their personal glass ceilings. This cathartic act, shared among us, was both integral and exhilarating.

4. We divided the broken pieces and returned to our studios to create new works. This transformative process aimed to empower us, encouraging the integration of glass shards with other media to produce meaningful art reflective of our experiences.

My collaborators and I are currently using the broken glass as a starting point, transforming it into new work. As we continue to work on this series, I hope you’ll follow along. Thanks for stopping by!

Warmly, Natalie

PS - To see work in progress and the latest from the studio, check out my instagram page.