“When I’m making glass, there are times when I totally lose myself in the process. You’re like one with the experience of what you’re doing. You want to be really present to do a good job so you have a relationship with the glass. And when you have that relationship, you’re really in flow. And when I’m in flow, there’s a feeling I get that is very special. It’s an awareness of something more than me.”

I have been working artistically with glass since the mid 1980s starting as a stained glass artist. About 16 years ago I learned how to blow and fuse glass and now create a variety of different forms.

Ten years ago I remodeled my house and at that time the yard behind was just a big pile of dirt. With the transformation I made of the back yard, I want people to see it’s possible to have something that doesn’t look very good and change it into something that’s really spectacular. Part of what I’ve done with the yard is that if you look at the glass pieces, they go up in the air. I’m trying to get people to lift them selves up.

I make gratitude glasses with the intention of adding extra pleasure to the experience of the person who drinks from the glass. Over and over I’ve heard from many people that they feel happier when they drink from my glasses and they now only drink out of their “Larry glasses”.

“You’re dancing with the glass. The glass is your partner. You can make some moves and the glass will adapt to you, but if you try and make the wrong move with the glass, the glass will say no.”

My yard glass sculpture series includes many different shapes of glass that can be used to brighten a yard, garden or flower pot. The glass can also be brought inside in the winter to add color to homes and offices. All my yard glass art can be left outside during winter as well. It never freezes! I also grow orchids. Placing glass art in the orchid pot makes the presentation even more special. It works well with other flower pots as well.

Some people say, “Boy, that has a real strong spiritual component to it. That makes me feel more connected to spirit.” And I think I totally I believe that. I believe that something more than us… that if we tune into nature our life is better. People might call it different things. My favorite things are hiking in overwhelming nature and art. So the glass art in my yard is me trying to bring the sense of nature and art to create a sanctuary.

Growing as an artist is an important personal goal of mine. A few years ago my wife, Lucie, and I formed the Lucie and Larry Nisson Art in Public Program. Our goal is to bring art into the public spaces of our city. In partnership with the Ann Arbor Association we’ve made possible murals and painted utility boxes. Lucie and I have also made possible the painting of the RR bridge over Huron St. and a street round-about circle. ­We believe art in public adds positivity to all who live there.

“My sculptures are unlike anything I see. It’s unusual. I like to do things that are just not according to the rules. You know, a year ago, I wasn’t making pieces like this. I didn’t know it was possible. So the question is, a year from now, what do I not know that I’m going to be doing a year from now? What’s going to happen three years from now? What am I going to learn? What techniques will evolve? And that’s what’s exciting. So I guess my goal is to just keep producing more and creating more and learning more and growing as an artist.”