The Zambai family

by Christi Marsico
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:49 PM MST

The Zambai family dynamic is as bright and unique as the glass pieces they create.

Janet Zambai has been working with glass for more than 20 years and has a successful business in town.

Janet’s daughter, Angela, works full time with her and has been designing and selling glass jewelry since she was in the eighth grade.

Anthony, the youngest, is an engineer who resides in Denver, but also has invested time in making glass bead necklaces, as well as airbrush art.

Carlo is the head of the house and an artistic welder who enjoys designing frames for the fused glass pieces.

“We are a well-rounded family,” Angela said.

Since childhood, Janet always has liked to draw and paint, and she incorporated that passion into glass being mostly a self-taught glass artist.

“We do everything, but blow glass,” Janet said.

Since Anthony and Angela were in grade school, they have been immersed in the world of glass.

“We just grew up with this stuff in our garage, which was our studio when we were younger. We had lots to play with, so it was natural for us to get into glass,” Anthony said.

The new technique of sandblasting glass was introduced to Anthony and Angela when they were in junior high, and it became a fast favorite.

“Sandblasting is spraying sand on glass with high pressure, so the sand carves images into the glass,” Janet said.

“And it’s not so much etching as it is sculpting and carving into glass, which is much more three-dimensional,” Anthony added.

According to the Zambais, the first step in sandblasting is to apply a rubber resist to the glass piece and then draw your design on the glass, either by free hand or by using stencils.

The next step is to cut around the shapes in the design with a knife blade; then you are ready to blast.

Blasting a piece in stages allows depth and creativity to develop.

When a piece is finished, peel back the rubber resist on the areas you wish to paint.

Sandblasting has made an impression on all the Zambais in one way or another. Janet clearly enjoys the process, but Angela’s not such a fan.

“I like the end result, and I hate the process,” Angela said.

“It’s really an interesting process though,” Anthony noted.

According to Carlo, he uses sandblasting for cleaning parts.

From sandblasting glass to fusing glass and all methods in between, creative visions evolve and expand new horizons for the family.

“People usually specialize in one thing, but I’ve always thought that being here in Wyoming it’s a benefit to do everything because we can reach a broader market,” Janet said.

“And this work has let you branch out to do something that is truly unique, as well as combining all these elements like airbrushing. Airbrushing typically doesn’t get combined into glass work, and it’s something my mom has pretty much pioneered,” Anthony added.

Airbrushing is another technique to which most of the family is partial.

Carlo taught Janet how to paint with an airbrush using the automotive paint colors, which work well with her glass designs. Anthony has embraced drawing with airbrushes too.

Angela incorporates a little of everything into her glass work, but wishes she had more time to draw the old-fashioned way with a pencil.

Regardless of the method, the Zambai family has fused a fondness for each other.

“Everybody has different ideas,” Janet said.

“And we’re so diverse as people,” Anthony added.

“I just like jumping in and making sparks and making things,” Carlo said.

“Plus we all like to have fun and interact with each other because we’re not just family, we’re friends,” Angela said.

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