Patti Kissinger 1953 - 2015
Thu, April 16, 2015 
Patti Kissinger was an artist, she created beautiful pieces of art in glass. Glass blown and formed while hot and in a semi-molten state. She also made stained glass windows, and lamp shades.
Patti was also a songwriter, played guitar and was a working musician. That is how I met her briefly in 2013. She had just moved to Charleston, South Carolina and showed up one night at a Songwriters’ Open Mic that I attend regularly.
As I usually do when I meet someone new at one of these events, I gave Patti a copy of my novel, Prodigal Child.
She was only in the Charleston area for a month or so, and she moved on to North Carolina.
Patti was trying to re-start her glass blowing business, and had to move where ever that was going to be feasible.
She emailed a few times, asked me questions about a road bike, as she thought she might get one, but she never did because soon after she got sick.
Around Christmas 2013 Patti was diagnosed with breast cancer.
I sent her a card with some cash inside. I wanted to help out in a practical way.
Working musicians don’t make much money as it is, when they get seriously ill they have even less.
Patti had a double mastectomy, and an intense round of radiation treatment.
She gradually got better, and she moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where she re-started her glass business.
Then a few months ago the cancer came back, and it took Patti Kissinger all too soon on March 26th.
Yesterday a package arrived in the mail, it was a small piece of Patti’s glass work. (Picture left.)
I only met Patti, two, maybe three times face to face. We emailed each other a few more times. I regret I never had the opportunity to know her even better.
Maybe she remembered that I once gave her a book, or that I sent a Christmas card with a few dollars in it. Maybe it was because Patti was a multi-talented artist and she could relate to work I had done.
Whatever the reason, when Patti found out she was dying, she had included my name on a list of people she wanted to have a piece of her art, and that touched me deeply.
I will always remember you Patti Kissinger, and I will treasure this little vase that was sent on your behalf. You will live on in the memories of those who knew and loved you, and you will also live on in the wonderful body of work you left behind.
Above: In the FBI Building in Denver, Colorado.
More pictures of Patti Kisinger's Glass can be seen here: http://www.prismglassgallery.com/
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Reader Comments (3)
May the beautiful amalgam of colors that illuminated this individual and her art, shine on others , like a rainbow in the sky !
Such sad news for you and her other friends and family. Dave, I salute you for helping her out in her final months. Chapeau.
Great craftsmanship. Her lampshades seem to be inpired in the art-noveau while the other pieces have a modern aesthetic. And what a stunning vitraux.