An Unfurlled Flag

Although each of the individual pieces of the starfish, now turned star, were varying sizes of squares, the smaller of these become very rounded when fired.  Notice that the larger pieces also have rounded corners, but still look very square-like.  This is a basic law of physics in action; when the  molecules of a liquid can move, the surface pulls together to occupy the smallest space possible.  The glass squares did not become spheres because they were lying on a flat surface to more significantly interrupt the surface tension.....gravity has a "hand" in that as well.

To make this image look more like the cells of an actual starfish, I would need to have smaller buttons of glass or be creating the image on a larger background....this helps explain the transition from starfish to star.

I also learned a very valuable lesson with this project.  Notice the pattern underneath the transparent brown topaz glass that look something like a molting snake skin.  This is the fired remains of the piece of paper I had drawn the starfish pattern on and slid underneath the glass to use as a guide for constructing the starfish.  No amount of soap, acetone, or vigorous scrubbing with a stiff bristle brush could remove this pattern.  It's as if something in the paper the pattern was drawn on left a chemical residue or signature etched into the glass - lesson learned!

As of today, I have not slumped this piece of assembled and fused glass into a plate, platter, or bowl.  I just can't decide if I want a companion dish for the sand dollar mini-platter, of if this would work as a cheese tray just fine if it remains flat.  For now, people want to know what state the "star flag" represents....let me know if you have a clever answer!