What could the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial have to do with the small, subtropical, barrier island of Sanibel? Ask any local and they will tell you. Sanibel residents are proud to know the man that pioneered a technique for engraving over 58,000 names in stone spending countless hours carefully listing each soldier lost in the Vietnam War. The man is Luc Century, a long time Sanibel resident, philanthropist, and innovative artist.
Luc Century, a master of large scale art glass works, has created masterpieces that will inspire many generations. With an education in accounting and a love of photography Luc began a house cleaning business at the age of 27. When asked about the pivotal moment when he “knew” that he wanted to work with glass as an artistic medium, Luc recalls seeing his reflection after pulling a squeegee across a window he was cleaning. It was this moment that inspired Luc’s desire to place images on glass. Luc worked for Binswanger Glass in Memphis as Director of Research & Development for Glass Craft and during this time he continued to develop a process that would etch images into glass, mirrors, and stone.
Century’s large scale pieces can be found at the Barbara B. Mann Hall, Miami City Ballet, Sanibel Island Shell Museum, FGCU’s Whitaker Science Hall, University of Florida’s Museum of Natural History, and of course the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in our nation’s capital. Luc continues to find artistic inspiration in the abundant nature which surrounds the sanctuary island home which he shares with his wife Dee.