Regular events bring in the public to educate them on the glass good time. Third Friday Open House parties is one of the events that sounds like a blast. There are demonstrations, music, drinks and you can even sign up for hands on glass experiences such as tile making, glass bead making or maybe make a paperweight. Next event is November 20, 2009. I know I wish I could swing by.

Each piece by Tim Tate, co-founder of the Washington Glass School, is a tiny video display surrounded and decorated with glass work.  Be sure to visit the Daily Art Muse blog to see more of Tim’s mixed media works.

These bright blown glass forms are from Canadian glass artist Kate Civiero.  Artsy Beat presents a spotlight on her.

You can find Kate’s work on Etsy.

The Sierra Mountain Times highlights the art of Eric Edner.  Read about this  artist and learn about the art of flameworking.

Did you know that this type of glass art has only been around the US for the last 40-50 years, known as the “studio glass movement”?

Did you know that Seattle has the largest concentration of glassworkers?

Read this interesting article to follow Eric’s journey in glass and why flowers are so special to him.

I love gardening.  I love growing things.  I love to be outside working in the dirt. But, alas, for the last 11  years of my life I have lived in the middle of the desert.  Not only does that mean that anything that you plant to survive probably has some type of sticky substance or needles on it but also that the soil is hard, dry and just not very workable.  Did I mention that it’s so hot that flowers don’t survive?

Today I was waking up with my cup of coffee and Google reader and came up on this post by Atlantic Art Glass.  They spoke of their garden/yard a little differently, as being overgrown but seeing their beautiful glass flowers I thought, well, I might just have to settle for glass beauty around me instead of the real blooming, flowering garden variety.

It could be worse.  I could have a huge lawn to mow.

Simon Pearce supports the Vermont Institute of Natural Science’s 31st Annual Birdathon happening from April 20 – May 22 with 100% of proceeds from the sales of his glass bird paperweights going to the Birdathon.  This event is the world’s largest bird watching competition.  If you love nature or are a bird watcher yourself, why not support them and grab one of these for yourself?

Dante Marioni, glass blower in Seattle, WA talks about glass blowing, his past, how he got into glass and a lot more.  Great footage of glass blowing!

Spring is definitely in the air and Atlantic Art Glass knows how to do it right.

It’s this weekend in Vegas.  A whole arena with a glass flameworking competition going on.

From their site:  This 30,000 square foot, 4,400 seat arena is well appointed with 4 -72’ flat screen monitors that face all sides of the arena along with a private “VIP” bar which has seating for 250 with full bar and kitchen access.

And if you can’t be there, you can watch it live on the internet!  Friday and Saturday, April 3rd and 4th.  The link will be live at www.internationalhotglassinvitational.com.  Click on over to see the teams and schedule.

The Modern & Contemporary Design Blog highlighted a handful of light sculptures in a recent post.  I am totally mesmerized by two of them.  One being the chandelier-style sculpture shown above made with vintage glassware from Canada.  What a piece of nostaligia and art all rolled into one.

The other is this piece that seems to incorporate scientific glass blowing with various other elements worked in a torch.  Although I don’t think these pieces are used in a scientific manner, it is interesting to see how that component is mixed with neon tubing.

Be sure to follow the link to MoCo above to see other light sculptures and get the links to the individual artists.

While stumbling around my glass links I came upon this gorgeous millefiori ring.  I’ve never seen anything like it.  As I followed the link to the Jewelry Blog I found a wonderful post filled with information about Murano Glass Art.

Be sure to check out the links for a bit of history and a lot of great glass pictures!

What about you?  I know a lot of people have visited Murano and have come back with tales to share.  Have you seen Murano and its glass jewelry in person?  Drop a comment!

Not that any Chihuly installation is average, but I bet if I wouldn’t have told you, you wouldn’t have realized this piece was his.  We’re used to seeing the long, blown, curling forms or the vivid blown glass orbs and vessels.  Not only are these a new form but they’re not glass at all!  Designed by Chihuly to withstand the elements, these forty feet sculptures are made of polyurethane!

The Chihuly Bridge of Glass is the gateway to the city of Tacoma.  But that’s not the end of it.  Explore this installation further and you will find more of what you know Chihuly’s work to be.  Above is the Seaform  Pavillion and you will also find display cases of various smaller items.

It’s worth a visit to Tacoma and lucky for the locals to have this installation nearby every day!

Now here’s an interesting concept.  Pay someone to smash stuff.  I’m not talking about a dollar a hit at the county fair to sledge hammer a police car.  (what?  you’ve never heard of that?)  I’m talking smashing delicate, breakable things.  In a safe environment.

Sarah’s Smash Shack in San Diego, CA provides everything you need to take out your aggressions…the smashables as well as the room to do it in with safety goggles and all.

Some of their glass vases and dinner ware are so beautiful I can’t imagine why one would want to smash them…then again, maybe that’s the point?  You can even bring your own for a small fee.  They even clean it up when you’re done.

You have to see it to believe it.  Sarah’s Smash Shack.

They’re popping up everywhere.  Chihuly custom creations for landscapes around you.  Recently an installation was completed at the Desert Botainical Gardens in Phoenix, Arizona.  I love how the pieces fit with the landscapes they inhabit.

I found the picture above at the Tanglewood Conservatories Blog.