This is glass...

Some of the most amazing glass objects were created at the turn of the last century, not this one. Specimens and models of flowers and sea creatures so realistic you can hardly believe they were made of glass. These pieces were made by Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka, a father and son glass working team. Their work can be seen in the museums at Corning and Harvard as well as other places around the world. I stumbled on a video on You Tube that provides a history of Leopold and his son and their work. I highly recommend watching it if you love glass.

this is also glass...

When Harvard saw the flowers and plant life that Leopold had created he was commissioned to create models of sea creatures for the Harvard Museum. I am certainly not doing their story justice so I highly recommend you learn more about the Blaschkas. I know it has made me appreciate the glass technology I am allowed to work with.

and yes, this too is glass...

Swarming Honeybee 2006

Paul Stankard is a glass god. That is a fact. I have been fortunate enough to have met him years ago at the Gathering of the Society of Glass Bead Makers that was in Corning. He was the keynote speaker. His glass work is so incredible and radiates his love of nature and glass. You can watch him work in a clip from the most recent Craft in America episode that’s on You Tube. I found this last night and was just mesmerized by his work. And of course check out his web site for all of his work and even a tutorial. So amazing!

Four Seasons

Check out the root formations in the larger piece. They’re people…root people. When Paul was in Corning he made a bead. He was very proud of the bead. Us bead makers were stunned at how happy he was to make a bead. It had a root person inside it. A little naked man. On the other side there was what looked like a bean, from the outside…but when you looked through the bead you saw that it spelled fertility on the bean. We were in awe off this man. He donated it to the silent auction to help the Society of Glass Bead Making’s fund raising. It went for $3100. Enough said…I wish I had a picture to share with you. Just go to his web site and enjoy! And check out his poetry too!

Klaus Moje from the Bullseye Gallery at SOFA

I’ve mentioned SOFA, the International Expositions of Sculptural Objects and Functional Art Show because of the appearances of Bullseye and the Corning Museum of Glass’ Hot Glass RoadShow. This post is about GAS, the Glass Art Society being at the show. And why wouldn’t they? Art glass is functional. What they are offering is discounts for the show if you renew your membership. If you’re in the Chicago area this weekend check it out. I sure wish I could. There will be so much interesting art. And functional of course.

Ted Sawyer at the Bullseye Gallery at SOFA

The Washington Glass School is in Maryland not Washington state like most would expect. And the Washington Glass School is run out of the Washington Glass Studio. They do some pretty cool work. Or hot depending on your perspective. Isn’t funny how something hot can be so cool?

So you want to fuse glass. But how do you get started? Well, I’ve been looking up different sites trying to find well rounded advice on what to do, how to do it and where to do it. I’m going to share a couple of different sites and you can check out what they have to offer and see what works for you. A little from here and a little from there.

First we’ll start with Tammy Powley at about.com and her advice on starting up fusing. Tammy has tons of great advice on jewelry making in general so you may want to sign up for some of her regular newsletters. She covers many aspects of setting up a starter studio which really doesn’t require a lot of space but does require you keep things organized and clean. It is glass you’re going to be working with after all.

The other site to check out is craftstylish.com. She gives good advice on setting up. A lot of the same things are covered but that’s because that information is universal for setting up a small glass fusing studio. In a future posting we’ll cover what it takes to take your studio to the next level. More equipment, glass storage ideas and other goodies.

Over in the resources section of the web site you can find links to suppliers and artists and forums. More info than you need like I said. But very useful info…there’s a calender of events, and of course if you’d like you can subscribe to the actual publication as well as their sister magazines, Glass Patterns and Profitable Glass.

I blog about glass related events and places to go but I haven’t written much about glass art history. I’d like to present a posting ocsasionally on an aspect of how we got to this place with glass. Who first discovered how to melt glass and why. Take out a little mystery…I’ve been to the Corning Museum of Glass and felt rather insignificant when looking at ancient glass work. We are so privileged to have the technology and equipment that we have at our disposal.

Our first trip down history lane is to Mesopotamia where it’s possible the first glass was made accidently while smelting copper about 40 centuries ago. But check out the article on the Musuem’s site as well as their other historical information. It’s fascinating.

But if you’re in the LA area and you need beads, and who doesn’t, come on down to the Bazaar and pick some up. there will be handmade glass, vintage, glass, ancient glass…ethnic, semi-precious. The list goes on. It’s a good time for all!

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.

Chad's piece that sold!

I’ve talked about Piece by Piece a couple of times in past blog postings. They’re the organization that teaches mosaic techniques to low income and homeless people in the Los Angeles area. I have donated glass to them and a good friend of mine, Leigh Adams teaches for them. Well, they had their first juried show held at the James Gray Gallery at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica, CA. Bergamot Station is a complex of many galleries and to have a show there is a very prestigious event. I went to a Chihuly show there once and was able to get his autograph, but that’s a whole other story.

The show was awesome and extremely well attended. There were a number of openings going on last night at Bergamot Station. I wandered over to some of the other galleries but nothing compared to the Piece by Piece show. And the work was selling. This is the first time most of these artists have been in a gallery show. So fabulous!!

So if you’re interested in venturing up California to the San Jose area or you already live up there take a tour of the Bay Area Glass Institute and pick me up a trinket from the gift store.

stairs...

If you’re going to be in the Chicago area November 6-8, 2009 head over to SOFA, the Sculpture Objects and Functional Art Fair being held at the Navy Pier’s Festival Hall. This is a show I’ve always wanted to attend and have only dreamt of being able to show at. 68 top galleries and dealers will be showing fabulous art from around the world. There will be lectures and special exhibits too.

Bullseye Glass will be there with a staircase they made for the show. They’ll be at booth 607 with this awesome glass staircase. Their theme for the show is “Building with Light: Contemporary Glass Art + Architecture. You can learn more about it at Bullseye’s Blog…

working on stair parts

Matthew Cummings

The Glass Art Society Board of Directors is requesting proposals for lectures, demonstrations, and panels, or suggest a topic or presenter, for the Tucson, Arizona conference that incorporate the theme, Viva el Vidrio. Check out their web site to find out what you need to do to submit your proposal.

And start planning now to attend the 2010 conference which will mark the Glass Art Society’s 40th Anniversary. It’s being held in Louisville, KY. I know I’m making my plans to go. The theme for the conference is “Ingenious Possibility” and is being held from June 10-12, 2010. It should be a fabulous event. Try to attend…