Gals of Glazz - Jess Dare!!

Hoooweeeee!! Have I got a doosy for all you gals of glazz lovers out there! It is my ultimate pleasure to feature this very talented lady and fellow glassy; Jess Dare. Yeeeeewww!! Jess is super rad. She is one of those people I only really met properly last year, but one of those good eggs that you just go, man, why has it taken me so long to get to you?!

After approaching Jess after her fantastic flame working demo at Ausglass last year we kind of just sparked up a convo which turned into a frienship and somehow this grew legs and RAN. I am VERY excited to tell you that Jess and I will be exhibiting in 2017 at the Muesum of Economic Botany in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. It is also to my sheer delight that I can tell you this exhibition was successful in it's application for funding through Australia Council. What the Fuck?! Sorry for the potty mouth, but I am just so beside myself with excitement and anticipation for this incredible opportunity that it is blowing my tiny mind. Not only a killer show lined up but real, live FUNDING to make it happen. Amazing.

Anyways, back to Jess, Jess makes truely beautiful, detailed works in both glass and metal. I hope you will enjoy her interview as much as I did (who knew about her aversion to purple?!), and the soup dumplings?, right there with you sista.

Here we go, tune in for ten and get to know the powerhouse that is Jess Dare....

Gals of Glazz

Tune in for 10

1.             Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Jess Dare, I graduated with a bachelor of Visual Arts in Jewellery from the Adelaide Centre for the Arts TAFE SA in 2006. I am now a jeweller, a flameworker and a partner of Gray Street Workshop (established in 1985).

Since 2005 I has been practicing lampworking or flameworking as it is also known, having been taught by local and international glass artists. Glass forms an integral part of my practice, I am fascinated by its rich colours, its malleability when molten, and its fragility and durability when cold.

I love the flexibility and freedom of being able to move between glass and metal freely and being able to combine these two materials. This allows me to choose the material that best expresses the concept I am working on.

My work has  allowed me to indulge in my love of travel and now forms a large part of my practice, with an Asialink residency in 2014 to Bangkok, Thailand and travel to Cambodia and Vietnam looking at floral culture and I’ve just returned from a residency in Shanghai, China.

2.             What do you make?

I make contemporary jewellery and small non-wearable objects relating to nature and memory. As a jeweller I have always been drawn to the miniature, it’s how I view the world, in small minute details.  For me, this intimate scale draws people into my sense of wonder. I also use this scale to accentuate the sense of intrigue and awe that I get from the natural world.

I have always made work about memory and in a way my fear of forgetting, I hold people and memories dear. Over the past few years I have been making delicate glass plants expressing the ephemeral nature of memory through the fragility of glass and nature itself.

Whenever I see a striking flower I feel an overwhelming desire to preserve it. But flowers are living things too – they blossom and then perish and are a constant reminder of the transience of life itself. The sharpness of memories are rounded off by time; the colours fade and details are lost. This idea of deterioration is most evident when trying to capture, preserve, study and admire a fleeting moment of a flower in full bloom.

My work over the past few years speaks of my fascination with this universal human need to hold on to and preserve memories and moments in time.

3.             Why do you make?

Because I absolutely love it, it’s who I am!!! My partner thinks I have makers OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), I can’t help but make, my hands are rarely still.

I make to help process the things I see and experience.  The glass plants developed after the passing of my dear Grandfather, Dean Hosking in 2011.

My Grandfather was an incredibly passionate gardener. After he passed away everyone in our family became passionately obsessed with their gardens, it was as if my family was returning to the earth to be close to him. My work has become my garden.

I spend a lot of time in gardens, growing plants, taking photos, observing and my design bench is surrounded by photos, plastic plants, dried flowers and pictures, so all the information is around me and in my mind. I create from my memory of plants, I do not try to replicate nature instead my view of nature, with small abstractions.

4.             What’s you colour palette?

Every colour under the sun (except purple, I don’t like purple)! I was initially attracted to glass for the plethora of colours available, to me it was a way of including colour with my metal work in a durable material that was different to traditional materials like gem stones etc.

Having said that over the past couple of year I have been using a lot of white.  I often use white, bleached of colour to suggest transience in the way flowers wither, loose colour and die, I use clear glass for this same reason.

5.             What’s your proudest achievement?

In 2013 I met with Robert Bell, the curator of Decorative Arts from the National Gallery of Australia at a preview of my first solo exhibition (The Nature of Memory) and after spending some time with him and discussing the work, he held up one of my Xylem neckpieces and he said “This belongs with us”. I didn’t play it cool at all and I giggled like a school girl, but it’s a moment that I will remember forever.

6.             Hot or Cold?

Hot, Hot, Hot! There is something truly magical about turning a solid into a liquid over a torch, manipulating it with some simple tools and gentle hand movements and then it cooling back into a solid, it is like magic and that wonder is never lost on me.

7.             What’s your dream project?

To work with the Blaschka collection of flowers at Harvard.

8.             What’s your influences?

Nature. The things I see and experience, my memories, my family, my mentors Catherine Truman and Sue Lorraine and my glass idols the Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka.

9.             What’s coming up for you? Or what are you looking forward to?

I have been very fortunate over the last 18 months to have done residencies in both Thailand and China and have been developing work in response to these experiences thanks to the Australia Council for the Arts and am planning a solo exhibition next year to consolidate these ideas into a major collection of work.

Some more travel on the cards: I have a touring exhibition next year going to New Zealand and Thailand so I will be heading over with the show to do some talks and workshops and dive into some more phuang malai (flower garlands) whilst I am in Thailand. A little side trip to Indonesia to soak up some floral culture and at the insistence of my partner to have a bloody holiday. And next year my work will also be shown in Germany, Finland, and China.

And an exciting collaboration in 2017 with a very special Glass Gal….

10.         If you could only eat 3 foods for the rest of your life what would they be?

This is by far and away the hardest question you’ve asked… only 3!!! I love food, I love cooking and I love exploring street food in Asia. My partner Marcus and I often have no idea what we are ordering when we are travelling but go where the locals go, point, gesture for 2 and hope for the best, we have discovered incredible food this way. But my all time favourites would have to be Xiao long Bao, Pho Bo and Bun Cha!

Xiao long bao (Shanghai soup dumplings) I could eat these everyday for the rest of my life quite happily. Dip in vinegar, soy and sometimes finely sliced ginger, then poke a small hole in the delicate skin to release the broth, drink the broth and then gobble up the dumpling!

Pho Bo (Vietnamese Beef Soup) Clear meaty broth, delicate rice noodles, fresh herbs, tender beef – yep a well rounded meal! I have sat on many a tiny plastic chair on the streets of Vietnam tucking into bowls of this deliciousness.

Bun Cha a dish hailing from Hanoi and makes my mouth water just thinking about it. In Vietnam you are served a plate of rice noodles, fresh lettuce and herbs, a cold bowl of broth (which is perfectly sweet and sour) with grilled pork (2 types of grilled fatty pork - juicy patty and crispy charred slices of pork belly), this dish is often accompanied by fried spring rolls…. Nom nom nom

Thank you so much Jess, please check out more of Jess's stuff here

Gals of Glazz - Kristel Britcher

Hi buds! I'm back! I really missed running Gals of Glazz so lets kick it off again, so many excellent lady glass makers out there, I love getting to share them with you. Who better to kick it off again than with the very talented Ms. Kristel Britcher! (Or K-tron as I like to call her when I email her with all my many session requests..) This lady is a gun. One of the most hard working glassies I know. Crushes it both hot and cold, she's the double threat. Very recently Kristel got to go polish up her skills in the lathe in the Czech Republic, lady is a cold working machine. Her products are beautifully designed and meticulously made. I have quite a few Kristel pieces collected from over the years and I owe her something amazing....! On top of running her own practice she is also the program manager at the Jam, I'm beginning to wonder if she even sleeps...

Gals of Glazz 

Tune in for 10 

1. Who are you and what do you do? 

I’m Kristel Britcher, Adelaide born and raised I’m a glassblower and the Program Manager at JamFactory in Adelaide. 

2. What do you make? 

I make a lot of things! I’m interested in conceptual and functional design, and sculptural works.  

3. Why do you make? 

Because I need to. It’s in my blood to create and has been since I was a kid. 

4. What’s you colour palette? 

All of the colours! Sometimes just tonal greys, sometimes transparent rainbow colours, sometimes 80s inspired opaque colours, it depends on what I’m making and what I think the work needs. 

5. What’s your proudest achievement? 

Receiving the Procter Fellowship last year- working in the ANU studio was such an inspiring and rewarding time for my work.  

6. Hot or Cold? 

Hot, cold, hot then cold again 

7. What’s your dream project? 

An installation work for a major gallery-that’s the dream! 

8. What’s your influences? 

I’m influenced by a lot of things. My upbringing, the natural world and how things are created and evolve, the history of the craft of glassmaking and the potential of the material; and some of my favourite writers including John Berger and Gaston Bachelard. 

9. What’s coming up for you? Or what are you looking forward to? 

I’m looking forward to finishing up a lot of little projects I have on at the moment, and seeing the many ideas I have turn into something! 

10. If you could only eat 3 foods for the rest of your life what would they be? 

Pineapple, olives and parmesan cheese. These things are good for my soul! 

www.kristelbritcher.com 

spinnin wheels

Spinning my wheels....

thats what I feel like I am doing. waiting, waiting for the studio to reopen, waiting for invoices to be paid, waiting for jobs to come in. it sure is tough to keep the momentum going. the fear of not having work is what eats me alive and keeps me up at night. it's like this every bloody start of the year for me, i go from ballz to the wall, mad rush to xmas, into tumbleweeds and baked beans on toast. it's taxing on ones self worth but i think that is because so much of who i am is tied up in blowing glass. what would happen if i stopped? who do i become? (lady's got to get herself some more hobbies (that don't include wine) thats what that sounds like.)

so i feel intense guilt at not actually working. why can't i just be happy, maybe go to the pool, go see a movie, just like regular people? the short answer to that is I don't know. i go to my studio just about every day, do little bits and pieces but really doesn't feel like alot. maybe it doesn't feel like much because i'm used to 7 deadlines at once and stressed up to the eyeballs. the balance. thats what i've got to find or i'll send myself into an early grave. the kicker here is, that if i do just go into my studio everyday and stare at the wall this is good for no one. i need to see new things, smell new smells, inspiration comes from everywhere and can strike at the weirdest moment. but to let these little moments of magic happen you gots to get yourself out there. live life.

so there you go, iv'e kind of talked myself round.

fuck it

i'm going to the movies




and to eat a choc top.

Gals of Glazz - MAdeline Prowd

So I reckon today will be the last Gals of Glazz for the year (but I may change my mind who knows...). I figure I'm taking a couple of weeks holiday so why not? Not that I view this as work, this is my favourite thing at the moment! So let's go out with a bang! Today I want to introduce you to Madeline Prowd.

Maddy is an absolute killer artist. I have been lucky enough for her to even work for me on occasion! What a piece of luck! MAddy is kind of the gun for hire at the jam so to speak. She assists some big names like Nick Mount, Clare Belfrage and now adds international superstars to her resume like Nancy Callan, woah! (You can see how I can't believe how she still works for me) Alongside her impressive assisting career, Maddy also techs at the JAm AND still manages to make her own work.  Her work is gorgeous. She uses beautiful, subdued tones to create well considered forms.

Gals of Glazz

Tune in for 10

1.             Who are you and what do you do?

I’m Madeline Prowd, glass artist and designer working out of JamFactory in Adelaide. I’m lucky to be in the hot shop most days of the week assisting many of the amazing artists who use the studio and make our community so sweet. I am also the assistant tech in our studio, so I get to build equipment and keep the place running smoothly, which is both super challenging and totally rewarding.

2.             What do you make?

I mostly make functional production work, utilising different patterning techniques and colour applications to pay homage to the origins of the material while bringing a modern aesthetic.

 

3.             Why do you make?

Because I enjoy it! I’m in a position where I get to go to work everyday and whether it’s making for myself or assisting others, I get to create things with a pretty crazy medium, surrounded by a community of amazing people. It’s hot, sweaty and dirty, but we create beautiful things that (hopefully) serve a purpose.  

4.             What’s you colour palette?

White, grey and blue…and occasionally I branch out with something crazy like gold. I’m trying hard to use more colour, but I really am a fan of muted tones and those dirty, off blues and greens. 

5.             What’s your proudest achievement?

That’s a tough one…

I think I’m pretty proud of where glass has taken me – I’ve had the opportunity to go to the States a bunch of times and TA for amazing artists that I have looked up to since I started at uni. Last year I got to go to Berlin for two months and do a residency, and then headed up to Ebeltoft where I met and worked for Tobias Mohl for few days, which led to TA’ing for him when he came to Adelaide this year for the Ausglass conference. Definitely didn’t expect to be travelling the world and blowing glass in my 20’s, it’s pretty sweet. 

6.             Hot or Cold?

Hot for sure!

7.             What’s your dream project?

To keep making for myself and for others, and to continue to be able to support myself from making glass.

I’d like to teach as well - I wouldn’t be where I am without the generosity of others, I really believe in the value of shared knowledge, so getting to a point where I can pass on what I have learned would be awesome.   

8.             What’s your influences?

The people and places around me. The material itself drives a lot of the work I create – focusing on a specific technique, colour application or the objects proposed function. 

9.             What’s coming up for you? Or what are you looking forward to?

No big trips planned for 2016…had a few good ones the past few years. So I’ll be in Adelaide, knuckling down and getting shit done. At the moment though, I’m looking forward to a little break over xmas/new years before rebuilding one of our furnaces in Jan.  

10.         If you could only eat 3 foods for the rest of your life what would they be?

Sushi

Bread

Lamb

You can also check out more of Maddy here

Thank you MAddy! And thank you for reading. Gals of Glazz will be back next year with a fresh crop of talented ladies for you to meet. You may be thinking, really? there's more? Of course theres fucking more! We glass ladies, we everywhere!

Gals of Glazz - Bethany Wheeler

Halo! This weeks gal of glazz is the lovely Bethany Wheeler who runs 1000 degrees glass studio. Beth worked at Monash when I was there and now runs her own studio. I am in awe of the studio she has built. It is so fantastic, well considered and a lovely, light working space. (She has also saved my bacon, letting me come down and use her drill press to drill holes for my lights, thanks beth!) Her cold working space is the bizz! (i hate cold working and even I want to be in there).

I really admire Beth and what she has done. She built up that little studio from scratch. She is my inspiration for my future studio, everything is just so nice in there (not like my leaky, dusty little shed...). So here you go, meet Beth;

Gals of Glazz

Tune in for 10

1.             Who are you and what do you do?

I’m Bethany Wheeler an artist based in Melbourne, I predominantly work in kiln formed glass whilst dabbling in paper, porcelain, found object assemblage and installation.

2.             What do you make?

I usually have few different bodies of work on the go at any one time.  At the moment I’m working of a new series of fused wall panels based on abstract aerial landscapes.

I always have a wax on the go, to be cast and combined with other elements and found objects for a body of ongoing works based on memory and recording the actions makers and their tools. 

I’m also constantly adding to a body of work based on the historical practice of making friggers - ‘glass with no utilitarian purpose, executed to satisfy the whim of the glassmaker.’ They were most often made in glass factories at the end of the working day on a whim – it’s where the term ‘friggin around’ comes from.  They document a calendar of making; I usually make 3 or 4 each month.

Plus a bit of production and corporate awards etc.

3.             Why do you make?

Making is inherent to who I am and I love challenge and beauty of working with a material that teaches you something new every time it comes out of the kiln.  I’m drawn to the fascinating material paradoxes of glass; fragility - solidity, liquid - solid, transparent - translucent - opaque – it is a hybrid that illustrates notions of the human condition and ways of seeing. 

4.             What’s you colour palette?

Clear or black teamed with anything bright - transparent or opaque.

5.             What’s your proudest achievement?

Setting up my workshop 1000 Degrees Glass Studios two and a half years ago was a big achievement for me.  Starting with a 230sqm empty shell, I built five artist’s spaces, a kiln forming area, a project/gallery space and later a purpose built cold working and wax/mould making workshop was added.  There are up to five resident artists based at 1000 Degrees at any one time creating a vibrant and supportive creative collective.

6.             Hot or Cold?

Hot, warm and cold its all integral to the process.

7.             What’s your dream project?

I’d love to play around with some large-scale furnace casting.

8.             What’s your influences?

The natural world. 

The history of glass making and the communities and cultures that form around the medium. 

Plus………Livio Seguso, Clarice Beckett, Silvia Levenson, Antoine Pevsner, Issey Miyake, Clare Morgan, Tapio Wirkkala, Rosslynd Piggott, Donald Judd, Peter Cooley, Walead Beshty, Janet Lawrence, Michael Rogers and the list goes on and on.

9.             What’s coming up for you? Or what are you looking forward to?

My last exhibition for the year is a group show at Kirra Galleries called Virtuoso, its opens on the 3^rd of December.  After that I’m really looking forward to working towards a group show called Aesthetics In a Time of Emergency at Craft ACT next year with a group of friends.

10.         If you could only eat 3 foods for the rest of your life what would they be?

Avocado, hummus & raspberries.

Check out Beths studio here

Ballz

Bloody hell. Fucking ballz. Turns out your body will tell you when you've had enough. Being sick is NOT how I wanted to end my last week of blowing production. This week I had two sessions booked and at the end of those sessions I would be sitting pretty. Would have given me x2 completed homewares orders and a refill of stock. Now I am lucky if I can scrape through with one order. Fuck.

I just can't get over how different this time of year is for me as opposed to this time last year. Last year I was sitting pretty, no blowing in December, had all my summer ducks in a row and got to totally get into the christmas spirit (i baked and made candies for fucks sake). This year? This year is a mad frantic scramble to the end. And over worked, stressed out, burnt out muffin, who now it turns out can add a sinus infection sore throat to the mix. There is no lolling around, baking or wrapping elaborate presents for me this year. This year I am scrambling to make it and bowing glass till the 23rd of December, till the bitter end! HA! What a difference a year makes.

Don't get me wrong, sans sinus infection, it's an excellent position to be in. I am grateful to be a full time glass blower. I just need a little break that all. I have all this on top of the mounting ticking time bomb of stress that is my solo exhibition, and let me tell you, the well is dry. There's no ideas kicking around, there's no glimmer of excitement at the thought of new works, theres only pure terror at the thought of exhibiting. I go into my heaving studio, boxes and packing material strewn everywhere mingled in with large pieces of equipment and glass getting a nice coat of dust on the shelves. I sit at my desk littered with empty cups of tea (some mouldy some not), half finished (glass) pretzels, a sea of scribbled dates and times highlighted on my calendar, and I just stare blankly. Behind that blank stare is the pure terror, the terror of questioning everything I am doing. I got nothing. I feel like a fraud. It's time to fess up.

 I. Am. Burnt. Out.

There I said it. It must be true. I feel like now my body is catching up with my mind frame and has decided to pack it in too. Good one. The thing I learnt this year was it is actually quite difficult when your pay the rent job is your creative job. There is no time to switch off and reload. No real down time. On top of the creative side, glass blowing is also a physical strain. ("The heat Jerry!, By god the heat!") Tuesday was the first time in I don't know how many years, I had to pull the pin early. It was so fucking hot, I couldn't cope. I was starting to see spots in my vision and I was totally fucking up the most simplest of forms that are usually a joy to make. Oh man, woe is me, we're deep in the pity party now aren't we? Maybe today is a good time to do the recap of the year? Grab that shovel, I'm diggin us out of this hole, hold tight here we go....

JANUARY

We started our year off with a wedding in Thailand! Even though I was the only person that managed to get food poisoning, it was still a ranch relaxo holiday.

(I also got to pat this elephant. BIG tick off my list.)

FEBRUARY
Was super stoked that my buddy Jeff came all the way from the states to demo with Berlin glass at the Aus Glass conference in Adelaide. Somehow I even got to help out with the demo! I had THE best day. Blew glass with my buddy, got free tix to a fringe show, drank espresso martinis with my friend. Tick.

MARCH

Made a shit load of product.

APRIL

We painted our house.

Made more product.

MAY

Had to say goodbye to one of my best buds, Jaansie. Team rock had its last session on the glass, and turns out there are tears in glass blowing.

JUNE

Had a birthday weekend away with these goons.

Made more product..

JULY

Got awarded a full scholarship to go all the way to North Carolina and take a flameworking class with Amber Cowan at Penland.

AUGUST

Made more product...

Did the Finders Keepers market with my sister.

SEPTEMBER

Made a few break throughs with work for my show.

OCTOBER

Bought a shit load of equipment.....

(some how this sign seemed fitting...)

Exhibited an installation as a part of craft cubed with The HAndsome Bloom

Finally set my torch up...

Was apart of a cute little group show...

Made more product...

NOVEMBER

Made about a billion lights...

MAde a bunch more stock...

Had a weekend away with this puff...

Which brings us to December.

Ran around like a headless chicken trying to finish everything, got sick, fought social media battles, raced towards the end.

When I look back at all that stuff I really notice just how much work I produced. It is a little slice of madness if you think too long about it. But it also reminds me that I worked real hard and I managed to support myself as a full time glass blower for the whole year. PHENOMENAL.

Gals of Glazz - Laurel Kohut

This weeks Gal of Glazz is a little more close to home. I've known this lady for quite a while but I'd say this is the year I really got to know her properly. She's a bloody champ. She's the kind of person who would give you her right arm if you asked her nicely. Her name is Laurel Kohut!

Laurel has really just been my saviour this last six months. One of the toughest thing about moving back to Melbs from Adelaide, was who was I going to work with? Laurel and I started to share some sessions and work for each other, now we work together on a regular basis at least one day a week, more if one of us has jobs on or deadlines to meet. Like me, Laurel did her training at the Jam (we just missed each other in Adelaide!) for me this always speaks volumes on someones skills and work ethic. When it boils down to it, we have both been trained as glass blowers in the same way and it makes it so easy to work together. She knows how to bring a good jack heat, has that production hustle and pretty much is just an excellent person! She is a super skilled up glass blower, has been assisting Nick Wirdham for years, is the Ausglass president, a studio tenant at Blue Dog,  I could go on! For someone with such a long list of achievements behind her, she is what I would call a beautiful, humble lady. (she also has a rad dog that she brings to work everytime with her and now I think we are pals because I share my crackers with her...)

I feel really lucky for our paths to have crossed (the number of times this girl has saved my arse, "Laurel do you have any bronze I could borrow?") and there is no way I could have made it through these last months without her. So go make yourself a cup of tea and get to know this rad gal of glazz a little better...

Gals of Glazz

Tune in for 10

1.          Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Laurel Kohut, and I'm a glass artist from Melbourne, Victoria.

2.          What do you make?

My artwork is focussed around the idea of sentimental objects - things that people get attached to and have some sort of emotional investment. Recently I have been using the aesthetic forms of jewellery but increasing the scale to the point where they are non-functional. I like the viewer to be able to recognise and relate to the sculptural forms and hopefully engage in a dialogue regarding these sentimental things.

3.          Why do you make?

It's a curiosity I've had since I was a child. I always loved to paint, draw, stick things together, take things apart and rebuild things. I have always had an interest in objects too. I love antiques and the stories and history they have. I actually feel very privileged to be able to make objects for a living. I often wonder what kind of lives my objects have had once they venture out into the world..

4.          What’s you colour palette?

I like fresh, candy colours. Not too bright though! And I tend to mix different tones of the same colour.

5.          What’s your proudest achievement?

I think anytime you can look at a piece you have made and think 'I'm completely happy with that, there's nothing I would change if I could' - is a proud moment. (It doesn't happen to me very often as I'm very self critical!) Also, I just recently became a full time artist which has been a big scary step for me but also fulfilling.

6.          Hot or Cold?

I like it both ways!

I'm trained as a hot glass artist, but my work seems to come to life in the cold shop. I just love how you can completely change a blown glass object through cold working. 

7.          What’s your dream project?

I have so many!

Building my own hot shop, having more solo exhibitions, creating large scale installations and to be able to keep supporting myself through making glass.

8.          What’s your influences?

I am influenced by the material itself. I've never grown bored of glass.

I am also influenced by other objects and sculptures - not necessarily glass, but things that have a personal history or a story to tell.

Other artists who have influenced me are:

 Nick Wirdnam - who has a similar interest in objects but also creates and arranges his work with the most extraordinary sensibility.

 Nick Mount - who's methods of working glass have directly influenced my own.

Kristin McFarlene - her work really speaks to me on an emotional level.

9.          What’s coming up for you? Or what are you looking forward to?

I'm looking forward to blowing more glass with Amanda Dziedzic as my blowing buddy!

Currently I have lots of Christmas production work to make, but when I get through that I am hoping to continue working on a new body of exhibition work which revolves around the theme of time and the pocket watch. Stay tuned..!

10.      If you could only eat 3 foods for the rest of your life what would they be?

Sushi

Pad Thai

My dad's apple pie. 😀

(Laurel in her other natural habitat; the cold shop! One day when I'm rich and famous I am going to outsource all my cold working to Kristel Britcher in Adelaide and Laurel in Melbs, thats the dream!)

you can also check out her website here

thanks lozzle! xx

Crushed

I didn't know if I was going to publish this but here goes...

To say last week has been hard is an understatement. I have been in a stituation that I have never been in before. I feel like I have been hung out to dry, like I have been crushed down and what's worse, friends of mine have been bullied and harassed just for standing up for me. I't s a bit tricky to write about because social media is what got me in this situation in the first place. Man, social media, what a fucking minefield. So awesome and such a waste of time simutaneously. What started as a mistake, then a somewhat naiive and flippant reaction on my part, has been blown so far out of proportion that I don't know where to start. I don't want to get myself into trouble further but I also do not believe in being bullied. And I also believe that I have not done anything wrong.

I'm not going to name names, there isn't much point. I just want to talk about how this episode made me feel. It made me feel like fucking nothing. Like a glitch on the horizon as a much MUCH larger company set about to crush me like a bug. It made me question everything. How I run my practice, how I operate, what i value and how I project myself. How I project myself is honest. Amanda Dziedzic glass is exactly the same Amanda Dziedzic you will meet on the street. You know when I started to get a little more action I thought I had to change my voice. especially how I represented myself on this blog. I thought I had to be more "professional". That potential clients might read this. Kind of like I should tone it down. No more swearing, fewer gags, stick to the facts.... SNORE! I was like, fuck that, that is so boring, if I don't even want to read it, why the fuck is anyone else going to want to give me the time of day? So funny. What a muppet.

So i stuck to my voice. I stuck with what I knew and didn't try to be anyone else. It's only now in doing this that I see the risk in doing this. There's no buffer, what you see is what you get, but that also leaves me extremely vulnerable. There's nowhere to hide, I'm in the buff so to speak. So if you make a mistake and someone comes for you. Thats it. It's just you and now its personal and it hurts. So after this episode I've been left wondering if I made a mistake? Should I have left myself so in the open? But that's who I am, it's what i cherish in my practice. Be it for better or worse it is who I am. My glass is who I am. My voice as a maker is one that is honest and true. And now it feels as though I am doubting myself, and I hate that.

What really sucks about this situation is how dear friends of mine are being bullied and harassed for standing up for me. It's really awful. I thought the situation was resolved but it is just being dragged out. To me it speaks volumes of the company.

Gals of Glazz - Megan Stelljes

I met this lady when I was taking Karen Willenbrink-Johnsens class at Pilchuck and Megan was one of the TA's. Megan is a super fun and super talented lady. She was such a good TA, totally all over it and full of energy. She was also super lovely to give me a list of all the rad things to do in Seattle if I had the chance. I love her spirit and she seems like such a dedicated glass maker. I hope she makes it out to Australia so we can hang out and I can show her some of the good stuffs that we got! (she also has an excellent talent for dress ups, her costumes are off the hook!)

Here we go, meet Megan!

Gals of Glazz

Tune in for 10

Megan Stelljes

Who are you and what do you do?

I am a Tacoma, Washington, based glass artist.  I graduated with a BFA in glass forming from Emporia State University in 2009. After graduation I moved to the Pacific North West to pursue glass, working with and for friends making sculptural glass.  I love being a part of the Seattle area glass community.  I also own and operate my own small business making drink ware called Gray Sky Glassware.  (grayskyglassware.com)

What do you make?

I make sculptures based on my experiences in society.  As I evolve, the themes in my work follow.  My current body of work uses familiar objects to convey moods and feelings.  I have also been working with photographic decals.  Using old photos rolled up in the hot shop on bell jars. The bell jars are mostly empty with a cane drawing on the opposite side of the photo.  The drawing illuminates the dissonance between real life and expectations in the photo.  I love simple forms.  Often times my work has an almost child like or cartoon aesthetic.  I love the playfulness and the familiarity this aesthetic highlights. 

What’s your color palette?

Vintage Tupperware (pastels not 70’s) meets bright candy colors

Proudest Achievement?

I am most proud of being invited to be a Gaffer at Pilchuck Glass School.  Pilchuck has been such a special place for me.   I feel like it's the place where I grew up in the glass community.  I have worked there in many capacities and always dreamt of being a gaffer.  It is such a special and fun position. 

Hot or Cold?

HOT!

Dream Project?

My dream project is having the freedom to create a dream project.  As amazing as glass is, it is so financially limiting.  I hope to one day be able to support myself entirely through my own artwork.  That is my ultimate dream project.

Influences

Most of my influences in glass come from people I work with, or have learned from directly.  My first teacher outside of college was Karen Willenbrink-Johnsen.  She taught me so much of what I know today and am so thankful for my time with her.  She is such a pioneer.  Two of my favorite lessons from her are “It’s not done until it’s over done!” and “All that glitters is… we need more GLITTER!” Kelly O’Dell and Amanda Patenaude are sort of my spirit animals of glass influences.  These ladies are such treasures and have really showed the most important part of being an artist is sharing love and saying Yes Please!  They are both amazing artists as well as amazing women.  I have also recently been able to be a student of Amy Rueffert, Jen Elek and Netty Blair.  These ladies taught me so very much about working glass, art and life.  I feel like that is an interview in and of itself.  I guess the most important thing that draws me to these people is an overwhelming kindness and appreciation for those around them. My work is so reactive to my surroundings that my influences are from daily life as well as their artwork. 

What’s coming up for you?

In the spring I am fortunate enough to be a teaching assistant for Jen Elek and Jeremy Bert for a Penland School of Crafts concentration class.  I can’t wait.  I am also working on new products for the Gray Sky Glassware line.  Maybe even a new studio…

Three foods?

Cucumbers

Pizza

Beer? Does beer count as a food?

Thank you Megan! (And beer totally counts) If you want to check out more of Megan's work check her site here.

Gals of Glazz - Tegan Hamilton

Hey there friends, I have had a lot of stuff (thats putting it politely) going on recently, and it's making me think long and hard about a lot of it. But in the midst of it all I remember Gals of Glazz! Gals of Glazz makes me ridiculously happy to write about. It reconnects me with my joy. LAdies and glass! What's not to like about that? I also like it because it's not work for me. It's like a nice kind of distraction. An extra curriculum activity. (Makes me think of Rushmore and Max Fishers love of extra curriculum activities, beekeeping, fencing, theatre productions...I fucking love that movie, the scene with Bill Murray on the diving board, scotch in hand, ciggie dangling from his mouth...gold)

So today (night), I bring you Tegan Hamilton. Tegan went to the same Uni as me but was a couple of years above (I think?). Tegan is now living her dream, blowing glass in Seattle. You little ripper. This lady has ballz! I really admire that she went, you know what?, I want to blow glass and where better to do it than Seattle. I'm moving there. Amazing. I think it takes a courageous person to chase their dreams. So here you go, get to know her a little better:

Gals of Glazz

Tune in for 10

1.             Who are you and what do you do?

           

My name is Tegan Hamilton and I am an Australian glass artist living in Seattle, Washington, USA. I help other wonderful people make their work and make as much of my own work as I can!

2.             What do you make?

I make unique functional work which includes octopus inspired vessels and screen printed tumblers. I also make less functional work which is inspired by natural history and anatomy. My Masters work explored the relationship between medicine and art, and my more recent work looks at natural history in a broad manner. I love sculpting, blowing, printing and painting among other things.

3.             Why do you make?

I make because it warms my soul. I would be incomplete and not as happy in life if I weren't creating.

4.             What’s you colour palette?

I have a pretty subtle colour palette generally. I prefer one colour at a time and love transparent colours. The transparency of glass still fascinates me after 12 years.

5.             What’s your proudest achievement?

My proudest achievement is packing up two suitcases with no planned job or place to live and flying to Seattle to follow my dreams. It was so scary and in hindsight very brave!

6.             Hot or Cold?

Love the hot. There is nothing like the warmth of the furnace on your skin when gathering glass. However, warm and cold are integral to my processes.

7.             What’s your dream project?

My dream project is a mountain of time developing my own work.

8.             What’s your influences?

There are so many influences on my work. I take inspiration from the brilliant scientific illustrators like Vesalius, Henry Carter and Da Vinci. I'm inspired by natural history museums which capture the human fascination of collecting categorising and preserving the world around us. I'm also influenced by my glass peers and the glassblowers who came before me. I would not be where I am today without the 

9.             What’s coming up for you? Or what are you looking forward to?

I am currently involved in a glass holiday show at the Pilchuck Glass exhibition space in Seattle until the end of December (there will be a fun opening on the first Thursday of December) I also have a glass exhibition coming up in Melbourne in February, so I get to come home for that.

10.         If you could only eat 3 foods for the rest of your life what would they be?

Steak, green beans and dark chocolate!

Thanks for sharing with us Teges! 

You can check out more of her stuff here.

Gals of Glazz - 4 - Arlie Trowbridge

I am so lovin the gals of glazz. I love hearing about what everyone is up to and I LOVE hearing all the similarities we have in our practices. Kinda makes you feel like you are in in it together you know, not some strange bird all out there alone.

Today i got a suer lady to introduce you to that I met while I was at Penland this year taking Ambers Cowan's class. Her name is Arlie Trowbridge and she is a flame worker. I kinda met Arlie first through instagram! Amber kind of put us in touch when she found out we were both taking her class. So it was kinda like I already had a pal before I even started! (God bless the internet.) Arlie is a super rad maker and I had THE best time with her at Penland. She is just one of those people that is super fun to hang out with and she is one super talented lady on the torch who taught be a whole bunch of rad tricks.

We also got to have a day off together where she showed me and Amber around her home town of Ashville. (I actually was so hung over I could barely function but somehow a Corey special (iced coconut coffee) and half a ginger cookie seemed to help me pull it together) She also took us to this amazing lake where I got to see a weiner dog swimmin laps while we ate pizza and had beers!! What more could you want? Arlie is killing it and makes beautiful jewellery. ( I also love that she is absolutely bananas about crystals and gems!!)  Like me, she is self employed and I just think that is THE best. She will be going into her Christmas madness making period as we speak, on that torch 24/7. She def has the skillz to pay the billz. I hope you enjoy getting to know her, I sure did and I reckon she will be one of those friends for life. Glass is so awesome like that. (And I really hope she gets her butt over to visit me sometime...!!)

Gals of Glazz

Tune in for 10

1.             Who are you and what do you do?

Hi! My name is Arlie Trowbridge.  I live in Asheville, North Carolina, USA. I spend a good part of my day dreaming about places I want to visit and things I want to make. I also spend a good amount of time exploring the mountains I live in. I love to run, hike with my pup, float down the river, go to yoga class, make fresh pressed juices and eat delicious foods. I like to drink lots and lots of beer too. Oh, and I flamework! I spend lots and lots of time flameworking.

2.             What do you make?

I make jewelry probably 80% of the time and other sculptural and home items as well. When orders are low and time is on my side, I have been getting into thinking about larger works. I’ve been getting into the cold shop, faceting crystal forms and making little hand held sculptures and table top pieces on light boxes lit from below.

3.             Why do you make?

To stay sane! J There has never been a time in my life where I wasn’t making something. I tried every medium growing up and bounced around with different techniques in college too. It wasn’t till I was about to graduate that I discovered glass. Even when I don’t feel inspired to melt glass, I’m sewing clothes, painting, arranging flowers, etc etc. I just love looking at things, re-arranging and changing things. If I couldn’t use my hands to make beautiful things, I would feel no purpose.

4.             What’s you colour palette?

Since I started working with glass, I tell people my favourite color is translucent. Doesn’t matter what color it is – if it’s translucent, that’s just so yummy to look at!

I love experimenting with the whole borosilicate glass palette though. And finding what colors work well with  others because a lot of boro color combinations can look gross real fast.

Oh, and purple. I freaking love the color purple.

5.             What’s your proudest achievement?

Being a self supporting maker straight out of college. The only other “real” job I’ve had was lifeguarding in my early twenties. It’s been really hard and it will continue to be really hard but it is undoubtedly the most fulfilling way to live my life.

6.             Hot or Cold?

Hot all day! I hate the cold shop. Hate. It. !!! But I love the results so I’m gonna keep pushing myself to get in there and grind. Hot all day goes for the weather too. Man, I hate winter.

7.             What’s your dream project?

Move to Hawaii and create island inspired works. It’s really that simple. Gonna make it happen!  

8.             What’s your influences?

Lot of influences during my day to day. Running! I can’t stop talking about. Before this summer I had never run a mile and now I run 3 to 8 every other day. It has had a huge impact on my life as a whole and an amazing one on my flameworking studio practice.

The Appalachian mountains are amazing and Asheville in general has an incredibly positive influence on me. I feel really lucky to live here with such a supportive community and lots of glass blowers too!

I first learned how to flamework with Emilio Santini at Virginia Commonwealth University and I will forever cherish that time in my life. I have also been able to take classes with Jennifer Umphress and Amber Cowan – two huge gals of glazz girl crushes right there!

9.             What’s coming up for you? Or what are you looking forward to?

Right now I am in the thick of production jewelry due to the holidays approaching. It seems that this time of year my hands are so busy making repetitive designs that my mind is able to drift and come up with a lot of new ideas at the same time. Instead of getting frustrated that I don’t have time to make them, I’ve been jotting them down and come January 2016 I’m hoping to crush out some big sculptures. We’ll see what happens.

10.         If you could only eat 3 foods for the rest of your life what would they be?

Mangos

Avocados

Beer

Thanks mate! And look at her adorable puppy! You should go check out her website here. Also she has a great instagram you can follow her on too, check her out here.

Gals of Glazz - Episode Three - Clare Wilson!

 Today I am going to introduce you to one of my very good friends, who I like to call Wilson. Clare Wilson is a UK lady who came over to do the associateship at the Jam the same time as me. She has seen me at my worst and she has seen me at my best (sometimes the two combine, thank you gate 8 party...), she has also documented these times and there are quite a few dodgy photos of me in her stash. We worked so hard for those two years and there were times where I'm sure we wanted to throttle each other but we managed to come out the other side, better friends than ever. I've stayed with her family, she has sent me care packages in Scotland when I was on my residency (new t-shirts and snacks!! Bliss for dirty, tired glass blowers), we went to Pilchuck at the same time and were roomies ( i was an absolute filth wizzard, she actually made my bed for me one day!! Her side of the room was a picture of perfection, mine looked like a hobo had been living there for weeks complete with half eaten toast in the bed and piles of clothes ala suitcase explosion)   

(in the magic cup challenge she watched me make a cup with a chicken leg as my only tool and she had a cyinder block) then travelled together in New York. Actually the more I think about it, Wilson took care of me quite alot! She has one of the biggest hearts out there. Clare now resides back in the Uk and is missed by her Aussie glass family, so here you go, meet Clare Wilson,

Gals of Glazz

Tune in for 10

1. Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Clare Wilson, I am originally from Portsmouth, England, I studied Glass at the Edinburgh College of Art from 2004 - 2007 and this is where I am currently based. I was fortunate enough to be a part of the JamFactory associate training program from 2008 - 2009. I love working with glass and I draw a lot of my inspiration from just working with the material, learning new processes and techniques is what will drive me to make new work. I also work part time in a kid’s café… I’m not sure why.

2. What do you make? 

I have a few ranges of production glass including vases, bowls and paperweights; they all include some form of cane or murrine. I suppose the fact that these techniques are frequently cropping up in my production glass is what has lead me to work on a larger and more involved body work. The series I am working on is quite simply named ‘Cane Studies’, it allows me to explore and experiment working with cane and murrine, combining the two techniques and creating layers within the glass to achieve an extensive depth of pattern.

3. Why do you make? 

I love working with glass, I actually get really cranky when I’m not working with glass, which is something I have realised over the last few months. It is my creative output and although I would deem myself relatively good at quite a few things, I feel that my best skill is glass blowing, I am not by any means saying that I am the best just that it is the skill I am most satisfied with. I enjoy working with other materials but I find that the glass really challenges me, all the processes and techniques that you have to perfect just to blow a good bubble! I guess that’s why I make… I have found a material that pushes me in every way and I love it.

4. What’s you colour palette? 

Monotone. White, Grey and Black. I used to work with a lot of colour and I got really fed up with it so I pulled right back to the basics and simplified, I work with cane so it is also a technical consideration, with white being a very stiff colour it makes the best cane. I’m pleased with the results so far I have produced some beautiful, simple and subtle pieces.

5.     What’s your proudest achievement? 

Attending the Jamfactory, that was huge and has shaped the way I think about and make glass, I think being a finalist in the Ranamok Glass Prize was a pretty proud moment and just being able to continuously push forward in my practice and stay on track every day.

6. Hot or Cold? 

 Hot, Hot, Hot.

7. What’s your dream project? 

At this point in time it would be designing and making a super sharp looking home wares range, I really want to start making jars and food storage, things for the kitchen as well as a range of lighting all using cane. A massive outdoor glass installation that incorporates cane and light is also a bit of a dream project but I think that one is for later.

8.     What’s your influences? 

I always struggle with this question when I’m asked it. Very rarely do I see something and say ‘I’m going to make that in glass’. I would say I am influenced by the techniques I learn and by processes I see in action, I like to learn and absorb as much as I can and then bring all this knowledge into my work. I like to look at my surroundings, mundane as they may sometimes be and take a pattern from a pavement or a spider web or brickwork as inspiration.

9. What’s coming up for you? Or what are you looking forward to? 

I have three shows coming up in the UK over the Christmas period. A selling show at the Park Gallery in Fife, Scotland, the Contemporary Glass Society showcase at the National Glass Centre in Sunderland and finally a show I am super excited about called ‘Selected’ at the Dovecot Gallery in Edinburgh, Scotland. Its application season right now, so I am plotting and planning for 2016, I am also hoping to apply to study for my MFA next year.

10. If you could only eat 3 foods for the rest of your life what would they be? 

Sushi, eggs and pineapple.

Thank you Wilson!! xxxx

(And thank you for making my bed that time....)

Gals of Glazz - Episode 2

Hello! Welcome to the second episode of Gals of Glazz!! This lil project has had such a good response. I think it could be the beginning of something amazing! Maybe we could get this little thing into a real live printed publication? With matching badges for every gal member? Maybe we could have an exhibition? The options are growing everyday!! (I think about it all the time, just last week I was daydreaming about gals of glazz while I was heating at the glory hole and almost lost my piece...! THATS how excited I am about this project. )

In the beginning I guess I was just focusing on my mates but then the ball started to roll and why stop there? Why not cast the net further and see how far it can reach? I want gals of glazz to be a representation of artists at all different points in their careers. The students, the newbies, the ladies who have been paving the way, the ladies who have been there from the beginning.  So today I want to introduce you to a lady who is workin hard up in Canberra and reigns from all the way from the U.S of A, Kristi Totoritis. Kristi make some seriously fantastic work. I love how personal it is for her and I love her colour palette.

Gals of Glazz

Tune in for 10

1.             Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Kristi Totoritis (& by the production name of heartcoreglass) and I hail from San Diego, California in the United States. I am an artist that works mostly in the medium of glass, painting and print media. I also make heaps of jewellery. Currently I am a MVA Candidate at the ANU in Canberra, Australia.

 2.                     What do you make?

I make contemporary vanitas. I focus on things that remind us of our mortality and speak of vanity and self-reflection.  These things are often inspired by the way different cultures deal with this these issues through ceremony and religion. (for example: catacombs, bodily adornment such as tattoos and jewellery, burial, dia de los muertos, witchcraft, burial, marriage..)

On the production side of things I like to make tableware and jewellery.

3.             Why do you make?

Because I have to. It’s in my bones. I’ve been drawing and painting since I was about 3. My Nana taught me how to oil paint at about 4. I get super cranky if I’m not making. It’s like personal therapy and creating something to be remembered by all at the same time.

Also, growing up, everything around me was hand made – my Mom would sew my clothes and all the throw pillows and curtains and things in the house, all the art on my walls was made by my Nana, my Step Dad would build special custom cabinets for our fish tank... Doing it yourself just seemed like the right thing to do.

     4.             What’s you colour palette?

It’s kind of like a 14 punk rock teenagers taste. I love black, and I love pink. And I love black and pink together.  I lean towards those nostalgic vintage pastel colours and pair them with harsh black. When it comes to glass I almost always go opaque. It’s so much richer feeling to me.

5.             What’s your proudest achievement?

That’s a hard call. Taking on my masters and traveling all the way to the other side of the world to do it and go to my dream school is definitely up there.  But it’s a close tie with being on the inaugural team at the Chrysler Museum of Art Glass Studio. That place and those people have my heart. Forevsies.

      6.             Hot or Cold?

Hot and then cold and then hot and then cold and then warm and then cold.  I like to prep stuff before I bring it in the hotshop cold, and then cold work it once I’ve made it hot. And then sometimes throw it back in a kiln again.

 

7.             What’s your dream project?

My little sister is going to uni at NYU for hotel management. One day, I hope she owns some baller resort somewhere magical and we will design and decorate the whole thing together. And I would make chandeliers and neon signs and paintings for it. And it would be wonderful. My sister, Stephanie has fantastic taste in fashion and art. And she’s also a killer photographer. I really want to collaborate with her some day.

8.             What’s your influences?

Tattoos. Surfing. Skatebording. Punk rock. Almost dying in an insane car accident at 17.  Being a child of divorce, and growing up on opposite sides of the country because of that.

People wise, my first glassblowing teacher Nanda Soderberg, My first kiln casting teacher Sayaka Suzuki, Silvia Levenson, Mike Giant, The De La Torre Brothers, John Drury, Tara McPhearson, and Charlotte Potter my old boss and close friend.

9.             What’s coming up for you? Or what are you looking forward to?

GRADUATING WITH MY MASTERS! I’m one semester away! Then I’m just excited to see what happens next – wether it be staying in Australia and moving to Adelaide or something or going back home to my Chrysler family in Norfolk, VA.

10.         If you could only eat 3 foods for the rest of your life what would they be?

Pizza, broccoli and pineapple.

Thank you so much Kristi for taking the time to share your practice with us. (Also I'm pretty sure you could combine your three fav foods on one pizza and choose another two things, score!)

Gals of Glazz - episode 1

Hi there and welcome to my latest hair brained scheme! Well, not really hair brained, maybe new 'project' is a better word? It's called "Gals of Glazz". I know so many talented lady glass makers I wanted to do a little promo for them. I always love reading about other artists and seeing what they are up to (nosey I know) so I thought it would be fun to launch my own little project. It's also kinda nice to have a new thing to work on just for the fun of it. Each week I am going to feature a glassy gal on here and my fb page. I'm interested to see how many I can get! The more and more I think about it, I realise how many amazing women I know. I started off at home but turns out I actually know quite a few overseas lady makers too! So stay tuned for locals and a few overseas makers too. (I kinda then hatched the idea that the end goal might be I would like to try and get it published in print form....we will see...)

So here goes, the very first instalment of "Gals of Glazz".

My first lady that I would like to introduce you to is my good friend George Agius. Well know for her almost edible pieces, think doughnuts, plums and pears, fairy sprinkles... Georgie makes incredible art and has also assisted me to make my work. I love her work! I met Georgie how I met many of these talented broads, at the Jam in Adelaide. Like me, George went through as an associate. The kinds of works George makes are bright and beautiful, takes lots of her inspiration from family and food. One of my favourite pieces of hers are her incredible egg glasses! Oh and her pineapple pieces! So here we go have a read, and get to know our first gal of glazz, George Agius.

Gals of Glazz

Tune in for 10

1.             Who are you and what do you do?

My name is George Agius and I am a glass artist originally from New Zealand but now based in Adelaide. I came to Adelaide to partake in the two-year training program at the JamFactory and have made this city my home. In my work memory, heritage and ancestry are explored and I aim to display these narratives in a way that is familiar and yet unsettling to the viewer to evoke the awareness of the absent figure. Through glass objects I aim to conjure contemplative nostalgia in the viewer.

2.             What do you make?

My production work stems from my artistic practice. I make small sculptures like Christmas Puddings, Pears and Plums and Ice Cream cups. In terms of my art works they are increasingly becoming more personal and tend to be related to objects that stimulate memory and result in a whimsical aesthetic (think table settings, family imagery, hot water bottles and food).

3.             Why do you make?

Tough question. I guess I love coming up with a concept and the entire process that comes with creating, drawing, research, experimentation and finally seeing your idea come to fruition. It is very satisfying for the soul.

4.             What’s you colour palette?

Whatever suits the design or concept…I tend to use a lot of opaque colours rather than transparent’s.

5.             What’s your proudest achievement?

Mmmm I guess it was creating my work “Whanau: A Breakfast for Ancestors” and watching my usually quite emotionally controlled Mother become overwhelmed, it was a special moment for me.

6.             Hot or Cold?

The hotter the better.

7.             What’s your dream project?

To create an artwork for a major Australian or international gallery is the dream for me…nothing like dreaming big right?

8.             What’s your influences?

Family and memories are what influence my work; more specifically my Grandmother and Mum, their stories, our cultural heritage and of course their cooking.

9.             What’s coming up for you? Or what are you looking forward to?

I have my first solo show next year which I am super pumped about.

I am also going home to New Zealand for Christmas with the family where I plan on raiding the photo albums and family archives for inspiration for my show…as well as having a good G and T with my Mum on the deck whilst we natter and watch the lambs frolicking in the paddocks below.

10.         If you could only eat 3 foods for the rest of your life what would they be?

Sushi, Mums chocolate chip cookies and pineapples.

Thanks so much Georgie! Can't wait to see what you come up with for your solo! If you wanna check out more of George's work head to her sweet web site which you can click on here .

Grow Domes

I started off today tired, grumpy and indecisive. Generally a little dark cloud just looking for an unwilling victim to unleash my rage on. I end, a pale grey cloud who got a bunch of stuff done and is kind of on top of things.

I made these cute "Grow Domes" that I am going to put into a group show called "The Secret Garden" that opens in Melbs later this month. I think they turned out pretty sweet. And who doesn't love using a hot glue gun? No one, thats who. I think it's going to be a cute show and I'm sad I won't be there because I'll be in Adelaide making a million lights....

I think I am going to make some more of these for my solo next year. I'm so close to being able to make on my torch....so close. A buddy helped me out on the weekend and installed my controller for me so now I can get the kiln to hold temp. (Oh, and here's a big fucking tip I wish I had known, Tim told me he could have just change the original controller for me! Say WHAT?! So I didn't need to spend $400 on a controller, I just could have bought Timmy a beer and he could have messed with it to do what I want. Let that be a lesson to all you glassies out there, get a sparky in to look at your shit before you buy other shit you ultimately don't need. Good to know, now you can buy me a beer to say thanks.)

I also got to teach a dog to catch a frisbee on the weekend. It was the best!

And not to be outdone, Mont then taught Nova to do the cat flop.

Victories all round.

Springin in the step

Hello friends! Spring is here! (Well you might be mistaken for thinking it was still winter in melbs after that fucking torrential downpour last night but what evs)

Spring just made me feel instantly better. I loved seeing our apricot tree puff out into gorgeous marshmallowy puffs then just a week later there was gorgeous plump new leaves! So good. Even my old friend the maple is back (My sister gave him to me for Christmas and shortly after all his leaves shrivelled and he rapidly turned to brittle stick...) The nasturtions are fucking off the hook! Swirling their little tendrils into anything possible.

So good.

It has been a whole bunch of worrying and stressing out for me, oh, i reckon the last month? And just when I thought there was an end in sight...WRONG!! New giant orders to make and freak out about. Anyway, thats for later to worry about. It's past 5pm, I'm off the clock dammnit. (Thats my new thing, no bizz after I get home.) 

Me and Rizz got to install our little exhibition in Fed Square on Monday (At blood 6am I might add) and it looks pretty sweet. Seeing as I panicked when it came time to submit the name and was listening to beastie boys at the time, consequently the tittle of the show is;

"Like a scientist, when I'm applyin this"

(Pretty good right? Thanks Mc A)

Its on in the fracture gallery in fed square for a week as part of the craft cubed festival. Noice.

It's always hard to get decent snaps from installations but I still think it is pretty awesome. So then the next big thing was the transportation of my new equipment....

MAn oh man did I give myself some new grey hairs over this one. I almost gave myself a panic attack at the party just looking at the annealer. It just looked so big, awkward and heavy. My eyes kept sneaking over to it mid conversation with whoever I was talking too. I think I had to leave the room at one point. And then I freaked out that the movers I had booked were bogus. Bogus as in didn't exist and just took my deposit. (seriously, what the fuck is wrong with me?) (In my defence they were two hours late) Anyways, they got the job done and I am only slightly greyer to show for it.

Look at all my stuff! And there is an annealer in the loading bay. All I need is a furnace....and a gas line, and a new studio, and connection,....could be sitting there for awhile, but, hey, it's mine, I paid for it, I'm ready. (Almost) My kiln controller came in the mail today so now I can get it installed and get it to hold temp. I bought this cute lil kiln off ebay and who fucking knew that tetlows just switch off when they get to top temp??! Not me thats for sure. What a grade A doofus. So now I got it and just gotta get it installed, next on my hit list is a bigger oxy tank from supa gas. I got a little guy from bunnings and man did my torch chew through that! Like, maybe two hours total? Another "learning" curve. 

Just look at my cute little set up!!

And heres my pal helping me set up. Watch that beard buddy...

I just want to be on that torch! Life just keeps getting in the way though. I had this amazing feeling of lightness on Monday after we installed the show. I felt like all my months of planning and worrying were finally coming to an end. That I could dedicate time and space to my exhibition, to play on the torch and make some stuff....WRONG!

Hey heres an order for x60 lights. Hey Dinosaur Designs wants to stock your Yumemiru for Christmas. Hey Cummulus wants you to design and make champagne decanters for them. All this is AMAZING. I just wish it could be spaced a little better? Is that even right? I think it's hard because I have to slot into another studio to make the works. Like rather than space it over a couple of sessions a week for a month I have to do it all in one hit. One big, fuck off week. Sometimes I wonder just how I got myself into this? It's ok, I can do it. I just make it happen. Thats what I do. I have almost resigned myself to the fact that I will be blowing my exhibition work in Febuary and March. Not my ideal plan, but a decent back up. If I didn't get these orders I couldn't spend the $$ to make the exhibition pieces. Catch 22 I guess. (What the fuck does that even mean?!)

I am also looking forward to spending the Summer, December and January on the torch. I want a large part of the exhibition to have flameworked components. Better hop to it I guess...

Wish me luck.

Winter time woes

So I just wrote that last post trying to be all puppies and sunshine when the real truth is I'm more surly cats thunder clouds. I want to tell you how meh, I am feeling, but I don't want to be that guy at the party. (You know the guy. The one that is the major downer, probably has greasy hair and sniffs really loudly while telling you how hard his life sucks.) I really don't. But sometimes, thats just how I feel. This blog is like the diary I have been keeping for like 5 years. Thats just awesome. High five for me. And over the years its kind of changed, sometimes I come in and out, sometimes its just photos. I think before I had my website I was always directing people here so then I thought I had to put forward a "professional" like front. You know, keep the swearing to a minimum, talk about all the great stuff I was working on and keep the whining to a dull roar. Weeeeellll, the thing is, that gets boring real fast. It's not me. There are no shades of light and dark. When it just tries to be light it gets boring and the dark is busting at the seams and before you know it its burning down your lap top trying to get out. Which brings us to the present.

So sometimes I like to go back to the very beginning of this blog and read past entries. Kinda makes me feel better and kind of resets me. What just dawned on me was that the whole reason for starting this blog was to wade through and try and figure out my ideas for my first solo show. It was going to be a sounding board to try and find my way. And whaddya know, we are pretty much smack bang in the same place. History repeats itself. 

So I think thats what I am going to do. Go back to basics.

I have a solo show lined up for May 2016 at JamFactory in gallery 2. Thats right, I'm playin with the big boys now! I am so pumped. For the length of my career as a glass blower I have always wanted to exhibit in gallery two. It is my fav space. It is a self contained "u" shaped space that is just perfect for an installation. My initial idea is to create a show that is based on the greenhouse. (I am also aware that my first solo show was garden themed....) My working tittle is;

I DREAM A GREENHOUSE

I feel like this is my chance to show all my works I researched and created from my residency in Northlands, it's my chance to fill this little space up with all my garden-y loves. It is daunting. At the moment I have a heap of scrambly ideas running around my noggin but I feel like I'm starting to take a hold. So thats why I want to reactivate my blog again. This lil guy helped me out last time around and I'm hoping it can pull me through again. 

This is the story so far:

- "The leaf library"

- Green shed type of installation

- "Memory Keepers" - domes in like sargasso, eel green, olive with decals of family

- stag ferns (god help me how am i going to pull that one off?

- a call out for prop hire to incorporate viewers into the exhibition, we create a common shared memory of the garden

So sometimes, like now, when i stay up too late and all the little niggly things start to eat away at me (i have to remake x6 lights that got returned, i have to set my torch up but i don't know how, i lost my studio mate, i feel alone, it is ridiculously hard to be a glass blower in melbs) all that junk, i'm gonna cram it under the rug and focus on all the good junk. The good junk is what makes for a good life. The bad junk is what makes for a wasted life. 

I'm going to pour everything I have into this show for next year

And

it

is

going

to 

be

a

fucking

knockout

.

Adelaide, the land of celery dreams and glass blowin teams

Another day, another trip to Adelaide. I have been to Adelaide so much this year. It is both good and bad. Good that I get to see my family and mates and blow a shit load of glass. Bad in that I have to hit the ground running, generally stress myself out and have to blow a shit load of glass. Same, same but different see?

So deja vu, heres a bunch of lights I made.

Here's the little ray of sunshine that works her ass off for me and keeps me on track.

I did get to go and see a show opening which was super fun. It's at my fav pub, the wheaty and with some of my fave gals, the girls from gate 8.

But this is the most exciting thing.....celery! I finally got to spend some time working on my solo show next year. I' starting to get excited for it and almost ready to throw myself in head first. I've been doing a little dicking around and procrastinating but finally I am (almost) ready to commit! Darryl made me a couple of sweet leaf moulds to use and the celery stalk was one of them. I am so happy with how these stalks turned out. Pretty good for the first try right? Exhibition work is hard going. Especially if you are trying to make new works. It's just so freaking expensive to make glass. So to make something that a. potentially might not work out and b. doesn't turn an initial profit is really tricky. And now that grants are getting harder and harder to come by, it's even trickier. 

I think these guys turned out pretty good. (I love that my sister said to me, "why'd you put that picture of celery on instagram?" "uh, because I made them....out of glass!!" "ohhhh, i thought they were real!" hahahahahaha. Job done.

Now I gotta think about how i am going to display all these lil suckers. That is a show in itself.

Come Bloom with us!

Hey crew! If you are in Melbs on the 9th of August and you like blooms you should come take a class with me and my sister. (My sister is the rad florist, I'm more like her sou chef of floristry and I'll also be there for general chit chats and hilarity) The classes will run as part of the craft hatch festival and they take place at thousand pound bend in the city. All details can be found at craft vic here.

Gonna be a good time. Add some fun and colour to your Wintery Sunday, thats what I will be doing....

(Oh and we will also be at Finders Keepers this weekend!!! If you come up to me and say some sort of code word, lets say, 'phenomenal llama', I'll even cut you a deal on the class and give you a $30 discount. $30?! Thats like a a carton of beer off!! Well, almost....)

Stressed Eric

Here's the thing, I like to stress myself out and put immense amounts of pressure on myself. Sometimes it feels so intense that I feel like I might implode. What the fuck is wrong with me? Plenty, it would seem. At no point is there an easy ride in my job. I seem to freak out at every point. Get the order, freak out. Try to book the sessions, freak out. Attempt to make the work, freak out. Cold work it, freak out. Pack it up, freak out. Go to hand it over, total freak out. Is it good enough? Will they like it if it is a bit different? Is that minute bubble ok? Fucking hell, see what I mean? Yesterday I worked myself into a right state. So much so that I began to question is it all worth it? MAybe I should just go back to schlepping tea for the man? Learn to zone out with morons customers and just do the 9-5 like everyone else? Just live for the weekends?

MAybe I just have to be a little kinder to myself? I just got back from a super intensive working stint in Adelaide, 5 days team blowing back to back and I didn't even stop when I got home, just hit the ground running. I love being busy but I don't love being stressed. I think after this weeks over, I'm taking myself to the movies. Maybe a swim in the morning then a choc top in the afternoon watching mad max? I fucking love the movies because it is the only place I can totally zone out and forget everything else. No emails, no phone, no worries.

That seems like a solid plan kid. I'm glad we had this talk.