Newsletter: Fall 2018
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Glass Surprises
Glass doesn't always do what you expect. The corollary for artists is that if you're not getting any surprises, you're maybe not exploring enough. Those who follow/collect glass should keep your eyes open to appreciate some of the one-of-a-kind pieces that evolve from these surprises and the artist's ingenuity in dealing with them.
Sometimes you don't have to do anything: Lael Bennett recently put a load of plates in her kiln. |
All the others turned out as expected but this one pulled apart at just the right moment to split some pieces and leave others in place (like the magician's pull the tablecloth trick). She discovered a slight discolored spot in the green at the point it shattered and thinks that flaw was the cause of the split. Slumped it makes a very interesting piece (see the plate at site #3 on Seattle's GlassAndDecor.com studio tour October 20-21 if it hasn't sold already).
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Glass blower Barb Sanderson had to do some creative fast thinking: "Many years ago while preparing for my first major show in Philly I rented time in a new glass studio. I spent my day making lots of my glass birds on copper. When I went to pick up my work the next day I found the owners had the annealer temp too high & all my birds had shelf imprints on one side. My solution? I made all new "rain birds"! I ended up sand blasting the top surface of the birds so they all looked frosted when dry. But when wet outside the colors shone brightly. It was a fun demo at the show & I sold out of them."
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Missy Craven-Laitala sent us her looks-like-it-was-originally-designed-that-way mending of a piece that cracked during fusing: Before slumping the piece, she mended and disguised the crack by adding some frit and stringers during another round in the kiln.
(The photos show that the filled crack is still visible on the underside but you can't see it at all from the front) |
NEXT ISSUE: "Holiday Ornament Contest". Winners get a $25 store credit (not redeemable for cash) from one of our supportive tool and supply shops like NW Art Glass, Glass Expressions, Bullseye Glass Company and Olympic Color Rods... By November 1st send an image of an ornament you made, your website if you have one, and the names of your 3 favorite NW places to buy glass-related tools and supplies, to FriendsInGlass (you know the at symbol) mindspring.com The three of us who work on FIG will judge this and our decisions are final.
Karen Seymour, Editor
What's New? This time we're highlighting new work by local artists on fall studio tours
Renee Merritt's new Octopus will be on the Philomath Open Studio Tour, at studio #15, Oct. 20-21 & 27-28,
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Carol Houk and Steve Terhune, glass artists from Belle Vista Glassworks in Albany, OR just finished this commissioned stained glass window of a Tuscan villa (with fused, painted, and overlay details). They will be at painter Kate McGee's studio, # 3, on the Philomath Open Studio Tour (west of Corvallis OR), October 20-21 & 27-28
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David Smith will be showing off his "seaflowers", and maybe even blowing some, at site# 4 on the GlassAndDecor.com studio tour October 20-21 in north Seattle.
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Torch-worker Sandy Spear just finished these handmade beads. Her studio is #1 on the GlassAndDecor.com studio tour Oct. 20-21 in north Seattle.
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Glass blower Eric Bernardi is working on some new smaller pieces. He will be at glass workers Chris and Terry Lemmen's studio, # 2 on the GlassAndDecor.com studio tour (Oct. 20-21 in north Seattle)
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You can see Bob Heath's work, like this new fused and sand carved vase plus lots of other glass artists on the Oregon Glass Guild's Open studios tour of the Portland area, Nov. 11-12
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How'd They Do That?Since the topic is "surprises" here are some of Karen Seymour's first experiments with John Groth's new Fuse Clay. He spent over 20 years developing this clay that can fuse to COE 90 glass without breaking it. Although he is now allowing us to buy it, John cautions that he considers it a beta product still in development. There are lots of his photos and notes on the FuseClay.com website (if it isn't up again, check back in a day or so or go to his store-site if you want to purchase some).
Karen's own notes about playing with Fuse Clay:
If you want to see it in person in Seattle, Karen will have some Fuse Clay and these samples to look at during the October GlassAndDecor.com studio tour, site #3.
In the Portland area you can call and see if it's convenient for you to stop by John Groth's Waterjet Design studio in Hillsboro, OR. |
(mouse-over the image to play it)
Ever since seeing dichro, Karen has wanted to make a fused tabletop with an embedded "ammonite". The photo of the test piece, below, doesn't show how detailed and lovely the drape of dichro is (CBS on Bullseye thin clear). The black and white strips are previously fired powder on 3mm clear (homemade flash glass) to see what difference thickness makes. Thin gets down in the valleys of the clay much better.
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Announcements & Events
Looking for other glass folks?
October
12-14 Glass Quest Pumpkin Fest, Stanwood, WA 13-14 & 20-21 Portland Open Studios, Portland OR 20 Pilchuck Gala Glass Auction, Seattle WA (Please support this great glass teaching resource) 20-21 Glass and Decor Studio Tour, Seattle WA 20-21 & 27-28 Philomath Open Studio Tour, Philomath OR (W of Corvallis) November 1 FriendsInGlass.org Ornament contest entries due!!! (And tell us about your glassy holiday events for some free publicity.) 3-4 Handmade Tile and Art Festival, Seattle WA 3-4 NW Artists Holiday Sale, Seattle WA 8 Opening of "Glasstastic" at the Bellevue Arts Museum, Bellevue, WA Though April 14, 2019 10-12 Best of the NW fall show, Seattle WA 11-12 Oregon Glass Guild Open Studios, mostly Portland OR Nov. 17-18 Wild Arts (Audubon), Portland OR Nov. 17-18? Totally Blown Glassworks holiday sale, Seattle, WA Nov. 23-24 Bedrock Industries sale, Seattle, WA Nov. 30-Dec 2 Seattle Sampling studio tour, Seattle WA Museum of Glass, Tacoma WA has several holiday events, please check their calendar for the latest info. December Dec. 1-2 Seattle Sampling studio tour, Seattle WA Dec. 1-2 North End Arts Tour, Seattle WA Dec. 1-2 Phinney Winter Festival, Seattle WA Dec. 1-2 & 8-9? Glass Quest Winterfest, Stanwood, WA Dec. 1-2 & 8-9 Bazaz Glass Holiday sale, Seattle, WA |
Lots of fun, glassy studio tours to choose from in the next two months.
Take one or several! Julian Voss-Andreae's 99" tall "Samatha" is welded stainless steel and fused glass. His studio will be on the Portland Open studios tour October 13-14 & 20-21, studio #21 (Instagram: @JulianVossAndreae)
Lael Bennett's and Connie Munford's glass at last year's GlassAndDecor.com north Seattle studio tour. This October 20-21 you can find Lael at site# 3 and Connie at site# 1
(Please send us photos of your show/studio) |
Your favorite glassy event isn't here? Send us a note or post it to our moderated Facebook page.
We've simplified the Classes/Resources page. If you offer classes (or want to help someone who does) please see if I have you listed/linked correctly. If you have a specific class coming up please post it to our moderated Facebook page.
You sell/teach glass art and you're not in our Gallery? It's free. Without you and your other glass friends our database isn't nearly as useful to the the Pacific NW glass community. We want a photo of yourself at work for the artist directory and 3 images of your art for the gallery plus a bit more info so prospective buyers, galleries, students, and others can contact you.
FriendsInGlass (you know the symbol) gmail.com or (206) 525-1577
Thanks!
Karen Seymour
FriendsInGlass (you know the symbol) gmail.com or (206) 525-1577
Thanks!
Karen Seymour
Friends In Glass Fall 2018 Coupon
10% off * of full retail price on named items from any of these participating artists/organizations Expires November 30, 2018 NOT VALID WITHOUT SUBSCRIBER CODE Bullseye Glass Resource Center: 10% off "introductory classes", Portland only
Glass Expressions, Burien WA: 10% off in-stock molds Karen Seymour, Seattle, WA: 10% off on-hand art or classes at studio only NW Art Glass, Redmond WA: 10% off sheet glass |
*The fine print: Coupon can be used only once with any given organization/artist. One size can’t possibly fit all: due to contracts, special agreements etc. the participating organization/artist reserves the right to exempt any particular item from the coupon. Please inquire before attempting to redeem the coupon. Coupon is not transferable, can not be combined with any other discount and has no monetary value.
Get your name and link in front of more than 280 local potential glass customers/students. Appearing on the coupon is free and can bring you business you might otherwise miss. FriendsInGlass.org is free and all volunteer: the coupon is how we get folks to subscribe and open the newsletter. Thank you to all those who have supported us in this way!
Get your name and link in front of more than 280 local potential glass customers/students. Appearing on the coupon is free and can bring you business you might otherwise miss. FriendsInGlass.org is free and all volunteer: the coupon is how we get folks to subscribe and open the newsletter. Thank you to all those who have supported us in this way!
Copyright Friends In Glass 2018 -- All Images are used by permission and those copyrights are retained by the artists