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).
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."
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,
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
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.
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.
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)
 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

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:
  1. It isn't quite like normal clay. When John mentions that things require support during firing, it means even things that ceramicists wouldn't give supports, like this small bowl, need something to help keep the shape if you're going to the suggested bisque temperature of 1500 F. On the other hand, as you can see below, more compact pieces keep their shapes very well at temperatures where glass would be a 6mm puddle (the half inch high ammonite was shaped, bisque fired to 1500F and then draped with glass and fired to 1490F for 10 minutes, all without molds or supports).
  2. The final color is a nondescript beige so you'll probably want to color it. John emphasizes not to mix things into it but layering on powder, or applying powder as a paste works (the outside of the final bowl is a CMC/water/Bullseye Deep Gray powder paste which became the desired melted-looking shiny at 1350 F).
    Thompson enamel and Glassline seem to work both on the bisqued clay alone and capped with clear (I didn't test Color Line but I assume that since it is a glass enamel it will react similarly). Seattle Pottery Supply suggested Mayco Designer Liner as one of their lowest firing glazes. Mayco is promoting it as working with glass. It seems a well attached, matte glaze after firing on the inside of the bowl (black, thinned a bit with water) but from the silvery aspect of a capped test piece, it probably didn't adhere well to the glass.  I'd try some other tests before counting on Designer Liner for anything beyond glazing the un-capped clay.
  3. Glass really fuses to the Fuse Clay without cracking! The frit balls distorted with the clay rather than popping out during the first firing of the bowl and the CMC/glass paste applied vertically to the outside stayed in place rather than flaking/dripping off during the second firing.
  4. Can you cast it inside glass? See more here
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)
Shrinkage is about 8.9% from wet clay to bisque fired piece (between wet and dry clay it's about 5%).
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.

 Announcements & Events

Looking for other glass folks?
  • The Oregon Glass Guild meets nearly monthly; they have a newsletter and they are also looking for volunteers for events.
  • The Whidbey Island Glass Guild holds periodic gatherings and sponsors events: contact Gina Mitchel: 1shopcat (you know the symbol) gmail.com
  • Seattle Glass etc. Sunday Brunch potluck every few months: contact Karen Seymour to get on the email list, next meeting is probably November 4th
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
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
Lots of fun glass like Karen Seymour's lamps on the GlassAndDecor.com studio tour Oct 20-21
*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!
Copyright Friends In Glass 2018 -- All Images are used by permission and those copyrights are retained by the artists
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