GLASSBLOWING AND LIFE

"I find working with glass meditative, almost therapeutic. I can leave the world behind, and focus... The simplicity of form, the drama of rich, intense colour, the joy of challenge, and the challenge of endurance... The piece, when it is over, is not what is made, but how it is made." (Andrew Kuntz)

On Sunday I had the opportunity to observe Ron Andress, The Happy Potter, doing his other art -- glassblowing. It was a treat to watch glass take form under the hands of Ron and his colleague Wayne Fitzgerald. Ron has been working with glass for about 5 years, and Wayne has been perfecting his art over the last 15 years.

Here is Ron working with a new "blob" of glass -- I'm sure there is a proper name for the beginning piece of glass that will be blown and molded. This one will be a dish or plate when completed.

Ron is rolling the rod and supporting the globe in a heat-proof pad.

In this picture, you can see that Ron is blowing the glass while supporting it. The tube is attached to the end of the rod. Glassblowers wear tinted glasses to protect their eyes from the glare of the ovens and hot glass.

Once the piece has attained the size and thickness desired, Ron prepares to transfer it to a new rod. He applies a dollop of hot glass which will be the seal for the new rod and cuts it. The top of the piece now becomes the bottom.

Another view of the globe after the new seal has been affixed and cut.

The new rod has been attached to the opposite end. The old seal is then filed and smoothed.

It is reheated in the oven, and Ron opens it at the point of the old seal.

Here you can see the opening at the top of the globe.

Ron works the opening until he has it balanced to his satisfaction.

Then, after reheating it again, Ron spins the rod and the glass flares out and becomes a dish or plate -- in this instance a plate. You can see the red hot edges of the piece as it spins.

The final step after the piece is completed is to remove it from the rod. I witnessed several finished pieces break in this last step. This plate came off the rod in one piece! It was then placed in a very hot box which allows the piece to cool down gradually -- depending on the size and type of piece, it can take anywhere from approximately 12-18 hours and up.

After watching Ron and Wayne for nearly 2 hours and seeing 4 pieces break either at the end when being removed from the rod or during the process, it made me realize that this art, like most art, is a huge metaphor for life. Glassblowers are working with a highly fragile product, and they invest 45 minutes to over an hour in crafting the piece, realizing that there is a chance that it may reach completion and break during removal - or - break in the process of creation. Talk about lessons in non-attachment. The artists accept the breakage, view the damage and learn from it, turn, and start anew. When I commented on this observation, Wayne said, "You learn very quickly not to fall in love with a piece while you are working on it."