The Hot Shop in Tacoma’s Museum of Glass is an opportunity for visitors to see art glass in the making. Molten glass is blown, shaped, fired, and refired as artisans create.
There was a crew of four that worked on various pieces of the creation we saw. They shaped pieces, moved it back and forth to the firing oven, seared it with torches, and fused pieces together. A moderator answered questions from the audience and explained the process.
The Halloween themed piece being created was chalked onto the floor of the work area.
This is the best shot I could get of the nearly completed piece. Once finished it was quickly wisked away to an oven where it was slowly cooled for a couple of days.
Fascinating to watch! I do like that Hallowe’en piece!
I would really like to have been with you to see this being done!
It’s amazing how they do that! Hope it wasn’t too hot. 😉
Fascinating artistry. I have watched this process on various occasions for a long time from beginning to the end of the making of a creative piece, and I never seem to tire of watching the work. I have a former student who does this. He opens his studio every year around the holiday season and I try not to miss it. Occasionally I have posted some of his pieces (some of which are in my house) on my blog so watch for it this year!
I didn’t see any glass being blown in Tacoma, but I have visited glass blowers in the outskirts of Santa Fe and in Vermont. The Vermont glass blowers make things for Simon Pearse, a popular maker of vases, pitchers and related things.
That’s so cool! I love the chalk drawing compared to the glass product (especially with the flames shooting out). Looks like a fun tour.