Glass Exhibit, Maine, College of the Atlantic

(a sneak peek at Kelly Enberg's sculptural glass)

The new glass makers of College of the Atlantic will be showing their work at the Great Hall in Turrets building June 6th from 10am to 6pm. A reception of coffee and light deserts at 4:30 will include an opportunity to meet the sculptors and the beginning glassblowing instructor, Linda Perrin. Ken Perrin who has been a technical adviser on many of the final projects will also be on hand. Prince Rupert's drops an ancient party favor of glass blowers, illuminations and artistic ruminations are promised features of the reception as well.
"Transparency" a glass sculpture exhibit at Turrets, June 6th 10am-6pm
Ten brave students have been expanding their minds and gathers of molten glass in the Introduction to Glassblowing class new to the course line up this term. . Don't miss the opportunity to see the sparkles in person on June 6th from 10 am to 6pm in the Great Hall of Turrets. A reception at 4:30 will allow the new glass makers of AD4391 to illuminate your understanding of the mystifying process of shaping molten glass. Really don't blow it and miss this unique opportunity to see some evocative glass sculpture made by people just like you.

Glass Flowers

Everyone I know is in the garden these days. Sweet heat wafting through still springy breezes, lawn mowers roaring constantly, and color popping out of the recently thawed ground. In my yard grass grows tall and I ponder the untamed look to the grounds. If only I knew how to make blooms happen. My garden remains a wild child. The above blooms are made of glass, they are the impressionistic flowers of my imagination. I play with color, and love the bold brush stroke like shapes.

Outside the Bubble

In the glass world the near endless pursuit of the mastery of technique can entrance one in the challenging meditation on the nature of a molten glass bubble. For over 5000 years glass has been flowing through the history of mankind, from the earliest beads made in early Egypt to the opulent sculptures bedecking alters of leisure. What will happen next?

In the introduction to glass blowing we have begun the meditation on the bubble.
Om...It rests molten hot in the 2100 degree furnace, begins to flow as we gather it up, we repeatedly heat it and bend it to our whims, it expands as the breath of life is blown into it through long steel pipes constantly spinning in fumbling, yet competent hands, it is caught up in wooden blocks and squeezed with the birdlike beak of the jacks, relying on partnership for support, we break it free of it's origins, and we discard the pipe complete with moil cracking off like firecrackers that we no longer even notice, the bubble is brought to a fire polish through another extended exposure to the heat, and we diligently open the rim into the defining shape of the vessel. Do we recognize that we are a vessel? The vessel of creativity? Do we witness a harmony of self and purpose in this process? Do we have something to say with this unique opportunity and material? These are the next questions that the students of "AD4391" are facing.
At the beginning of the course each student was presented with a large bubble shaped blank, the assignment; to include it in a larger sculptural expression. Here are a few photos and a movie of the new makers de-constructing, exploring, recreating and embellishing their bubble as they reach outside the meditation of glassblowing, and begin to see their own reflection as creative individuals. Andy blasts through (with a sand blaster), Becky cuts (with a wet band saw), and Kelly reflects on her progress.
Stay tuned for info on when and where these final sculptural pieces will be shown on campus!

We're Open and we got The Blues

But in a good way. In the spirit of COA-eco awareness, we have been recycling glass and creating a delightful blue color to work with. It has been super fun, and the students seem to like it as well.
Most important in this posting I want to thank everyone who helped make our season opening such a huge success!! It was a sell out day, a day to connect with our community and spread the word about Ellsworth Arts, and the great energy we have percolating here at Atlantic Art Glass.
Thank you to the mandolin and guitar players, the cookie maker, Julie Greenberg, and the cookie eaters who managed to devour dozens of chocolate, white chocolate chunk, hazelnut yummers, thank you to our glass divas, Jodie Perry and Katie Dube, who packed tons of glass into recycled bags for the multitude of customers who made off with some real treasures. Thank you to the parents of our students who came to encourage the creativity and daring of their glass blowing children in my charge during this beginning glassblowing class, and thank you to the glass gods who shine down upon us as we share what we love with those who are interested. I am sorry to say we have no pictures of the sunny event since we were having too much darn fun to stop and think about it, guess you just needed to be there, maybe next time....