Atlantic Art Glass, 25 Pine, Ellsworth Maine

Fire Gathering December 17th 2011

2011-12-02T10:00:00.006-05:00

Annual Fire Gathering December 17th! 10am-8pm

This event is a time when folks who have spent time blowing glass with us are invited to come back to an OPEN STUDIO. Kid friendly until 4pm.

Other fire wrangling artists are invited to collaborate in the space and share their medium. It's a time to stoke the creative fires as the sun reaches it's weakest state before celebrating the solstice and it's return. So if you would like, please come to our annual party, find a last minute gift in our gallery, watch a number of creative fires burning through out the space, and raise a glass or cookie to the joy of life!

Made possible by our local sponsor -THE FIREY SUN.

Blue christmas from f/8nate (nate parker) on Vimeo.

christmas fire party version 2010 from f/8nate (nate parker) on Vimeo.

Holiday Season 2012

2011-11-13T18:12:00.007-05:00

Well here we are with the warmest of Novembers trying to get into the holiday season!

I am still eating salad greens and going for long walks with Serafina, so the burr factor hasn't made me start singing It's a "marshmallow world" or anything.

The furnace is on and the ornaments are flowing through our busy hands as we melt swirl, rake and dunk the gathers into all manner of traditional decorations. We are told our ornaments are often left up all year since they are too pretty to only use on the Christmas Tree. Thanks!

You can find us and a great batch of sparkles (blown glass) at the upcoming crafts shows. We are making lot's of gift items for you to choose from.

Art For Dogs Sake -Nov 19 Cape Elizabeth, ME

A super way to feel good even before the gift giving begins is to come to the following show to see us, and to help some homeless pooches :D

Saturday, November 19 · 10:00am - 4:00pm

Sprague Hall, Cape Elizabeth, MAINE

1 Charles Jordan Road, Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

Lucky Pup Rescue is a nonprofit organization dedicated to placing dogs in a ‘forever home’ where the needs of the dog and the life style of the adopting family are met ensuring many happy years together. They work to re-home both local dogs in need (regardless of breed) and southern dogs from overcrowded shelters. They have helped place over 900 dogs in 4 short years!

Directions: From Portland cross the Casco Bay Bridge and head South on Route 77. You will pass the IGA Shopping Center & Cape Elizabeth High School both on the Right. Just after Cape High turn Right on FOWLER ROAD, follow to the end. Directly across the intersection is Sprague Hall.

Designing Women in Portsmouth, Nov. 26, 2011, Portsmouth, NH

Frank Jones Center
400 US Highway 1 Bypass
Portsmouth, NH
9 am-4 pm

This is another way to feel good in so many ways, being a localvore, buying USA and helping women in need. the mission of Designing women is to showcase high quality arts and crafts by women artisans and benefit local, nonprofit services that support women and their families. In past years we have worked with breast cancer support groups, transition to work programs, art/therapy retreats, shelters, and counseling programs.

Island Arts Association Holiday Craft Fair

9am to 5pm- Friday

9am to 3pm- Saturday

The IAA's 38th Annual Holiday Craft Fair features high quality crafts by Mount Desert Island area artisans in a wide range of media including pottery, jewelry, knits, photography, quilting, handcrafted bags, handblown glass, woodworking and more. Proceeds from food sales help support the heating costs of the MDI YWCA. Free IAA shopping bag to the first customer for each vendor each day. Free coffee on Friday from 3 to 5 pm. Free cookies on Saturday from 1 to 3 pm. Free gift wrapping for IAA purchases all day on Saturday.

Atlantic Oceanside Conference Center

119 Eden Street, Route 3 Bar Harbor, Maine

, Bar Harbor, Dec. 2 & 3

Designing Women in Portland, Maine Saturday, Dec. 10, 9 am-4 pm

Portland

Woodford's Church

Woodford Street
Portland, Maine

Luncheon available

Land and Sea

2011-06-08T08:39:00.010-04:00

EXHIBITION “LAND AND SEA” June 17^th to July 29^th,

REBECCA KRUPKE AT ATLANTIC ART GLASS,

An opening for the artist was held June 17^th from 4-8pm

In the show, “Land and Sea” Rebecca Krupke teams up with Ken and Linda Perrin of Atlantic Art Glass to explore the idea of solids and liquids within their artistic mediums. Whether captured on canvas through images of the land and sea or formed from molten glass, both are interconnected with the landscapes and seascapes that drive their artistic works.

This is the first exhibit for Krupke in the Ellsworth region; the exhibit will feature over a dozen original oil paintings intermingled with the Perrin’s glasswork.

Rebecca has shown in over twenty International Juried Exhibitions throughout the United States, Canada, Ireland and Italy.

She received a grant in 2003 from the Printmakers' Council of Charlottetown to be an artist-in-residence and subsequently spent six months in Prince Edward Island, Canada producing a concentrated body of prints, paintings and drawings.

In March 2007, Rebecca exhibited at the Galleria Sottoportego in conjunction with the Scuola Internazionale di Grafica in Venice, Italy. As a Visiting Artist, Krupke taught courses on mono-printing techniques.

Her work concentrates on a moment in time. Drastic control of light sets a mood in the viewer.

Preparing for this show Krupke says,“Light casts life, sparkling, casting shadows and shining...Oil paintings and glasswork are liquids slipping into solids. Both reflect nature, and personal connections and both are elements of the earth taking new shape through the artists’ vision."

Press, The Edge

Press, Village Soup

Haystack Mountain School of Crafts.

2011-05-23T10:07:00.016-04:00

Ken in Erica Gordon's Class

Michael Cullen preparing a "pyroglyph" on wood.

HMS0C is located about 45 minutes from where we live. It is on beautiful Deer Isle here in Maine.

It is a magical place, and idyllic place, an inspiring place. Artists come from all All ALL over the world to study with each other.

Linda in her wood working class.

Every spring, a course is offered in alliance with the brilliant Maine Crafts Association, an organization determined to further the artistic opportunities for the artisan in Maine.

Although this program has been going on for a million years... Ken and I have never attended, that is, ....not until this year.

We had always been encumbered by the usual "artist making a living" syndrome. "Ooooh we are too busy" etc. And Glass blowing is never offered in the spring....

But do you know what? Who cares? We went to learn about other mediums!!

Ken studied with Erica Gordon, a real pistol ready to bring blacksmithing into the future!

The cool metal components Ken create during his work shop.

And my instructor was Michael Cullen, who taught us how to sharpen our wood tools and then how to use them! Wood carving, who knew it would feel like doing cookies in a chevy, Chevette on an icy parking lot? I am hooked!

I know it seems like because I do glass every day, my muse should be fat and happy, but I need a "hobby" and playing with wood is like coming full circle for me since I cut my artisan chops many years ago building furniture for Cheryl Riley.

Ken and I had a fantastic time, and have vowed we will never miss this opportunity again!

Enjoy the photos below,(all photos were taken by Judith Paolini author of the Inspired Gardens) and go to Haystack any chance you get!!!

John Clark with a draw knife, my new favorite tool.

The camaraderie is the best!

Giving thanks indeed!

Presenting!!

2011-05-11T15:53:00.002-04:00

This spring we have been visited by the Downeast Senior college,

we have been visited by 5th and 8th graders from the Holbrook, Maine elementary school, and we have gone to the "Elm City" to present in a PechaKucha. It's fun to say yes to all these requests to share what we love to do.

To see a video of the PechaKucha see below I was the ultimate presenter, so there was plenty of time to get nervous...!

Atlantic Art Glass: Linda Perrin at PechaKucha Waterville vol. 3 from PechaKucha Waterville on Vimeo.

The group from the downeast senior college pictured above braved the cold spring weather in early April to visit the studio, learn about our process and to watch a glass blowing demonstration. After all the fireworks the visit sank into a lovely conversation about the blown glass jewelry we make. The bright color of the beads was eye candy for the ladies.

The group from the Holbrook School was super fun, the kids were almost as enthusiastic as their chaperones and teacher, Lynn Nickerson! We truly enjoyed showing them up close and personal how something so hot can be so cool!!

Buyers Market of American Craft

2011-02-12T18:37:00.009-05:00

It's that time of year again, we have been getting ready to show our glass jewelry and whimsical blown glass vases and such at the wholesale market place in Philadelphia. The show is called the buyers Market of American Craft. For those interested in buying USA, buying quality, and buying work that will sell in your artsy shop. This is the place to be!!

February 17-21. in Philadelphia, PA at the Pennsylvania Convention center.

New this Year

Tassel Necklace

Happy Endings Vases

and Orbit Ornaments

Here is a video of how we make these! It is our version of the traditional Christmas ornament or friendship ball.!

Studio work in full swing!

2011-01-07T15:48:00.013-05:00

Full swing indeed!

Photo credit, Nathan Parker, shown below arriving to the studio.

Here he "Caffi-Nates"before getting on the Cane Train.

Nate has been blowing glass with us at Atlantic Art Glass for NINE years!!

I met him under the hull of a red bottomed lobster boat in "Hulls Cove" Maine. There he worked construction for RL White and Son. Now he understands every facet of our work in the studio and has been the most reliable and creative force!!

Can you guess what I'm doing and why??? :D

FireGathering

2010-12-20T17:57:00.004-05:00

Happy Holidays everyone!!

What do you want for Christmas?

christmas fire party version 2010 from f/8nate (nate parker) on Vimeo.

Nate Parker made this video during our FireGathering holiday celebration at the studio. It was a day to warm our spirits around the fires that allow us to hand make gifts and such for the season. The artisans enjoyed working, as the community gathered around the fires that aid the joyous process- Glassblowing and Blacksmithing. Many participants were asked what they want for Christmas ... thanks to all who came!

Glass Blowing Classes/ Winter 2011

2010-11-02T11:51:00.004-04:00

The 2011 winter glass blowing classes will begin January 8th!
Classes for beginners and advanced students.
Enrollment is limited so sign up now before we fill up!

207-664-0222

Beginning Glass Blowing
This course is designed for beginners. Emphasis is placed on learning the basic skills necessary to complete simple blown vessels. Class time is divided between demonstrations and supervised work time, with individual attention for each student. No glass working experience is required. Tuition: $375.00
This is a five-week course (meeting Saturdays at 10am -2pm). Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, as class sizes are limited. Full payment must be made by first class

Continued Glass Blowing
This class will build upon the skills acquired in previous glass blowing classes. It is also a prerequisite to studio rental. The class will explore the use of color and bit applications. The course structure will include demonstrations to suit the individual interests of participants.

Private lessons, $75. hour.

4 or more students can schedule a group rate.

APPLICATION

Raking!

2010-10-29T16:30:00.012-04:00

We are having the most beautiful fall! it is lasting forever- the golds, acid greens and vibrant reds are above and below!

I am feeling such harmony with the season, and the excited colorful leaves blowing around like party goers celebrating the cycle of life.

Well in the spirit of the season I did some raking-- but not leaves. I raked glass into pretty swirly feather patterned lines of "Linda" colors.

After a long spell of having the furnace off for a variety of reasons. including being a bit more environmental (lowering our carbon footprint) and a bit more economically efficient, we are blowing again. It just plain feels good to be back in the hot shop. It is nice though, how idealism and capitalism are no longer mutually exclusive!! I love all the talk and action about more sustainable business practices and folks understanding the importance of buying local, and even better looking for locally made.

Museum of Glass Red Hot Party!!

2010-09-17T11:22:00.009-04:00

Recently my work was juried into a show/auction of work to benefit MOG in Tacoma. Although the honor included free tickets to the ~$300. dinner I was unable to attend. August & September are the months of the year for us. So many international visitors and opportunities to show our work. Nonetheless, I was so happy to be included with the likes of Richard Royal, Martin Blank, Davide Salvadore, Ed Schmid Preston Singletary, Dale Chihuy, and others in the auction catalogue and at the swanky event. Maybe another time I will be able to be one of the little black dress wearing attendees!! Before I sent the "one of a kind" necklace and earring set "Modern Primitive" of to Tacoma, WA I modeled the piece in my own grunge fashion!!

Photos of the party

and

Jennifer Kuhns by

Mahesh Thapa

So come and enlighten my gaze..

2010-06-27T09:21:00.014-04:00

I've known a Heaven, like a Tent —
To wrap its shining Yards —
Pluck up its stakes, and disappear —
Without the sound of Boards
Or Rip of Nail — Or Carpenter —
But just the miles of Stare —
That signalize a Show's Retreat —
In North America —
No Trace — no Figment of the Thing
That dazzled, Yesterday,
No Ring — no Marvel —
Men, and Feats —
Dissolved as utterly —
As Bird's far Navigation
Discloses just a Hue —
A plash of Oars, a Gaiety —
Then swallowed up, of View.

Emily Dickinson

These ladies arrived at the Laudholm Nature Crafts Festival each wearing pieces of blown glass jewelry that I had made. Many necklaces or earrings were made many years ago. It was so encouraging and uplifting to see their smiling supportive faces on a late summer day. They were having fun together and included me in it. Happily they updated their collections by purchasing some of my newest pieces!!

I still smile to remember their support.

What a beauty no? This is Mary Jo Brink of the Hartstone Inn and Hideaway. A fantastic place just steps from downtown Camden. Her husband Micheal Salmon is an award winning chef who hosted the late Julia Childs no less. They are Venusians of the highest order (lovers and makers of Beauty) and we are always happy to get a little visit from them at the Harbor Arts Fine Craft show in Camden (coming up Oct. 2&3, 2010). Here Mary Jo models a piece she purchased form us this summer. It was a wonderful moment to see a favorite piece come to life on such a delightful person.

For an artist watching your work go out into the world, taking on a life of its own, this is the best!! It is created from my pallet of creative materials and becomes part of the pallet of the muse who now owns it. Now she can pull it out and use in when the moment arises to compliment her own creative flair and individual appearance. Joy!

At the Common Ground Country Fair artisans from the state show their work to over 40,000 people during the third weekend of September. On Fridays local school children are encouraged to interview us. Here Samantha and Cory ask probing questions about the inspiration for the work. They were a bright spot, during the fair. Although we work hard to sell our work at this fair, so much of what happens during this event has nothing to do with selling but rather connecting and exchanging energy with our community. :D

The Glass "Atelier" in Maine

2010-05-14T11:34:00.010-04:00

Ken explains some fundamentals about hot glass to Alexander

My study of glass followed many methods of learning, graduate school, apprenticeships, workshops at national art centers and good old independent study. I remember studying art in Italy and coming to understand that in the past, children began learning their chosen or family craft at the early age of 14. I remember wishing we had a culture like that today. A culture that channeled all that youthful energy and seeking into a PRACTICAL pursuit an empowering pursuit and an example of living excellence rather than virtual excellence. In a great biography of Michelangelo,* his study of stone work began at that age and it is described with all the drama and glamor worthy of a young future master artist...For this reason when anyone asks me the minimum age requirement for studying glass I always answer 14 .
Well here in Maine where life IS as it should be, a small school in Blue Hill called the Bay School requires the 8th grade students to do an intensive independent study, their age , 14.

This year we had the distinct honor to give private lessons to one such student, Alexander. A VERY mild mannered, Quiet young man. instead of playing tennis this spring Alexander would come everyday after school (and mornings on Saturdays) to take lessons in hot glass work. His first gathers out of the furnace summoned courage I am not sure Alexander knew he had. Moving around the hot shop with flowing light filled molten glass and tooling it with increasing skill required more than concentration. During his training Alexander met his inner artist, his creative voice, he had to make split second decisions at the bench to coax a beautiful form from the hot hot goo, --no time to rethink or doubt! During this mentor ship Ken Perrin and he discovered a mutual love of basketball and daily reviewed the playoff progress of the Boston Celtics, Soon a shy young man became a gracefully confident sunglass wearing cool "guy". Alexander

The skills Alexander gained in the manipulation of hot glass will wow everyone for a long time, but the inner glow that jumped from the end of a heavy multi gathered gob of glass, to the core of this new human is one that will remain, no matter how he chooses to reach his potential. The Quatrocento Italians were right again, as usual, the Michelangello's of the future come from parental support and creative education as early as possible.

Alexander demonstrates his 8th grade project to the students, faculty, friends and family at the Bay School, Blue Hill, Maine

*The Agony and the Ecstasy: A Biographical Novel of Michelangelo by Irving Stone

Glass Blowing Demonstration

2010-04-27T09:04:00.002-04:00

Check us out on You Tube. This is part of the Maine Crafts Guild library of Maine Artisans doing their thing. We make a pretty simple form in this demo but it makes for a good show. ENJOY!
Glass Blowing Demonstration/Linda Perrin

CMOG !!

2010-04-23T15:47:00.004-04:00

We are so excited here at the glass studio. We just sent out our first order to the Corning Museum of Glass gift shop!! So if you are interested in finding innovative blown glass jewelry, go there and ask for work by Linda Perrin, of Atlantic Art Glass. My blown glass cane beads employ venetian technique with my own contemporary feminine spin. The glass colors of the work are cheerful, and the earrings, necklaces and bracelets are made with meticulous attention to detail. Bead lovers will recognize the contribution I am trying to make to the long history of hand made glass. Especially after they are able to see the first pieces of hand made glass lying quietly in a case inside the museum, glass made in 3500 cool huh-? The earliest hand made glass was made in the form of beads!!

College of the Atlantic Internship

2010-04-19T19:19:00.004-04:00

For the last ten weeks or so we have had a new apprentice in glassblowing, she is from the College of the Atlantic. This cool eco school requires all it's graduates to get work experience in their field of study. Linda Grecco a maker, believes in the individuation of culture that comes from handmade objects versus the homogenization of industrial goods. She came to us an expert in macramé, making dream catchers and hippie hemp necklaces. How would the meditative process of tying knots and weaving hemp compare to the dynamic challenges of wrestling with hot glass. It was interesting to watch Linda's progress, at first a bit tentative Linda showed great promise, able to gather large dollops of light filled glass from the furnace right from the start. Eventually we found that if we played the right music (Reggae or old Stones) Linda would begin to dance with the beat and flow with the glass. As her skill level grew, she designed and made increasingly difficult shapes.
I find glass blowing to be very empowering for young women. During her tenure here she has helped repair equipment, she has worked in a production team on wholesale orders, she has worked on mailings and other marketing projects, and she has also assisted Ken Perrin with his one of a kind blown glass sculptural peices to name just a few of her experiences.
"Blown and Thrown" Linda's senior show will be up at Blum Gallery April 20 -31. An opening will take place Thursday April 20 from 4-6pm, Blum Gallery, College of the Atlantic Campus, Rte 3 Bar Harbor.

Santa Fe Glass

2010-03-28T23:53:00.021-04:00

As Ken and I continue our vacation
here in Santa Fe, we find ourselves pulled back to the hot shop of friend Patrick Morrissey, Prairie Dog Glass. There we had the pleasure of meeting Ira Lujan (pictured to the right, his work to the left). His work stood out at the IAIA shop so it was great to meet him and see him in action in the hot shop one afternoon. As usual however the greatest fun was trying out the hot shop and making a little glass of our own. After bumping our heads on low hanging vents and offering up a couple of bubbles to the glass gods we got the hang of the new shop, had fun with the cool (hot) torches and even picked up some tips about how to spray titanium on the glass for a cool iridescent finish.

Linda Perrin and Patrick Morrissey

Vacation-Santa Fe

2010-03-22T20:22:00.007-04:00

It's mud season in Maine, and the last little bit of winter we will have before we get super busy filling our 2010 wholesale orders to some great places including the Corning Museum of Glass and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. So we decided to skip out of town and chase a little sunshine. With out too much ado we picked Santa Fe, New Mexico.
remembered a couple of very talented glass artists ended up in Santa Fe after my grad-school days at Southern Illinois University. And as fate would have it this morning out of the blue I ran into one of them at a cute little breakfast joint called Counter Culture. Excuse me are is your name Lolly Goodwin, I asked the freckled familiar face. Wow. What a long time it has been! She explained that she has her own hot shop and Patrick Morrissey the other SIU alum had one as well--Prairie Dog Glass, right down the street at Jackalope. After coffee and spicy eggs (everything is spicy here) we cruised on over.
With true hot shop manners Patrick asked us if we wanted to make anything, but since I have been struggling with some altitude sickness I was unable, so lucky Ken took him up on it! It was so much fun to play and get a tour of the Hot Shop. Patrick has always been an equipment building savant, and sure enough all the kilns, and the continuous feed furnace were quite a marvel.

Philadelphia Buyers Market

2010-02-13T17:52:00.002-05:00

We are at the Buyers Market of American craft, the show is going well for us. Orders from museum shops and great glass galleries including The Corning Museum of Glass. We are happy with the show so far.
On a side note about Snowmaggedon....I can't believe it is sunny and warm up in Maine this week end, while down here in "mild" Pennsylvania there are many inches of ice on the ground and snow piled up 3 to 4 feet!! Don't worry tho we haven't had any trouble getting around since we are taking public transportation. Two more days to go for the Market. So we'll be back at it tomorrow! Wish us luck.

Blowing Beer Bottles/Recycling!

2010-01-26T07:50:00.019-05:00

This Sunday we filled the annealer with used bottles, beer, wine and the like. The theory is , if you heat some bottles up to 950 degrees or so and pick them up on the end of a blow pipe or punty rod you can alter it's shape to create a decorative or functional "new" piece of blown glass. Voila-recycling
! Ken Perrin pushing/ pulling the limits
Well as usual with theory and practice it is much harder than it seems. Harder being the operative word. See the bottle glass is formulated so it sets up instantly when blown (by a machine) into a metal mold. therefore the properties of the bottle glass are that it heats up quickly to a liquid state, and then hardens immediately when touched by the tools.
Alex Carpenter 2010 artist in residence.

Hmmmm who doesn't like a challenge?
Linda Grecco 2010 Intern from College of The Atlantic

I think this has been great fun but I don't think it will go into heavy production any time soon. Rest assured you may see a smattering off these pieces inthe gallery from time to time and we will ytry to have these for the commmon ground fair at harvest season, but--The glass we usually use is a lovely crystal, formulated to be soft and pliable to the hand work of a skilled artisan. When heated and brought to the glassblowers bench it can be worked with the tools for a lot longer than these brown bottles. SO although this has been fun, whats more, it has increased the appreciation for what we normally use every delicious molten day! Clear art glass crystal! mmmmm can't wait to get back to it...
! Linda Perrin

Apprenticeship in glass blowing

2010-01-22T18:19:00.010-05:00

Great vibes this year! We finished last year on a real upswing largely due to the help and company of Emily Lyons (aka, big puff) a sculpture student doing an internship/apprenticeship with us for college credit from the University of Southern Maine, and Alex Carpenter a world traveler, COA student and all around earnest fellow who has begun a glass blowing residency/apprenticeship with us. Working in the hot shop in exchange for access to hot glass is a classic apprenticeship model. Since it was the holiday season we had a lot of work to do and they really helped increase the Christmas ornament production in this hot shop --all the way up to 100 ornaments in 1 day!! boy that felt good-when it was over :)

Emily has returned to Portland to finish up her art degree from U-Maine, and well, we miss her. Luckily she is an Ellsworth native and we have been assured she will be back!
Alex will continue his residency with us for a while longer, happily all the color techniques he has learned and his ability to plug into our glass blowing team will be put to good use as we prepare for the Buyers Market of American Crafts show.

Buyers Market of American Craft

2010-01-22T18:16:00.001-05:00

Come see us! SOON
February 12-15, 2010
Jewelry Preview: February 11, 2010
Pennsylvania Convention Center
Philadelphia, PA
A wholesale show featuring the work of the finest national artisans selling to shops and galleries with artistic and cultural integrity.
We'll be there!

Glass Blowing Classes winter 2010

2010-01-03T22:03:00.005-05:00

The 2010 winter glass blowing classes will begin January 16th!
Classes for beginners and advanced students.
Enrollment is limited so sign up now before we fill up!

Beginning Glass Blowing
This course is designed for beginners. Emphasis is placed on learning the basic skills necessary to complete simple blown vessels. Class time is divided between demonstrations and supervised work time, with individual attention for each student. No glass working experience is required. Tuition: $375.00
This is a five-week course meeting once each week for four hours. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, as class sizes are limited. Full payment must be made by first class

Continued Glass Blowing
This class will build upon the skills acquired in previous glass blowing classes. It is also a prerequisite to studio rental. The class will explore the use of color and bit applications. The course structure will include demonstrations to suit the individual interests of participants. Schedule is determined by the instructor and the students. Class size is limited to four students. Tuition: $375.00 Dates: Send us an email for current dates -16 hour course. Registration is first- come, first-served, as class sizes are limited. Full payment must be made by first class.

Year End Highlights

2009-12-23T12:54:00.009-05:00

Working TOGETHER!!!

Inspiring the NEXT Generation!

Teaching at College of the Atlantic.

Sharing with family...
Our Aunt!

Our NEICE!!!

Remembering what is really important.

Discovering Quebec!

Bringing it to our community!

Ken's dad Steve Perrin receives high honors.

steve perrin daughter inlaw linda and son ken maine
Well hasn't it been special?

The 3rd Ward

2009-12-07T21:11:00.005-05:00

Woo hoo, we are showing our handmade blown glass at the 3rd Ward in Brooklyn this week-end. We will have lots of pretty ornaments, our unique wearable blown glass jewelry, and other great gift items. So remember "Buy Handblown" this Holiday season.

Make an event out of holiday shopping this year at

The Handmade Holiday Craft Fair
Where giving really is better than receiving
195 Morgan Avenue, Brooklyn, NY

Big Double Show week-end

2009-11-23T20:43:00.013-05:00

Island Arts Association-Bar Harbor

Friday, Dec. 4, , 9am – 5pm Saturday Dec 5, 9am-3pm

Atlantic Oceanside Hotel, 119 eden St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609

The Island Arts Association sponsor this intimate showing of great affordable work by innovative local artisans and donate a portion of proceeds to a local charity. Great show-great group, lotsa fun& feels good! Linda and Ken will feature blown glass Christmas ornaments in myriad colors, as well as their latest one of a kind creations of vases, bowls, and paperweights and last but not least the ever popular VERY UNIQUE blown glass bead jewelry.

The Harvard Square Holiday Crafts Fair is one of the most popular fairs in Boston.
Held at the First Parish Unitarian Church, at the corner of Mass. Ave and Church Street.
December 5th and 6th
Saturday 10-7 and Sunday 12--6
Ken and Linda will be showing and selling their work this Saturday and Sunday. And will feature blown glass Christmas ornaments in myriad colors, lot's of holiday gift items such as oil lamps and fun drinking glasses, as well as their latest one of a kind creations ie: vases, bowls, and paperweights. Not to be missed the VERY UNIQUE, very popular, blown glass bead jewelry. Come see us in the big city, we will be happy to see a friendly face!

2009-10-30T12:14:00.008-04:00

Courage

Tidepool

Lively necklace of blown glass
online shop

Hoping to blow glass!

2009-10-22T09:23:00.008-04:00

For the last month the furnace has been off but soon we will return to hot glass stories and adventures but in the mean time this was a delightful little adventure.

Recently I drove down to Rockland to meet with Frances, the buyer of fine Maine made products for the Farnsworth Museum shop. Happy discovery was that the Robert Indiana show dates have been extended. Instead of ending on October 25 it will continue through the better part of the winter. Now all the busy Mainers who haven't had the chance to see things during the summer season will be able to get their butts over there to see, Robert Indiana and the Star of Hope.
It's easy to combine business and pleasure, so after a lovely sunny meeting in the garden discussing an online museum shop and a project to create an exclusive design of blown glass jewelry for the Farnsworth ... (More about this later!)
We headed down to In Good Company a beautiful little bistro with great "nibbles" and refreshing wine choices. Nothing like a Portuguese white to accompany a late lunch. Frances gave me some new roasted kale recipes, and in true artsy form, she knew the inside scoop regarding the artist whose work hung on the walls..-Rockland has the amazing ability to make you feel like you are sitting in an old gas lit cafe in Paris at the turn of a century experiencing world class cultural phenomena through small town gossip. Really a great community, intimate and far reaching, unpretentious and hip. --All in all a fun productive Day!

Eepy Bird!!

2009-09-23T13:12:00.006-04:00

Maine is so cool! I got to meet Fritz Grobe and Stephen Voltz of Eepy Bird two performers of Oddfellow Theater in Bucksfield Maine who became the Rock Stars of a viral video involving Mentos and Coke. This meeting took place at Haystack's Creating in Maine Symposium. the 24 hours were jam packed with some of the most amazing Mainers! Artists, entrepreneurs, and policy makers. A pretty yummy and encouraging mix of like minded and supportive people. Fritz and Stephen gave a presentation about their creative process. Just what happens between experiment #1 and the famous Experiment #137. The amount of time they spend with the (ordinary) object of their current musings, the notes they take and .... the laughs. They also spoke about the special quality of Maine and how they choose to live where they do because of their community. To this I can relate, the place and people here combine to make, pardon the expression, ...the way life should be... I hope to cultivate the relationships that were made at the Haystack session, to look further into the interesting information presented in bits and snippets during the petchakutcha or slide slam...but now, .... on to getting ready for Common Ground Fair ...yippee, more good times and good folks showing their truly good work. ...see you there!

Upcoming Shows

2009-09-15T05:15:00.002-04:00

Maine Crafts Guild, Portland, Sept 19, 20
Common Ground Fair, Sept 25, 26, 27
Harbor Arts, Camden October 3, 4

Northeast Harbor, Invitational Crafts Show

2009-08-12T21:36:00.001-04:00

Don't miss it this is one of the best showings of our work all year.

NorthEast Harbor, Neighborhood House Invitational Arts and Crafts Show

The third annual Neighborhood House Invitational Arts and Crafts Show will take place August 13, 2-7 PM; August 14, 10-7:00; and August 15, 10-5 PM

Go to www.nehnhi.blogspot.com for more info!!

Dancing with Fire

2009-08-06T20:37:00.013-04:00

Guest post by Rachel Addie, niece of the Perrin's and summer visitor/sweat laborer...
As a Texan, born in the heart of Dallas (where the temperature varies between eternal damnation and sauna), I'm probably more comfortable in the face of fire than the average Mainer... or so I like to think. But I was still trembling as I was handed my first glob of glass on the end of the puntil. And I'll be completely honest - I screamed when I completed my first "paperweight." It's a dangerous dance with a blazing partner, and you don't have any time to stop and think - you just go. The glass is always cooling, always hardening, becoming less and less malleable. The entire process is like a free fall. You can't stop. Once you get going, you go until your glass item leaves that pipe. And dance really is a good word for it, because it's so similar to music. It's a fast-paced sort of thing, but it's a combination of songwriting and performing. You plan out your piece, and then you go. But when you pull out that piece and see it for the first time at room temperature, it's all worth it. It's a jewel, a transformation of all your discomfort and sweat.
A tangible representation of something I believe - suffering produces beauty, a gentle spirit. Well, the first attempt wasn't exactly beauty, but it was a cute little thing. It's the one on the left. I call it the "Crystal Turd".The one on the right is my second attempt, and I liked that one. :) So yeah, that's all for now. I faced the furnace today, a giant box of flaming death, and survived. I call that success.

Hummin' along

2009-07-31T22:18:00.011-04:00

Just in case it gets hot and feels like summer, I have been getting up early to blow glass with Nate Parker on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. The pace is always good and the quiet time before all gets bustling is lovely.
Well last week on Thursday the day started out as usual, but ended in what we are fondly calling a magical moment. I blew, it got hot, I had help preparing for the upcoming Maine Crafts Guild show. all was well and good, that is until, the humming bird entered the scene. It rose to the top of the hot hot ceiling and fluttered there unsuccessfully trying to escape. Pushing it's tiny head against the ceiling like a fly against a window no progress could be made. I have seen this before sometimes bees or in this case humming birds go after our glass because of it's vibrant colors. I think they mistake it for blooms or something tasty. When a humming bird gets caught inside it will flap it's wings, invisibly quick until it just can't flap any longer. In exhaustion it will finally careen to the ground. This is what began to happen only I caught it in Ken's hat before it fell. We all began running outside as though filled with the birds passion for open space. Running outside, I grabbed a ribbon, and requested some sugar water, Ken obliged.
Lying in the hat in the garden we gathered around the poor little humming bird...it appeared nearly expired. I offered it the sugar water dipped ribbon and it's beak opened to reveal a hair thin tongue which licked the small droplet it contained. Yippee, he righted himself. We offering the sugar water repeatedly and wondered if it was sweet enough...no energy seemed to return to the iridescent fairy bird. Rachel got it into her head to dip her finger into the residual sugar on the bottom of the cup, and gather some crystals up under her nail. This she gently offered. A humming bird drinking from your finger?!?! Have you ever imagined such a thing? The tingle and tickle of the teeeeeny tongue lapping at the sweet finger. Blink blink and a snap of the camera, another blink and the creature flew up and away. Happily we watched the empty sky, after it's flight. Had that really just happened, had we seen the tongue, the green feathered body the trusting eyes had we been giant flowers for a moment? Rachel called it a magical moment. Truly it was.

Texas to Maine

2009-07-31T05:06:00.002-04:00

The current time is about 12:30 AM - and I have just arrived at Atlantic Art Glass Studio in Ellsworth, Maine. It's where I'll be staying for the next three weeks.

I really love it here in New England. The air is so fresh because A) fresh ocean air blows in from the sea and B) there are massive amounts of trees around here. And the trees are spectacular :D

My aunt and uncle are glass blowers, they make art out of hot melted glass. Pictures to come, but I have to say they're gorgeous. They have some glass cups in their kitchen and it's kinda cool to be drinking out of my aunt and uncle's artwork!

Well, I'm about to go to bed, it's been a super long day of traveling through three, four states. Plane trip was three hours, driving was four.

Fresh Face!

2009-07-31T04:10:00.005-04:00

Well the calendar says it is "Summer" but it is feeling like it only in fits and starts. I am wearing a Gap tee shirt that says something like "Time is an Invention" and it seems ultra true right now. Months and days have names, hours line up, but really if you look around everything is so fresh and original that no amount of quantifying or counting can change it. June with 23 days of rain, July was nearly the same, with continued soft gray, ominous skies. But now the calendar turns to August. Surely a switch will be flipped and the sun will shine and swimming will begin. I wonder though, does the sky know the page has been turned and a new beginning should deliver our expectations? I mean it's time already isn't it? Hmmmmm? Perhaps time is an invention, one meant to numb us and help us through the ever new. One where we can "I know" it away if we call it by it's name. Five o'clock, lunch time, 3:30, Monday, TGIF, --August.... Well what ever you call it the days around her are fresh as a daisy, and an inner sun is shining since we have a had the great honor to host a new visitor to Atlantic Art Glass, glass blowing studio.
Drum role please......watch for the new adventures chronicled here of our niece, Rachel-Addie. Her fresh and inspiring perspective is enough to charm the hurried humming bird....you'll see what i mean, check back for more posts, soon.

Happy Anniversary

2009-07-08T22:28:00.016-04:00

We are celebrating our first year of blogging today! Thanks for paying attention to any part of it. We have had e-visitors from Singapore to Somerville and have enjoyed sharing our adventures with everyone and their grandparents. It has been a joy to share our glass making with the public in our studio as well as over the internet.Today being a special day I took some random photos around the shop to mark the occasion. Ken blew glass today. We had a great crew on board with newby, Emily Lyons one of Ellsworth's very own darling daughters.
Katie Dube was in the studio clearly a vital helper
....whose motto is better late than never.
We even had the ethereal Martin Brief in the shop, he is responsible for our great web site yippee. But as usual all the rainy day visitors enjoyed seeing Serafina the wonder dog (and door bell) as much as as they did the hot glass.
Cheers!

Tough Stuff

2009-07-07T07:41:00.002-04:00

Check out this a rticle on architectural glass. Great reading as Ken and I weld up some glass and steel, sculptural pieces this week. Sparkling, beautiful and enduring.

As Unbreakable as ... Glass?

Sally Ryan for The New York Times

A CLEAR VIEW A project lets visitors see all angles from the 103rd floor of the Sears Tower in Chicago. Builders are experimenting with new materials and methods to expand the use of glass in construction.

Growing gills, in search of sunshine.

2009-07-03T03:41:00.006-04:00

I always say that the only people happy with the cool grey weather in the summer are the glass blowers, it makes dealing with the heat so much easier. BUT,
22 days of solid rain in June, and "Summah" enthusiasm has shifted to salty walks through fog, and my flip flops are more like squish flops...
I can only assume all this rain is what has inspired the glass I am blowing these days---up from the depths comes the notion of creatures who are comfortable with so much WATER.
Mer people!
It's fun to think that something so fiery hot can evoke something so cool and watery, but in the melting pot of my life it's the only way to do it! --and really rather than trying to figure out where this handsome devil came from I am just enjoying his visit, and happy he swam out of my furnace.

Summah !!

2009-06-18T07:59:00.003-04:00

Summer is here, it really feels like it. The sound of road work stimulates the air and infuriates travelers. Greens have become deeper, richer in the filled out trees brimming with birdsong. Ahhh, and walking around barefoot or in flip flops is second nature again. Sigh
The Studio, ahhh the studio , all the windows are open all day long, from the earliest mornings starting at 6am until twilight when we visit with friendly neighbors passing by for one reason or another. The gallery is filled with pedestals of the latest blown glass work. Shimmering and telling the story of our lives. Since the move from Hulls Cove, the palette of our work has changed. The ocean inspired glass remains but now garden colors have appeared. I don't always realize why I make something until after it appears, how it is a reflection of my life, of it's beauty.
And the visitors to our gallery have cheerfully returned, with encouragement beyond what ever the latest dismal news may be. The appreciation for our work and the purchases that prove it are really uplifting. One woman filled two big bags with glass, saying she was buying all her Christmas presents with us. Whoa..but let's not get ahead of ourselves, it is Summah and I want it to last...
Photos to come...we have been blowing lots of our own work after the stimulating joy of teaching and will catch you all up on that front anon.

Transparency-COA-Glass Exhibit

2009-06-10T07:05:00.024-04:00

Final Project Review

At the end of the introduction to glass blowing class taught in our studio through the College of the Atlantic, the final sculpture projects were due. The creative process had run it's course and the assignments to incorporate a large orb, or what is termed a glass blank into an expressive glass sculpture were handed in. During the term I emphasized glass art history, glassblowing technique (through rigorous glassblowing exercises making basic shapes) and individual expression. For the final sculptures, we explored the skills the students already had and tried to incorporate and combine them with new glass working techniques, both cold and hot, into the pieces you will see below. Emphasizing the importance of documenting one's art work we took "professional" photos of the work in the class room as the pieces were being introduced by the students and critiqued by their peers. AND finally the fulfillment of the creative process was an exhibit of the work at the Great Hall of Turrets on commencement day at the end of the spring term. Please enjoy the following as you would a catalogue from any fine art exhibit as the work of the students of AD4391, COA's Introduction to Glassblowing with Linda Perrin is truly of the highest caliber.

Cosmic Broccoli
Jacob Weisberg

Sol
Andrew Curtis

Fiber Glass
Rebecah Wartell

Lotus Lines
Kelly Enberg

Catch of the Day
Alex Carpenter

Clava Thessara Infinitas
William Eckley

Fountain
Stephen Byrne

These artists made their parents, the college and me very proud.
colleges in maine, glass blowing art

Glass Exhibit, Maine, College of the Atlantic

2009-05-31T18:39:00.007-04:00

(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

2009-05-23T23:40:00.004-04:00

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

2009-05-18T08:13:00.017-04:00

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

2009-05-12T08:48:00.003-04:00

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....

Season Opening-Annual Seconds Sale-May 9th

2009-04-28T16:22:00.012-04:00

May 9th-Seconds Sale-Blown Glass
25 Pine street, Ellsworth
10am-5pm

To benefit Ellsworth Arts, public arts projects/
Ellsworth Under the Stars, a summer film program, info all day.

We have a sea of sparkles that have been accumulating here in our studio. Lot's of new designs being worked out, teaching, demonstrations, and left over abandoned (student) orphan glass that needs to be cleared out before we clean ourselves up for the season. So come on by to visit, and perchance find a piece of glass that only a mother could love, (just in time for Mother's Day), or a pick me up for yourself.

You deserve it after this harsh winter!

This is an annual event, the spring seconds sale so if you know the drill come on down for the usual fun, refreshments, glass blowing demonstrations and deals and if your a new comer, come on down to meet your local glass blowers cuz, like we say,

"Don't blow it"
Big Sale
This is a rare opportunity to get your hands on some of the good stuff.

A Blast

2009-04-26T15:12:00.018-04:00

Sandblasted designs by Jo(left) and Alex (right)
This Saturday's class was a real blast, sand blast that is. While some of us were blowing glass, some of us were blasting glass. Check out the latest skills introduced to the College of the Atlantic, Intro to Glassblowing class taught by Linda Perrin.

Sand blasted bottles by Stephen (left) and Andy (right)

Whirly Glass and Whirly Bugs

2009-04-20T20:25:00.016-04:00

Teaching the students this term at COA is drumming up all sorts of fond memories of what it was like when I first discovered hot glass. Alex said this weekend after making a chubby, light bending, little glass vessel, "This is so much fun". And well you can't put it any better than that. But you can ask why? Why is it so much fun? Is it all the primitive basic forces we wrangle with, fire, gravity, and fluidity that fill a modern void? Or is it the place that our brain goes to, or leaves behind, when we are totally focused on the harmonious movements required from our body as we glide through the hot shop balancing a hot sparkling blob out on the end of a blow pipe. In any case I truly believe that we did have great fun this week-end.
Because the fabulous Earth Day celebration at the College took place on Saturday, we had to change the glassblowing lab to Sunday. This shift changed the vibe in the studio and a lazy late starting Sunday feeling permeated the shop. Folks played the guitar in the corner as they waited patiently for their turn to try the first puntied off bubble. And as the day unfolded each person attacked the exercise with their own style.
Willy deserves a prize for being the "sacrificial first person" in line to blow it. But he came back strong with a great save on a bubble that took an adventurous tour of the cullet tray. Andy wowed the crowd with dexterity to burn , Kelly made a glass dough-nut for breakfast and picked up pizza for lunch. Emily and Linda came to class and fell ahead instead of behind.
Becky used precise heat to make two very good little cups, Jake a master of the wind blew the glass with cool aplomb, and Steven "the natural" surprised no-one if not himself for being a creative person, and Jo (aside from blowing glass) found a whirly bug lying high and dry on the pavement in the parking lot, and my heart was once again warmed by the incredibly kind nature of this pack of HE's, as she gave him a long drink and in true nature lovin' style explained his swimming and diving techniques.My most favorite thing ever is to check the annealer the morning after blowing glass. Here are our very first baby bubbles from the introduction to glassblowing at the College of the Atlantic AD4391...wooohooo!

Spring Flingin floppin and rollin...

2009-04-15T08:53:00.005-04:00

Here's something just for fun. Even glass blowers need to take a little time off to relax. Here's us on a cold spring day on the crest of a small hill absorbing some solar gain. (Now that we have the video feed worked out look for some hot new scenes of molten goo in the near future.)

We Got Glass

2009-04-11T18:38:00.012-04:00

Right, so today the COA students got their hands on some glass, well not hands exactly, but we gathered and gathered and gathered and made some.....well what were those things? raisin shaped scribbles,... yeah sculptural little single gather forms.
But more important than the glass we ended up with, it's the experience we gathered into the student body. The moves and the views. One of the hardest things in the beginning of working with glass is recognizing anything, everything is so foreign, the heat, the optics, the new tools and all those sparkles!!!... it can be a bit confusing. But for the most part everyone kept their cool and made small glass, but big gains.
What Fun!!
Today each student got four chances to gather
up the glass, form it with gravity, blocks, our jacks

and finally the tweezers. Each trip to the furnace and the rate of evolution was astounding. It was a blast to introduce everyone to the hot gooey glass, to watch the red skin and wide eyes fade with repetition, and hear the enthusiasm through out the day.

The Human Ecologists Cometh

2009-04-04T18:14:00.013-04:00

Today ten lovely young people arrived at the studio. They are an intelligent bunch of college students from the national jewel of contemporary education, The College of the Atlantic. I have been invited to be a visiting instructor this term and I have the distinct honor to share our studio with these wisdom seekers for the next ten weeks. I look forward to sharing what I know about the magical experience of wrangling hot glass, cold glass, and our creative spirits.
Today we focused on an orientation to the the hot shop, the place where we blow glass. Inside it is filled with equipment that Ken has built and rebuilt over the years. We make lots of pretty sparkly glass but in my heart of hearts I often marvel at the wondrous equipment that make it all possible. Well today we gave it it's props and discussed how the equipment functions and how to use it all safely.

Thought for the day, courtesy of
Emile Zola:
"There are two men inside the artist, the poet and the craftsman. One is born a poet. One becomes a craftsman."

Turrets at COA

2009-04-03T13:25:00.003-04:00

Isn't this a fantastic building! Imagine my feeling as I approached it for the first gathering of the students at the College of the Atlantic who are courageous enough to try their hand at molten glass. Our introduction to glass blowing course has begun and this week-end the students will see our studio. I hope they approach it with the same level of wonder I had when I saw the gorgeous old magical building above. I am so happy to foster the alliance between the College of the Atlantic and our studio, Atlantic Art Glass as I teach this course. The philosophy and culture of the college perfectly matches the ideals Ken and I have tried to employ in our humble lives as local artisans. "Think Globally and Act Locally" has been a mantra for a long time around these parts. Enjoy the upcoming posts documenting our progress over the next ten weeks.

OMG

2009-03-30T07:47:00.011-04:00

Omg, we have so much going on here at Atlantic Art Glass!
MORE INFO ON EACH OF THE ITEMS BELOW COMING SOON...

1, We are offering a course in glassblowing at the College of the Atlantic for the upcoming spring session. VERY COOL!
2. We started an online shop where our work is available for sale with a secure pay pal service.
3. A new 5 week beginning glass blowing class will begin April 19th sign up now!
4. We are starting a Glass Club for all our past students! This is going to be Fun.
5. We are gettin ready for the The Maine Arts Commission--LINC program show and Kelly, (picture above) is psyched to show her master piece, (only we got our first glass burn yesterday, which put a wrench in the days production. Oh well at least she can call herself a real glass blower now!)

FRESHGLASS

2009-02-27T16:11:00.004-05:00

We have launched a new site to feature our latest blown glass. Ken Perrin and Linda Perrin blow glass in series. We do bodies of work that change and evolve, much of our work is one of a kind. In an attempt to give you a "blow by blow" of what is going into and coming out of the annealers, we invite you to visit this site for the uncut view. Go to FreshGlass to see what's just come out of the oven! ....and let us know if you get hungry for some of our tasty sparkles.

Great Class

2009-02-24T08:21:00.008-05:00

Well the first five weeks of the winter glass blowing session has whooshed by. This group has been fantastic! So much fun! The skills came easy to most, we spent Valentine's day together, and we rocked and (cinnamon) rolled each week. Above is a collage that Ken made of our dear beginning glassies. And they are not beginners anymore! Check out a few more photos below of the SKILLS!
NEXT CLASS TO BEGIN APRIL!! CALL OR E-MAIL FOR MORE INFO.

Maine art glass-BEGINNERS

2009-01-24T17:30:00.005-05:00

Well we've really started something here. The ice is inches deep outside and the temperature just keeps plummeting, but in the hot shop at 25 Pine we are toasty warm. In this "bohemian vacation" we focus on all the information one needs to override the primitive response that happens when we get hit by 2000 degrees of hot glass (namely running away--willy-nilly). The 2009 winter glass blowing class has begun and it is off to a good start. Ken and I taught the dance steps one needs to gather glass effectively out of the said, 2150 degree furnace, get it to the work bench, and begin to use the ancient tools (some that have'nt changed since 50 BC) to fashion this gooey dangerous stuff into the sparkles we desire. Congratulations to our very full class!!! No one got hurt, and we have laid a good foundation on which to begin our glass journey. A point I always like to make, is how lucky we are to be able to dive right into the glass here in this class. For centuries in so many places, like Venice and the Czech Republic, places with long glass blowing histories, a glass worker would have to sweep the floors and assist a master for years and years before actually getting to make anything themselves. Yeah American Art Glass Movement!! We are free! and Yes we can>
ooops that's from something else...

Glass blowing classes, winter 2011

2008-12-27T09:58:00.013-05:00

The 2011 winter glass blowing classes will begin January 8th!
Classes for beginners and advanced students.
Enrollment is limited so sign up now before we fill up!
A portion of the brochure is listed below, and in full at our website.

Beginning Glass Blowing
This course is designed for beginners. Emphasis is placed on learning the basic skills necessary to complete simple blown vessels. Class time is divided between demonstrations and supervised work time, with individual attention for each student. No glass working experience is required. Tuition: $375.00
This is a five-week course meeting once each week for four hours. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, as class sizes are limited. Full payment must be made by first class

Continued Glass Blowing
This class will build upon the skills acquired in previous glass blowing classes. It is also a prerequisite to studio rental. The class will explore the use of color and bit applications. The course structure will include demonstrations to suit the individual interests of participants. Schedule is determined by the instructor and the students. Class size is limited to four students. Tuition: $375.00 Dates: Send us an email for current dates -20 hour course. Registration is first- come, first-served, as class sizes are limited. Full payment must be made by first class.

Glass Blowing Demonstration for the Farnsworth Museum Shop

2008-11-24T13:03:00.009-05:00

We just sent out a batch of our special ornaments to the Farnsworth Museum Shop!
To see how Ken and Linda Perrin blow cheerful ornaments click on the video clip below!!! Happy holidays to the crew at the Farnsworth Museum in Rockport, Maine Thank you for showing and selling our work!

Shop for Atlantic Art Glass Nov. 29 & 30

2008-11-21T16:25:00.018-05:00

We're Old Fashioned around here, even if we are cool glass blowers. In keeping with this, we will begin our Christmas shows/exhibits after Thanksgiving...
After the big feast, come on out and find our sparkley, charming glass gift creations. We'll be at TWO craft fairs on Saturday. Ken Perrin will be going solo Saturday in Cambridge, MA at the Harvard Square Holiday Craft Fair. Saturday,November 29, 10am -7pm and Sunday, November 30, 12-6pm. And I, Linda Perrin, will be in Portsmouth, NH at the Designing Women Show Saturday the 29th, 9am-4pm. We are looking forward to both shows, just like the song make new friends and keep the old, I hope that one is silver and the other gold....PLUS We have been making some truly heart felt work for you to find and give to whom ever needs a pick me up this winter. We have traditional Christmas ornaments made only the way we do, ...oil lamps to warm and lighten your heart/home, tumblers you can fill to the brim with holiday cheer...
and some special vases I made this week while musing about Florence Italy, Ah, Firenze a place where I first indulged my artistic tendencies, the aesthetics of which ring so purely in my heart that all aspirations, I think, when made Florentine can even enhance things like.... eggs. so imagine what I can do with GLASS. here's a sneak peek at what I'm talkin' about....."bella", no?

Exciting Ellsworth Arts Scene / Glass Etc.

2008-11-08T08:58:00.004-05:00

Spirits Lifting! What a wonderful Holiday Season we can have this year. Values are shifting and priorities are coming into focus. As this cultural shift begins to take shape in this extraordinary new era, I am finding that the artisan is regaining importance in our lives. The local glass blower, fiber artist, bread baker, farmer, woodworker etc... are beginning to be the "go to" person for our special needs. as in people who have special occasions and loved ones in their life.
When you have a big birthday for a best friend, or the wedding of folks for whom you are hoping the best, or an anniversary of your own beloved but sometimes hard fought union. What special heirloom quality gift do you want to present? I am finding that people are beginning to feel embarrassed about buying something made in china or elsewhere for these occasions or for their own home and needs. And this all spells out a time of appreciation for the local artisan, and American made products. So as spirits begin to lift out of the overconsumption of crap made cheaply, remember to look for the perseverant artist and artisan who has been a beacon of belief in the higher order of things and has been asking for change long before it became fashionable...
OPPORTUNITIES TO FIND SUCH WORK ABOUND
•Atlantic Art Glass, 25 Pine St., Ellsworth: Glassblowing Demonstrations, Open Studio + refreshments, Saturdays , 10am to 2pm•
SevenArts Gallery,
"Responses to Maine" November, 2008
Beth Lambert / Landscape Paintings
& Jan Whalen / Handknits
Harlow Gallery, Maine Grind Building 192 Main Street, Ellsworth
Grand Opening, November

HUZZAH!!

2008-11-05T10:21:00.002-05:00

Boo

2008-10-28T19:15:00.002-04:00

My nose is cold, yep pretty consistently now, my nose is cold...that is at least it's cold when I am not blowing glass. This small change creates a fierce primal shift in my outlook on life. OCTOBER, the fear season, spooky long shadows appear, and the possessed street light down the street gets to me again. When the evenings are filled with light as they are on so many summer evenings I don't even think about the weird alley, one street over, the one that has a street light that tries to do Morse code.
But on a chilly evening such as this one, as the pumpkins come out to stand gaurd. I remember how on one night while walking Serafina, the light went out as I stepped directly under it. Hmmmm a short in some wiring perhaps, or a timer? I wondered to myself as chills ran up my spine. Later that week we took another jaunt down the alley, a seemingly good place to poop my pooch out, gravel lined, un-trafficked, weed rimmed...But this time Serafina seemed reluctant, something she never is when pulling me along. However we ventured down again, and I began a dialog in my head aimed at the light, vaguely wondering about coincidence or spooks, this time it came ON as I passed under it. My shadow appeared short and disfigured in old mud ruts.....Okay, send good vibes....I turned around and faced it, thinking if there was something ghosty to this thing it could answer me ...I begged the question if it could signal to me, that it was trying to reach out, it went out as fast as my silly question ill formed in my mind....That was last October, I don't go down there any more, the house on the corner of this alley is perpetually for sale, the name of the street is Shady Lane, and it just plain gives me the Willy's. My nose is cold, and the scarcity of planetary petroleum products is not the only thing to be afraid of these days....wooooo

Little Roady Trip

2008-10-27T18:57:00.009-04:00

Hey guys, we are back from Providence. What a trip, met some real talent from all across New England and was happy to be among a large group of Maine-iacs, making up almost 10% of the show! Lot's of Maine Crafts Guild members as well as some indie artisans from our great state. The best part about the week-end was reconnecting with the Hawkes, dear friends. We reminisced that the last time we were in Providence was at their wedding and now there darling daughter* is almost 15. Thanks for the great hospitality! What fun to be in a compact deeply diverse city, we had vegan food at the Garden Grille, Haute Cuisine at Chez Pascal, got inspired to be funky at Oop Gallery (glad they are selling our work!) and great coffee at Tazza. True inspiration came from a trip to the Chace Center at RISD, where a new exhibit of Chihuly work has opened the newly built space. I was happy to see some brand new pieces, most of the botanical shows I have seen recently featured work more than 15 or years old. The show featured work of some of the early

students of Dale's and I loved the idea of their mutual exploration in glass. One of the first things Dale made his students do according to Michael Glancy was buy a good quality camera....good reminder how important documentation is! Clearly Dale has always been an excellent promoter of glass art. Another show at the RISD art museum was an installation by Beth Lipman.

Beth Lipman
Still Life with Pearls, Antler, and Oysters, 2006

Strange to say but I felt the show was put together especially for me. After You are Gone is the name of the installation, as a glass bubble blower who has made 1000s of decorative blown glass objects I found this commentary on the decorative arts very provocative.....
As a parting note, remember that one's self is one of the most fundamental of all canvases.... Kudos to *Angela for her daring to push the pink loving limits with her new Mohawk!!!

Fine Furnishing Show in Providence Rhode Island

2008-10-20T08:43:00.017-04:00

inspires

We are getting ready for the Providence Fine Furnishing and Fine Crafts show.

"Find it. Love it. Buy it at the Fine Furnishings & Fine Craft Shows
- Providence on October 24 – 26 at the Rhode Island Convention Center"

I can't help it but we have been having so much fun getting ready. We plan to show our distinctive blown glass jewelry, but many beautiful individually crafted blown glass pieces showing our range of sculptural and functional work as well.

Autumn's influence has inspired blown glass pumpkins,

churning surf vases, and blazing blown glass tree vases. Living on the coast of Maine we find that we just look outside and the strong influence of mother nature fills us up. I find myself sitting at my glass blowing bench spinning pipe and, boom I see firey trees bubbling forth. Yesterday we spotted our friends Obediah and Kate, of Sullivan, Maine gathering seaweed for their garden. And I am reminded of Ken's life filled tide pool glass sculptures, another little piece of the coast we plan to show this week-end. I hope you'll come to the show to see what we mean.

Blown Glass Beads, Bead Museum

2008-09-28T12:19:00.011-04:00

My Papa's Rose Garden, a collection of beads by Linda Perrin recently reviewed by the Bead Museum in Washington, DC

This summer I answered a call from the American Craft Council web site regarding the Bead Museum requesting a review of the work of contemporary bead artists. We sent in images of our beads. And have been honored to be considered one of the top ten artists making handmade beads from hundreds of applicants in 33 states and 14 countries. Our work was featured at a show this last month. You can read about this in an article in our local paper, the Ellsworth American.
Chosen as one of the top ten by the Bead Museum in Washington,DC.

Reminder,
Come See us this week-end at the Camden, Fall Harbor arts and Crafts Fair Oct 4th and 5th!!

Eastport Retreat!

2008-09-15T19:42:00.011-04:00

So many craft fairs have we been doing! So recently on one of our few week-ends off we decided to take a road trip! We just needed a little head space. So for the first time in my dozen or so years of living up here in Maine, Ken and I traveled up up up north or what folks around here call "Downeast". We let the car take us where it went. So with not much between here and there, it's no wonder that we ended up in Eastport.
Eastport is pretty much the edge of the United States and when you look out at the great blue yonder here, you see --Oh Canada!
We had a blast. We stayed with Ruth McInnes
in her "one of the oldest houses in the port"
a delightful B&B now.
And walked back and forth to the little artist run strip of a down town. Even found some treasures to bring back home.
In any case I just thought I would let you all know what we have been up to these days. And to urge you to stay tuned cuz there is some interesting news coming out of the hot shop....regarding international competitions, trips to Penland School of Crafts, special work being created for the Fine Furnishing Show in Providence, RI and even a story about lovers being reunited....Autumn is one of our favorite times, very colorful already.
PS
Do you see the resemblance?

Fair Weather

2008-08-22T14:48:00.011-04:00

Well, after complaining about the rain in the last post my prayers have been answered, and the sun has finally arrived up here in Downeast Maine. There is a certain feeling in the soft summer-like air up here that all the world comes to discover. We who live here have been appreciating the recent sunshine so much! Since absence makes the heart grow fonder, we have been praising the sun everyday it dries up this year's often misty skies.
Ken and I show at some of the best craft-fairs that pepper New England.
The following is our autumn schedule, so please come see us at one of the following shows. We would just love to show you our latest sparkles....
Designing Women Craft Show in Bar Harbor, ME August 23, 9am-4pm at the Atlantic Oaks Convention Center, Bar Harbor, ME
Laudholm Nature Crafts Festival Sept, 6 and 7, 10am -4pm, Wells, ME
Common Ground Fair, Sept 19, 20 and 21. MOFGA Fair Grounds, Unity, ME
Harbor Arts Juried Arts and Crafts Show, Oct 4 and 5th, Camden ME
Providence Fine Furnishing and Fine Crafts Show, October 24-26, Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, RI
Check our Web Site for a preview of glass!!

Dog Days

2008-08-12T22:32:00.006-04:00

Hey I was just wondering why we call the "dog days" the "dog days". I'd like to think we've had some, but it just hasn't been hot enough to growl about. I feel a bit guilty being so happy with the cool gray days, but the hot shop has been cozy during the many rain storms of late. In any case today is the official end of the "dog days", so let's at least say hooray for the dogs we know, Grover the goofy golden who accompanies Nate to glass blowing sessions and our little friend Serafina the official hot shop dog and "door bell" who heralds visitors arrivals when we might be too busy to notice....

DOG DAYS: In the summer, Sirius, the dog star rises and sets with the sun. During late July Sirius is in conjunction with the sun, and the ancients believed that its heat added to the heat of the sun, creating a stretch of hot and sultry weather. They named this period of time, from 20 days before the conjunction to 20 days after, "dog days" after the dog star.

The conjunction of Sirius with the sun varies somewhat with latitude. And the precession of the equinoxes (a gradual drifting of the constellations over time) means that the constellations today are not in exactly the same place in the sky as they were in ancient Rome. Today, dog days occur during the period between July 3 and August 11. Although it is certainly the warmest period of the summer, the heat is not due to the added radiation from a far-away star, regardless of its brightness. No, the heat of summer is a direct result of the earth's tilt.

Time lapse video of Linda Perrin and Nate Parker

2008-08-05T22:42:00.009-04:00

Today Nate helped me work on some "dancing" vases. These pieces are rose colored in honor of the color of summer sunsets, regosa roses and watermelon flesh. We are having a harmonious summer... Living every day to the fullest.
Watch for cameo appearances by Grover (Nate's Golden retriever), Serafina (my little dog), and Ken as he checks to makes sure we are working hard enough!

Glass Gallery Visitors

2008-07-30T21:42:00.011-04:00

The following photos document a few of the good times in the last month. We have had so much fun sharing this 1st month of blogging. We hope you have enjoyed visiting.

This is Chelsea, I have known her since she was knee high to a grasshopper. She did her MDI senior project with me a couple of years ago. Now she is heading into her sophomore year at the university of Maine-Orono. She informs me she made the deans list last year. I am so proud of her. She is quite a special young lady independent and determined, just my kind of gal! Say hi to your dear grandparents, Ann and Everett!!

This is Joe, he is my next-door neighbor. Recently Joe needed something special for his parents anniversary, we hunted about, and found a very nice oil lamp. In exchange Joe bartered his services and watered the farthest reaches of my garden during the driest days this summer. Then before he took off to see some family in Illinois for a 3 week summer vacation. He and I made a paperweight! I guess he'll have some stories for his older cousin now...

Cherie Magnello is one of my heroes I always wanted to grow up to be like her, ever beautiful and very talented. She has made a number of visits to the studio so far this summer to wipe out my inventory and take our unique blown glass beaded jewelry to Island Artisan's where it has been selling like mad.

And finally our favorite people in the whole world, David and Suzie. These guys have been collecting our glass since before we even had our own glass blowing studio. They are a wonderfully loving couple. They make a mean mac and cheese and always tell great stories....rarely repeating themselves. We love you!

Black Out!

2008-07-26T13:13:00.010-04:00

Thursday got off to a rocky start when at 7:50 AM power went out all over eastern Maine. As some of you may know we have had some tremendous lightning storms in the last week and that is what caused the outage.
A power outage presents some serious challenges to a glass blower. We were lucky that the annealors were not cycling and so we had no finished pieces at risk of cracking due to the sudden drop in temperature.
The top priority for us was the furnace. If the furnace is low or empty then there is really no reason to worry. But if the furnace is full as ours was, then emptying out the glass must be done within 30-45 minutes. If the glass cools inside the crucible it can damage the crucible and the refractory materials that the furnace is made of.
So, after waiting for about 40 minutes, we gathered all the glass out of the furnace in order to protect our precious machine! The good news is that we can simply shovel the glass back in at another time. So all we really lost was a day of production.

Camden Summer Craft Show

2008-07-22T18:02:00.017-04:00

umbrella/parasol
parapluie/parasol
ombrello/parasole
schirm/sonnenschirm

Here are some pictures from our weekend. Can you say Umbrella!?
Well above are a few ways one could say umbrella, and I like the “pluie” part of the French version. Sounds like how you feel when it’s raining. I don’t just love the new umbrella because of how it sheltered us from the rain but I love it because of how it sheltered us from the sun as well.
Because this week-end we had it all!
Thunderstorms, scorching sun, wind, rumors of hail, and finally more soaking rain on Sunday

But despite all this we had a wonderful weekend, filled with nice people, and abundant sales. In fact some of those biggish vases I had so much fun using my duck billed shears on, were sold to good homes all over the country(NY, West Virginia, and Florida to name a few places).

Plus we got to see our musician friends

Maggi and Pierce of MPE and Hymn for Her They have quite a few gigs planned for the summer including a couple in Europe this August. We started talking about them playing a block party at our place this fall. Stay tuned for that one!

Kindle

2008-07-21T07:43:00.006-04:00

Another Summer's cool student...
We came to know Kindle through the LINC program. In April Linda was asked to mentor Kindle through the fundamentals of glass blowing and what it means to be a full time artist. We found her to be an enthusiastic student. She is a recent graduate of George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill Maine and has decided to attend the University of Vermont in Burlington this fall. I often think of Kindle as a” fire sprite” with her red hair, warm demeanor, and inherent understanding of molten glass... She also has a way of kindling our own joy as we remember what it was like to meet hot glass for the first time many years ago.

Adding color to a gather ... a true sign of progress

Adding bits, another way to decorate the glass...

Camden!!!

2008-07-19T05:11:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone, if you would like to see us this week-end July 19 and 20, we will be at the "Harbor Arts Fair" in beautiful Downtown Camden.
Saturday and Sunday from 9am-5pm.
Vivian and Nate will be running things in the shop in Ellsworth.
Looking forward to the sun, the harbor breeze and seeing you.

Hot Shop Time Lapse

2008-07-17T14:22:00.005-04:00

Nate made this time lapse sequence with his camera the other night. More to come!

Something Special

2008-07-17T07:36:00.008-04:00

Yesterday was Elaine's birthday, (she turned seventy). She always wanted to see a piece of glass be blown especially for her. Ken obliged in his chivalrous manner and despite the heat she and her family happily watched Ken and Katie make a beautiful Seafoam Bowl.
.

Vivi!

2008-07-16T07:24:00.001-04:00

This is Vivian. (She is reading the blog, and sitting on the cool loading dock).
She has just finished her first year at Marlboro college. She came to be a part of the studio last Summer. She courageously brought in a resume even before she graduated from High School. I think she said she wanted to find a position in a "real" art studio, at which point I looked over my shoulder,
"Oh you mean here..." I said.
I remember we needed to e-mail back and forth a couple of times to work out the details. She was very cheerful and I think she used a number of exclamation points. Her e-mail address had something to do with "curly fries". During her first summer, where she swam instead of sank, we began calling her Vivi, and are pretty sure that with a name like Vivi Rae she'll have it made in the art world. (plus
you should see her portfolio)...
Currently she is a part of this summer's beginning glass blowing class. All the watching she has been doing while helping many hours a week in other parts of the studio have paid off and Vivi has the tempo and grace well suited to glass blowing. In these pictures we marvel at the teeny tiny first jacking of a first gather. Brava!
In the background you see Kindle the fire sprite...you'll meet her next.

Summer's cool!

2008-07-14T09:18:00.017-04:00

This week produced the kind of non stop activity we associate with Summer. I began teaching four young people how to blow glass. Each one has a different level of experience, but all can benefit from a brief review of the basics. Each student will be introduced with a description of their aims as well as their experience to date as this summers'cool unfolds.
Sadly we said good-bye to Andrew Palmer a brilliant man that for some reason (perhaps being bitten by the glass bug) graces us with his company and allows us to share insights about how heat, gravity and will can shape a glass bubble. Ken and Andrew had a particualarly good time together making handles on small pitchers. Andrew returns to Singapore, leaving his residence in Deer Isle, ME. until next summer perhaps.

AND I put the new glass to good use. I had a blissful evening on Thursday blowing biggish garden colored vases.
The evening was a tiny bit cooler, my strength was fair and I got to use some new duck billed shears that made cutting the lip of the urn shapes easy as pie
.
Then Thursday night while I was beginning to scrub the salt off, I got a call that Katherine Dube was downstairs and wanted to show her friends around. Katie (left) was an intern with us nearly ten years ago while she was a student at College of the Atlantic. Since that time she has traveled to Japan, earned her Masters Degree in Eastern Classics, and is now a teacher of Buddhist studies at College of the Atlantic. Here she was just another summer lovin goddess out with her best buddies, "Big Head" (middle) and Amanda Witherell, a journalist at the SF Bay Guardian. Katie wanted to show her friends around because she has been working all year with Ken assisting him in his "Sea foam" line of decorative blown glass. And recently she began setting up her painting studio in the back section of our building, the area we affectionately call, Narnia...

Photo credit

2008-07-13T07:39:00.005-04:00

We can't go on much further with this blog with out saying something about the inviting photo that greets you at the top of the page. It was created by the multi talented, Nathan Parker. Showing the entrance of our building and studio, the photo was created from a total of 81 photos, which were then digitally stitched together thereby showing you the full view of one of our favorite hanging out spots, the loading dock. This panorama bends the perspective a bit and makes the façade look curvy, …kind of like a reflection in glass. So thanks to Nate who besides taking photos like the one described here is able to leap tall bubbles in a single bound and is part of our team of glass blowers, ....next post, we'll see you inside.

Our crops are saved!

2008-07-08T20:11:00.006-04:00

The BIG NEWS here at 25 Pine today is the much anticipated arrival of our glass shipment. It's hard to blow glass if you ain't got none and we were down to our last dregs. But today that's all a distant memory as 1000 pounds of Spectrum System 96 nuggets arrived.

These nuggets are made of glass with a Coefficient of Expansion/(COE ) of 96. We are able to fill our furnace up each night with these fabulous little chunks where we cook them into clear glass crystal. Because of the COE we are able to combine the clear glass with our expansive color palette and blow beautiful bubbles or sculpt the glass into sparkling solid forms.

It's like a new lease on life to look at this pile of raw material lying on our loading dock. We should put it away,... however, it seems to be good bait for the muse, so I think we'll leave it out there to trip over for just a little bit longer....