For his first time on the Roadshow stage, Bay Area artist Guido Gerlitz demonstrated sculpting a femur bone. Noting its symbolism of strength, power and rejuvenation, he was interested in working with the form of the object in glass. Guido was assisted by his studio partner Luca Rattazzi and Theron Hanks, a twelve year-old rising star who has been a student of Guido’s.
Rob Swidergal and Guido Gerlitz
See more photos from GAS in Seattle: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjv39EuW
Jim Mongrain demonstrates a variety of Venetian goblet techniques using the help of assistants Sarah Gilbert, Nick Fruin, Jason Christian, and twelve year-old Theron Hanks. He prefers focusing on showing the technical side of the Italian technique. “I’ve always enjoyed making [them], and it’s always challenging as well.”
Twelve year-old Theron Hanks assists Jim Mongrain at the Hot Glass Roadshow.
GAS Seattle
In a method she calls “hot printing,” Keke Cribbs brings her background in print to this collaboration with sculptor Ross Richmond. Keke drew a pattern in colored fine glass powder while Ross began working the glass. Ross then carefully rolled the hot glass over the design, blending the two artists’ work to create this vibrant piece.
Ross Richmond gaffs a Keke Cribbs design
Rik Allen with Keke Cribbs.
With a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience and a Ph.D in Biology, you’d think that Rodman Miller would be conducting research as a university professor. Instead, Rodman prefers the hot shop. “Yes,” he says, “this is much more fun.” The great-grandson of Louis Comfort Tiffany, Rodman left academia after taking a glass blowing course, but he still uses his background in microbiology – Rodman draws inspiration for his glass pieces from the shapes that he used to see under a microscope.
Never afraid to experiment with glass, Mark Zirpel took to the Hot Glass Roadshow stage where he performed a series of pieces including blowing glass horns to play a “humpback whale duet” and exploring the reactive forces of glass, steam and pressure in a piece about pleasure. His gallery work often blends science and art, so it’s no surprise that Mark tries out new techniques in the Hotshop like a scientist in the lab.
Ryan Doolittle caught this shot during the show:
Mark Zirpel utilizes an unorthodox method to squirt water onto the jackline
For South Seattle artist Jen Elek, “People, the relationships we have with one another, and the places we occupy, inspire my work. Making art acts as a translator, helping me process messages presented by modern media. My personal interpretation of American culture is the basis for my artwork.” In this piece, Butchigiri 2011 CMoG Roadshow, Jen draws on a method learned from gaffer Bryan Rubino to create a colorful grape inspired sculpture.
The Hot Glass Roadshow is a mobile studio that allows artists to blow glass in virtually any environment anywhere in the world. We brought the Roadshow to this year’s Glass Art Society Conference in Seattle, WA, where we had the opportunity to work with amazing artists.
To make all this happen, the team had to work out the logistics of setting up the Roadshow in the Seattle Convention Center. John Cowden helped set up the stage:
“This is the truck maneuvering in the Seattle Convention Center where the Glass Art Society Conference took place. This room is on the fourth floor. The truck drove up through the curving ramp up four floors. The Convention Center is on both sides of Pike Street and the truck drove over a bridge in the Convention Center from one side of the street to the other. We made it out with just one flat tire!”
The truck arrives
Ready for action