William Faulkner aptly said, “In writing, you must kill your darlings.” The same applies to glass. Sometimes the processes that artists and designers dedicate so much time and energy to actually hinder their work. At the same time, those hours, weeks, months, and years of practice are not wasted. The process of making can influence work in many different ways, even if the result is not a finely crafted traditional vessel.

This class will ask the hard questions about material, process, and technique to arrive at unique and unexpected artworks and design-objects that start (and sometimes end) in the glass studio. What is the difference between “my process” and “my practice?” How does the act of “making” influence the ideas behind what artists make? Can making be a form of research?

Students will develop a way of thinking and sensitivity to the material that will allow for accidents, experimentation, surprising failure, and other idea-generating miracles. They will explore diverse approaches to ideas, processes, and creativity that will turn struggles into strengths.

This class will be based in the hot-shop and will employ furnace-working techniques, including, but not limited to, off-hand blowing from a variety of traditions, hot-casting, solid sculpting, garage work, and hot assembly. One year of glassblowing experience is required.