Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Tuesday's Tribute: The Lampworker

Since Tuesday's Tribute is NOT about me— I have chosen to highlight on my wife the lampworker. Now… before you think that my wife fixes lamps I need to clarify what lampworking is. According to Wikipedia: "Lampworking is a type of glasswork that uses a gas fueled torch to melt rods and tubes of clear and colored glass".

My wife has a love for glass. Many times she told me that she would love to learn glass blowing— but she never knew of a place that she could afford to take classes at. Once she found out that the Lill Street Art Center had glass bead making classes, she jumped at the chance to get her hands on it (not literally of course). I asked her why she likes glass bead making and she said it is very similar to other forms of glass making— but glass bead making allows you to work in miniature… and she loves miniatures. You can finish a bead a lot quicker than other forms of glass— so there is more of an instant gratification because you can take home your creation without having to wait overnight for the piece to cool as you would with larger pieces. Glass is very organic to her in that it flows and has a life of its own in its molten state. Working in a 3D medium is a challenge to her because all the other mediums that she has worked with up to this time is 2D (pen and ink, charcoal, watercolors).

Rather than explaining her work— I thought I would let her work speak for itself. Below are a few pictures that I found that represent some of the pieces that she has created over the years:


Beach series— from Beads

Beach series—from Beads

Bottle series— from Beads

Blue bottle— from Beads

Icicle— from Beads

Unfortunately she now has a full time job which means she doesn't have the time she would prefer to be at the studio and create more beads. It would be nice if she could work at home, but we don't have a place set aside in our townhouse for her to work at home— besides she may be a bit weary of torches after our recent Kitchen Sink-gate fiasco.


Tuesday's Tribute
Yet Another Jay and Deb Production.

12 comments:

Unknown said...

Good Tuesday Morning! Thanks for sharing your Tuesday tribute, your wife's glasswork is beautiful.

Kristen said...

How interesting. Her glass work is beautiful!

Barbaloot said...

Wow-that's awesome. I think watching glass blowers in action is one of the most impressive things out there.

The Wife O Riley said...

WOW!!! She's very talented! I had no idea that you could take a class to learn to do something like that! I am always looking for something new to learn, I'll have to check this out.

Anonymous said...

Cool!! That is so awesome. That would be a fun medium to learn. Your wife is very talented. I bet she makes some beautiful jewelry with those beads!

Claremont First Ward said...

She's very talented! Beautiful pieces!

The Crash Test Dummy said...

Oh I love it. I love love love it and want want want some. Your talented wife. And look at you always talking about her so kindly.

Good on you!

And right now I'm listening to Jason Marz sing Lucky I'm in love with my best friend. I bet that's how you feel. Now wonder you weren't in love with me.

Hey, your verifier says kinkingo

That's my favorite word ever.

Erin said...

I love these beads! And the icicle too. I don't know if I would have the patience to make stuff like that, but I definitely admire people who can!

Deb said...

amazing. AMAZING! those little bottles are so tiny! i am in love with the beach series.

she's got a real gift. i'm glad it brings her so much joy. i wish i could do something like that with my hands. i think it would calm me and give me more of a sense of productivity.

Paige said...

What beautiful work--she is so talented!

Anonymous said...

wow dude, that's crazy to be able to make something like that - she's talented. I can't even imagine how someone would even make one of those little bottles like that. Those are great.

Unknown said...

Oh that blue glass jar is breathtaking!

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