The art of glass blowing is so intriguing and captivating to watch. The process is almost like a dance since one has to keep moving and time everything just right to keep the temperature of the glass just right. I’ve watched glass bowers, creating orbs that are the size of a beach ball and it kept me on the edge of my seat hoping it wouldn’t break the larger it became. It’s a beautiful process to witness.
When I met Joseph at the studio he works at in Columbus, OH, he was going to make a piece that would be the handle of a beer mug of some kind. The process starts with molten glass that is a little over 2,000 F, once the temperature is reached then the shaping and blowing begins. The glass is on a long rod and has a hole on the ends to blow into and that air expands the glass. From there more glass can be added and the glass must be heated over again so it doesn’t cool down before the shape is finished. When glass is being shaped it looks like gel form and it’s interesting to see how it can be twisted and moved into different forms.
One he was finished with the piece, it was the cooled down in water and cut from the pipe. He lastly set it to cool in an annealer, which is like an oven, except it cools glass at a controlled rate and temperature.
The talent and skill involved with glass blowing is so amazing and if you ever get the opportunity to view it being made, I promise you won’t be disappointed.