One of the things that has happened during this pandemic tragedy is my branching out into experimenting with glass. This adventure started before the pandemic, as I was enrolled in a beginning glass class at Ohio State University. Part of this class was an introduction to glass blowing. We had half a semester before the university had to shut down due to a stay-at-home mandate that was initiated in early March.
With the university shut down the glass studio was closed and that was the end to glass blowing for the semester. We had just started to learn about warm glass techniques (e.g., glass fusing in a kiln) right before spring break (the university switched to online following spring break). I was able to borrow a small kiln to continue my exploration at home so I started to make 4X4 inch glass tiles for a remodeling project. I enjoyed glass fusing so much that I ordered a kiln for myself, which took nearly three months to receive because all the factories were closed during the early surge of the pandemic.
Once my kiln arrived I was able to make space in my detached garage for a glass workshop. I've been doing lots of fun things in glass, including a technique called "fossil vitra." This is essentially converting organic material into glass fossils. I've been playing with leaves and inflorescences. I really like the result of these experiments. (Check out my Etsy shop for my fused glass work: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtByAndiWolfe?ref=seller-platform-mcnav).
This semester I was able to enroll in another glass class at the university. The studio was able to implement safety protocols that allowed us to get back into the hot shop for glass blowing. I had a weekly blow slot to myself, which resulted in a lot of experimenting. One of those experiments is being used for a new piece that I'm working on for an AAW exhibit next summer. The exhibit is "Elements," and I'm one of the invited artists. For this piece I am combining woodturning and some glassblowing work. I have to say that I am really, really enjoying this work. I sketched out my idea, gave a lot of thought to what I wanted to make, and it's actually happening.
Small fossil vitra dish with Japanese maple leaves.
Small fossil vitra dish with Penstemon.
Elements–work-in-progress.
Elements–work-in-progress.
Elements–work-in-progress.
Elements–work-in-progress. I’ve started to fit my glass pieces to the woodturning.