Glassblowing

CHRIS TAYLOR

Glass can be blown traditionally, as in through the mouth then a long blowpipe into hot glass where it can be made to take shape. It has also been found to have been blown naturally as in Limu o Pele, a Polynesian term that refers to the phenomenon of hot lava reaching a water source whereby lava is inflated into giant bubbles by the steam generated by the extreme heat. The effects of expanding air within the walls of a hot glass bubble can and will be manipulated in this course. Immediately, we will pursue a refined understanding of traditional glassblowing. This will include a rigorous series of exercises designed to advance hand skills; including in depth analysis and discussion of the nuances of the process of glassblowing. These exercises and skills will help facilitate exploring a thoughtful deviation into the unknown. Too often the approach to experimentation is understood to be exclusive of the hyper-technical and to some how be contrary to true creativity. In this class skills will be exploited not celebrated in order to either understand something so completely that it illuminates a personal achievement or could be manifest in physical work that demonstrates the transformation of the understood into the curious.
Glassblowing, mold-making, mold-blowing, tool making, are just some of the techniques we will use in this course. We will be blowing glass extremely thin for most of this class.
Discussions and presentations will also help to cultivate a spirit of urgent curiosity for the duration of the course.

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* An additional €20 registration fee is charged during application
** The amount of deposit to be paid is €300
*** The accommodation is full board and the fee is € 35 euro per person/per night in room for 3-4 people. Single and double rooms are limited.
Please click www.glassfurnace.org/yeni/kampus_en.php link for details.