FAQs

FAQs

Answers to the Most Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What do you have available?
    There are two ways to view available work:
    - Check out what galleries have by clicking through the various gallery links on my site.  If you see a work on a gallery's website you like, please contact that gallery.  Most work is one-of-a-kind, so they are the only source for the piece you like.
    - Check out the "Available Work" section on this website.  Please feel free to request a password and bookmark it so you can check back to see what's new at any time.
  2. Can I commission something in specific colors or size?
    Sure, feel free to contact me via the 'Contact' form.
  3. How do you get the detail and pattern in the glass?
    The techniques I use are referred to as 'cane' (rods of glass) and 'murrine' (patterned tiles).  It's all handmade by me in a time-consuming and exacting process. See In the Studio for photo essays on how it's all done.
  4. Your work is Italian in style; are you influenced by Lino?
    Every American glassblower working today has been influenced by Lino Tagliapietra.  "The Maestro" changed glassmaking in the U.S with his first trip to Pilchuck in '79.  But the Italian techniques of cane and murrine popularized in the last hundred years by the Muranese originated in the Middle East over a thousand years ago.  So while I share technique with Italians, I also do with Egyptians.  As far as direct comparisons to Murano, my work is imported by a gallery into Vienna, Austria because "Murano doesn't make work this detailed or vibrant"  and I'm told my style is distinctive from others who use related techniques.  While I appreciate other work in glass, I try to avoid seeing other murrine work because I want to maintain my own voice.
  5. Do you ever get burned?
    Sure, but it's usually pretty minor.  The glass is crazy-hot so it's rare to inadvertently touch it.  Glassblowers mostly get burned on a hot tool or piece of equipment.  But after doing it for many years what's hot and what's not are second nature so even minor burns are infrequent. I'm more likely to get cut on cane when I'm setting up work.
  6. Why is molten glass orange?  I don't see you making that much work that's orange.
    When any glass is really hot it will glow orange.  The colors aren't accurate until the piece is cooled fully--usually the next day.
  7. Where is your studio?  Can I visit?
    My studio is inside of Public Glass (the Bay area's center for glass art) in San Francisco.  I'm always happy to host visitors; just shoot me an email or use my contact form to send me a message with when you'd like to visit and if you'd like to see glass being made, the finished work or both.  
  8. Do you have residencies available?
    Sorry, I don't. I have excellent assistance in the hot shop when I blow glass and an assistant to cut murrine, so those roles are covered.  The rest is really involved and labor-intensive and I like to do it myself.  
  9. Can I take a class with you?
    No.  I've taught a couple in the past and found I didn't enjoy it and I'm way too busy making my work anyway.
  10. Do you know X?  He's totally ripping off your work.
    Yup, there's another glassblower who I gave advice to years ago who then decided he'd duplicate my work as closely as possible.  His professors at his school told him to take down all the photos of my work he plastered all over his studio and to stop copying my work, but to no avail.  I've had discussions with him as well and he doesn't get it--no artistic (or personal!) integrity.  Even his classmates contacted me about copycat.  Oh well, I guess I should be flattered.
  11. Do you show at SOFA/ART Palm Beach/internationally?
    Yes, I've shown at SOFA for many years.  See the Exhibitions/Shows page for info.

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