It’s been
almost 7 years since I registered for a glassblowing course at Urban Glass on
Fulton Street in Brooklyn. In my late-20s and early-30s, very few things could
get me to rise early on the weekend, but glassblowing sure did. It was so
exciting to try something new. And while it turns out that I’m actually a
terrible glass blower (I thought my experience with sculpture would help, but
it didn’t) it was so much fun to try.
The fruits of
my glassblowing labor bore a few sad looking vessels and something that vaguely
resembled an ashtray, which is not practical at all since I’m not a smoker. I
also managed to salvage a sort-of mortar & pestle combo that I proudly
display in our kitchen, but it was meant to be something else (which I can’t
remember now).
I guess what
I’m saying is this: glassblowing is incredibly difficult and just because you
want things come out a certain way, doesn’t mean they will. Adding color and blowing
elongated forms or elaborate shapes is no easy task. The technical precision,
along with the tremendous amount of patience required to have complicated designs
(or even simple ones) come to fruition, makes me appreciate the work of Dale
Chihuly and his Studio even more…
Chihuly at theDenver Botanic Gardens is simply stunning. The glass pops with color and
texture and the placement of the forms - largely inspired by nature - are integrated
throughout the gardens and the pools.
Try and visit
the garden on an overcast day, in the late afternoon. That’s when we went - the
temperatures were a bit cooler and the crowds were a little bit less intense. I
can’t wait to go back at night and see the sculptures when they’re illuminated.
Chihuly has
inspired me…and I think it might be time to try glassblowing again. After all,
it’s been 7 years and in that time most of my scars have completely faded…
Enjoy!
