New Member in the Gallery is Michael F. Bland who began blowing glass by taking classes at Pitzer College in Claremont CA. The studio work gave him a break from his technical studies at Harvey Mudd College toward an engineering degree. Mike was featured in the Claremont Collage making a fish using his glass blowing skills. Years later as he was winding up his engineering career Mike discovered studios in the Bay Area (Bay Area Glass Institute and Public Glass) and found that like riding a bike, certain traits once learned, become ingrained into our nature and thus began blowing glass again.

Mike currently is focused on creating optic blown vases/bowls and crackleware. Optic molds are metal forms that enable ridges to be formed in a blown part. Crackle is one of the oldest glass blowing decorative features created by dunking the still partially formed glass into water producing the intriguing surface cracks and texture. The piece stays intact because the interior of the part is still liquid. Most of the bowls/vases he creates incorporate colored glass frit (small chips of colored glass). A colleague of Mike’s provided some special frit that enables the part to glow when exposed to black light (UV) illumination. Since rediscovering glass blowing Mike is challenged to create unique artistic pieces incorporating random textures, color mixtures, and shapes.

Outside of glass blowing Mike is an avid swimmer and amateur triathlete. Mike can be contacted at mfbglass@comcast.net.

Nova Starling is Guest Artist for November & December. Stop by the Gallery to see her painted silk scarves!