Jun 6, 2015 | Tools-of-the-Trade |
“Frog Speaks” sand-blasted glass window by Clarissa Rizal – 2001
Back in 2001 I had the privilege to apprentice with two glass artists Preston Singletary and David Svenson at the Pilchuck School of Glass. We were working on the glass pieces that were inserted into the totem pole that David had designed to honor the 30-year anniversary of Pilchuck. The main body of the totem pole was carved at the Alaska Indian Arts in Haines, Alaska by Wayne Price, John Hagen, Steven Brown, Lee Heinmiller, David and others. While at the school, Preston encouraged me to use some of the school’s other studio spaces, like the print-making studio, or the sand-blasting area, etc. I learned how to prepare a plate of glass for sandblasting so I could create an embossed, limited-edition print of one of my favorite button blanket images called “Frog Speaks.” I kept the glass plate; since it’s been a part of my window decor in my studio. Maybe someday I’ll make a second edition of this print OR maybe someday I’ll make a series of embossed prints — just never know!
Sep 20, 2013 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Honoring Others, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Glass Tlingit “Baskets” by Preston Singletary
Directly after the retreat with Sue Shotridge and Melissa Rinehart, Sue and I went to visit our friend, Preston Singletary. For those of you who don’t know Preston yet, he’s that artist who does the Native designs on glass. He’s got a studio in Seattle equipped with lots of glass forms stuffed in shelves, boxes for shipping, packing material and 5 employees. The guy and his team really produce! Holy! — If you are interested in doing glass, go talk to the man. Click her to check out his website!
Preston’s studio is nearby Seattle’s Space Needle
David Svenson is another fantastic artist, working mainly in neon art living down in the mountains above L.A. – He used to live in my beloved Haines, Alaska back in the early 70s and 80s where he learned how to carve from the old masters, Leo Jacobs, Johnny Avatok and another elder whose name just slipped my tongue, dang it! Back in the early 80’s David suggested to Preston that he begin to put the Native designs on glass – that’s the story I heard, but ask the fellows to get the sure story because I may be wrong.
Sandwiched between two favorite buds: Preston and David
What can I say about these three artists above? Birds of a feather flock together. I didn’t really GET that saying until I had a lovebird years ago. My Lovebird “Kiwi” taught me many things about being human; get that…it took a bird to teach me about being human. Hmmm…go figure.
Shelves of glass forms by Preston Singletary waiting to be completed
I wasn’t sure how Preston’s employees would feel about me taking photos of them while they were working so I didn’t. I don’t even know how Preston feels about me posting photographs of his unfinished work on my blog in this public forum yet who gets to see art in their “naked” stages(?) nobody; I better contact him and see if it is okay to show them “naked”, incomplete. I am proud of this guy; I feel like he’s my younger brother. He’s got quite the dedicated group of folks; he’s a fortunate man to have these crew members. In fact, I gotta say that I am generally proud of my fellow artists! They have taken the leap into the “unknown” possibilities of bountiful possibilities and realities!
Sue Shotridge, David Svenson and Clarissa – in Preston’s studio
David Svenson and the glass Bear
