Talking Out Your Glass Podcast

Ben Sharp’s artistic focus developed out of his longtime fascination with early aeronautics and the history of navigation. In developing his sculptural style, Sharp drew from engineering, geometry and mapping, and studies of proportion, balance, and light. His visually captivating and seemingly weightless sculptures incite a nostalgic sense of adventure. Avoiding trite whimsy, Sharp juxtaposes industrial metal with centuries-old cane techniques to subtly reference the stitched netting and structures of hydrogen air balloons, zeppelins, and dirigibles. His work refers not only to flight, but alludes to the mysteries of science and the journeys of the human imagination. Originally from Gainesville, Florida, Ben Sharp lives in Stanwood, Washington. He is currently Head Studio Technician at Pilchuck Glass School. Prior to joining Pilchuck’s team six years ago, he gained diverse experience working in fabrication at the National Casting Center Foundry, on scientific glassblowing projects for NASA, and in color prod

Nicholas Parrendo’s Labor of Love “Stained glass is put together with lead, and lead is flexible to allow the glass to contract and expand. If you want to live a long life, you’ve got to be flexible.” Artist and owner of Hunt Stained Glass Studios in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Nicholas Parrendo spent his career in service to the studio and the multitudes of churches and synagogues for which he designed and fabricated or restored stained glass windows. His absolute reverence for the craft he undertook as young man is evident in his artwork as well as the many related endeavors he participated in throughout his career that spanned more than six decades. Parrendo exhibited work for and is a member of both the American Glass Guild (AGG) and the Stained Glass Association of America (SGAA). He was presented with both organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award – SGAA’s in 1999 and AGG’s in 2009. As a senior advisor for the AGG, Parrendo participated in the organization’s conferences and exhibitions. In 2012, when AGG

In this interview from Glass Art magazine's archives, Tina Oldknow, former Curator of Modern and Contemporary Glass at The Corning Museum of Glass, discusses the museum's new Art + Design Wing. She also reveals her criteria for Rakow Commission award recipients and how museum donations were secured and incorporated into CMOG's collection. Part 2 of 2.  

Have you ever wondered how artists are selected for The Corning Museum of Glass' survey of cutting edge glass - New Glass Review? Well this is the podcast for you! To celebrate the Glass Art Society's conference being held in Corning, New York, this weekend, Talking Out Your Glass podcast presents a two-part interview from its archives. This conversation with Tina Oldknow, former curator of modern and contemporary glass at The Corning Museum of Glass, begins with the evolution of Oldknow's career in glass. She also discusses her favorite special exhibitions and how her view of contemporary glass and glass artists has evolved over time.  

The Big D.R.M.S. Project, Ben Belgrad's philanthropic glass enterprise, combines stems designed by collaborating artists with Belgrad’s borosilicate cups and glasses. Each color used is associated with a unique charity, and for every purchase, a minimum $100 donation is made. Belgrad attempts to partner with charities that have little to no overhead in terms of operational costs and staffing. Belgrad discusses the origins of The Big D.R.M.S. project and how collectors and artists can get involved.

The biggest deterrent to people donating funds to charitable organizations is the fear that their money will not reach those in need but be squandered on overhead and administrative costs. This motivated Dr. Laura Schlessinger, America's number one relationship talk show host, to seek out Operation Family Fund (OFF), a private, non-profit, volunteer, charitable organization benefitting military veterans. An avid glass enthusiast, Dr. Laura devised a plan to use her glass art to raise money for OFF.  Her online Mother's Day Boutique sale of fused glass and jewelry takes place April 27 - May 2, 2016.