glass is an alchemic blend of sand and metallic oxides combined with
metallic oxides combined with
metallic oxides combined with extraordinary blinding heat the result
extraordinary blinding heat the result
extraordinary blinding heat the result is a material that flows and drips like
is a material that flows and drips like
is a material that flows and drips like honey
honey
honey when it’s hot glass is alive
when it’s hot glass is alive
when it’s hot glass is alive it moves gracefully and inexorably in
it moves gracefully and inexorably in
it moves gracefully and inexorably in response to gravity and centripetal
response to gravity and centripetal
response to gravity and centripetal force it possesses an inner light and
force it possesses an inner light and
force it possesses an inner light and transcendent radiant heat that make it
transcendent radiant heat that make it
transcendent radiant heat that make it simultaneously one of the most
simultaneously one of the most
simultaneously one of the most fascinating and one of the most
fascinating and one of the most
fascinating and one of the most frustrating and technically challenging
frustrating and technically challenging
frustrating and technically challenging materials for an artist to work with the
materials for an artist to work with the
materials for an artist to work with the glass itself is unforgiving and the
glass itself is unforgiving and the
glass itself is unforgiving and the glass gods are all-seeing and utterly
glass gods are all-seeing and utterly
glass gods are all-seeing and utterly malevolent one single misstep in the
malevolent one single misstep in the
malevolent one single misstep in the mixing or the melting or the making or
mixing or the melting or the making or
mixing or the melting or the making or even the cooling of glass results in
even the cooling of glass results in
even the cooling of glass results in shattered glass and failure I was
shattered glass and failure I was
shattered glass and failure I was looking for the largest building I could
looking for the largest building I could
looking for the largest building I could possibly find for the least amount of
possibly find for the least amount of
possibly find for the least amount of money when I bought this farm in western
money when I bought this farm in western
money when I bought this farm in western Massachusetts in 1976 I took it as a
Massachusetts in 1976 I took it as a
Massachusetts in 1976 I took it as a good omen when I found several handmade
good omen when I found several handmade
good omen when I found several handmade marbles outside the kitchen window and
marbles outside the kitchen window and
marbles outside the kitchen window and when I brought them inside and washed
when I brought them inside and washed
when I brought them inside and washed them off they were just as bright and
them off they were just as bright and
them off they were just as bright and fascinating as they were the sunny
fascinating as they were the sunny
fascinating as they were the sunny summer afternoon they went missing maybe
summer afternoon they went missing maybe
summer afternoon they went missing maybe 70 years before when kids were called in
70 years before when kids were called in
70 years before when kids were called in for supper the first visitor that I ever
for supper the first visitor that I ever
for supper the first visitor that I ever had to my studio was a schoolteacher and
had to my studio was a schoolteacher and
had to my studio was a schoolteacher and when I told her what I did for a living
when I told her what I did for a living
when I told her what I did for a living she asked me if I would be willing to
she asked me if I would be willing to
she asked me if I would be willing to demonstrate glassblowing to all the
demonstrate glassblowing to all the
demonstrate glassblowing to all the eighth graders in the county and I
eighth graders in the county and I
eighth graders in the county and I readily agreed not realizing that that
readily agreed not realizing that that
readily agreed not realizing that that decision would take me and my work
decision would take me and my work
decision would take me and my work flying in a totally
flying in a totally
flying in a totally direction glass glass furnaces are kind
direction glass glass furnaces are kind
direction glass glass furnaces are kind of like farm animals they need to be
of like farm animals they need to be
of like farm animals they need to be looked after intended to both day and
looked after intended to both day and
looked after intended to both day and night month after month year after year
night month after month year after year
night month after month year after year walking back and forth between my studio
walking back and forth between my studio
walking back and forth between my studio and my my house I couldn’t help but be
and my my house I couldn’t help but be
and my my house I couldn’t help but be amazed by dawn and the night sky
thunderstorms down the valley and
thunderstorms down the valley and Aurora’s and all the other natural and
Aurora’s and all the other natural and
Aurora’s and all the other natural and celestial phenomenon that I would that
celestial phenomenon that I would that
celestial phenomenon that I would that just surrounded me and it’s not really
just surrounded me and it’s not really
just surrounded me and it’s not really amazing that all of that came out and
amazing that all of that came out and
amazing that all of that came out and started to come out in my work what I
started to come out in my work what I
started to come out in my work what I didn’t realize was that there were
didn’t realize was that there were
didn’t realize was that there were zillions of eighth graders in the county
zillions of eighth graders in the county
zillions of eighth graders in the county and that I’d inadvertently agreed to
and that I’d inadvertently agreed to
and that I’d inadvertently agreed to give a demonstration every Wednesday
give a demonstration every Wednesday
give a demonstration every Wednesday afternoon for months and months and this
afternoon for months and months and this
afternoon for months and months and this is my furnace this is my studio at night
is my furnace this is my studio at night
is my furnace this is my studio at night it looks kind of medieval but in fact my
it looks kind of medieval but in fact my
it looks kind of medieval but in fact my studio is a modern makerspace for glass
studio is a modern makerspace for glass
studio is a modern makerspace for glass that with history and roots that go back
that with history and roots that go back
that with history and roots that go back at least 2,000 or more years now I don’t
at least 2,000 or more years now I don’t
at least 2,000 or more years now I don’t know if any of you have ever known an
know if any of you have ever known an
know if any of you have ever known an eighth grader these are people who will
eighth grader these are people who will
eighth grader these are people who will suffer no boredom whatsoever in their
suffer no boredom whatsoever in their
suffer no boredom whatsoever in their lives they were not the slightest bit
lives they were not the slightest bit
lives they were not the slightest bit interested in me making vases or bowls
interested in me making vases or bowls
interested in me making vases or bowls or bottles I thought about the marvels
or bottles I thought about the marvels
or bottles I thought about the marvels that I’d found outside my house and I
that I’d found outside my house and I
that I’d found outside my house and I began to make cats eyes and swirly
began to make cats eyes and swirly
began to make cats eyes and swirly marbles and things like that for them
marbles and things like that for them
marbles and things like that for them and they seem to like that but one night
and they seem to like that but one night
and they seem to like that but one night I was thinking about this photograph and
I was thinking about this photograph and
I was thinking about this photograph and I was thinking about Neil Armstrong and
I was thinking about Neil Armstrong and
I was thinking about Neil Armstrong and when Neil Neil observed he said I put up
when Neil Neil observed he said I put up
when Neil Neil observed he said I put up my thumb and shut one eye and my thumb
my thumb and shut one eye and my thumb
my thumb and shut one eye and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth I didn’t
blotted out the planet Earth I didn’t
blotted out the planet Earth I didn’t feel like a giant
feel like a giant
feel like a giant I felt very very small and of course if
I felt very very small and of course if
I felt very very small and of course if you get the right distance in the right
you get the right distance in the right
you get the right distance in the right perspective our world which seems so
perspective our world which seems so
perspective our world which seems so limitless is just a little blue marble
limitless is just a little blue marble
limitless is just a little blue marble floating in the black void of space so
floating in the black void of space so
floating in the black void of space so the next day instead of making marbles
the next day instead of making marbles
the next day instead of making marbles for these kids I began to make planets
for these kids I began to make planets
for these kids I began to make planets for them planets are just a simple
for them planets are just a simple
for them planets are just a simple sphere but they’re visually compelling
sphere but they’re visually compelling
sphere but they’re visually compelling and they give me a chance to use every
and they give me a chance to use every
and they give me a chance to use every conceivable glass technique that I’ve
conceivable glass technique that I’ve
conceivable glass technique that I’ve ever learned and I found that they
ever learned and I found that they
ever learned and I found that they managed to transcend age and gender and
managed to transcend age and gender and
managed to transcend age and gender and culture and language and religion and
culture and language and religion and
culture and language and religion and sometimes even time now in the past 40
sometimes even time now in the past 40
sometimes even time now in the past 40 or 50 years my planets have taken me all
or 50 years my planets have taken me all
or 50 years my planets have taken me all they’ve travelled all over the world and
they’ve travelled all over the world and
they’ve travelled all over the world and I’ve gotten to go with him on occasion
I’ve gotten to go with him on occasion
I’ve gotten to go with him on occasion in this case to Saudi Arabia and my work
in this case to Saudi Arabia and my work
in this case to Saudi Arabia and my work in Kuwait I even got to meet the Pope
in Kuwait I even got to meet the Pope
in Kuwait I even got to meet the Pope and I was really worried when he reached
and I was really worried when he reached
and I was really worried when he reached out his hand to shake my hand I thought
out his hand to shake my hand I thought
out his hand to shake my hand I thought my own hand might start to burn and
my own hand might start to burn and
my own hand might start to burn and shrivel proving proving once and for all
shrivel proving proving once and for all
shrivel proving proving once and for all that everything that my mother said
that everything that my mother said
that everything that my mother said about me when I was a kid was true I’m
about me when I was a kid was true I’m
about me when I was a kid was true I’m not sure what has held my attention
not sure what has held my attention
not sure what has held my attention about class for the last nearly 50 years
about class for the last nearly 50 years
about class for the last nearly 50 years I know it’s not just the chemistry or
I know it’s not just the chemistry or
I know it’s not just the chemistry or the color or the heat or the complexity
the color or the heat or the complexity
the color or the heat or the complexity of it I think sometimes it’s just the
of it I think sometimes it’s just the
of it I think sometimes it’s just the sheer challenge to make anything at all
sheer challenge to make anything at all
sheer challenge to make anything at all out of a 2,000 degree unruly and
out of a 2,000 degree unruly and
out of a 2,000 degree unruly and uncooperative liquid it’s just this
uncooperative liquid it’s just this
uncooperative liquid it’s just this amazing material so I’ve been committed
amazing material so I’ve been committed
amazing material so I’ve been committed since I started to blow glass to making
since I started to blow glass to making
since I started to blow glass to making every single piece every single piece
every single piece every single piece
every single piece every single piece that leaves my studio is something I’ve
that leaves my studio is something I’ve
that leaves my studio is something I’ve made myself often and always but with
made myself often and always but with
made myself often and always but with the help of my assistants
the help of my assistants
the help of my assistants I’m going to show you how I make a mega
I’m going to show you how I make a mega
I’m going to show you how I make a mega world I begin by spending sometimes
world I begin by spending sometimes
world I begin by spending sometimes weeks or months making the little tiny
weeks or months making the little tiny
weeks or months making the little tiny pieces that go inside and just as our
pieces that go inside and just as our
pieces that go inside and just as our world started out as a molten mass mind
world started out as a molten mass mind
world started out as a molten mass mind you too
you too
you too I begin by taking a small little gather
I begin by taking a small little gather
I begin by taking a small little gather on the end of my blowpipe gathering up
on the end of my blowpipe gathering up
on the end of my blowpipe gathering up layer after layer after that to first
layer after layer after that to first
layer after layer after that to first make an inner world that you might not
make an inner world that you might not
make an inner world that you might not see if you’re looking at it from the
see if you’re looking at it from the
see if you’re looking at it from the outside unless you turn it over each
outside unless you turn it over each
outside unless you turn it over each succeeding layer I do something else too
succeeding layer I do something else too
succeeding layer I do something else too in this case I’m putting continents on
in this case I’m putting continents on
in this case I’m putting continents on now get it hot and I’ll add little tiny
now get it hot and I’ll add little tiny
now get it hot and I’ll add little tiny fragments of glass that are made ahead
fragments of glass that are made ahead
fragments of glass that are made ahead of time some of them are quite
of time some of them are quite
of time some of them are quite complicated and they become walled
complicated and they become walled
complicated and they become walled cities or geological features or I often
cities or geological features or I often
cities or geological features or I often put gold and silver on the planet’s
put gold and silver on the planet’s
put gold and silver on the planet’s surface actually silver accounts for all
surface actually silver accounts for all
surface actually silver accounts for all the blue colors in my work I use the
the blue colors in my work I use the
the blue colors in my work I use the dental drill sometimes to engrave the
dental drill sometimes to engrave the
dental drill sometimes to engrave the glass and a torch to heat up little
glass and a torch to heat up little
glass and a torch to heat up little pieces of glass that can add color it
pieces of glass that can add color it
pieces of glass that can add color it has to be reheated back and forth in the
has to be reheated back and forth in the
has to be reheated back and forth in the furnace over and over again in order to
furnace over and over again in order to
furnace over and over again in order to keep it liquid and on each succeeding
keep it liquid and on each succeeding
keep it liquid and on each succeeding layer it gets heavier and bigger and it
layer it gets heavier and bigger and it
layer it gets heavier and bigger and it becomes really it’s kind of like
becomes really it’s kind of like
becomes really it’s kind of like watching like me and my team I think
watching like me and my team I think
watching like me and my team I think it’s kind of like watching a bunch of
it’s kind of like watching a bunch of
it’s kind of like watching a bunch of football players try to do ballet it’s
football players try to do ballet it’s
football players try to do ballet it’s really exhausting you can’t stop once
really exhausting you can’t stop once
really exhausting you can’t stop once you start a piece you have to go all the
you start a piece you have to go all the
you start a piece you have to go all the way through to the end I warm up my
way through to the end I warm up my
way through to the end I warm up my gloves pick this piece up and I’ll put
gloves pick this piece up and I’ll put
gloves pick this piece up and I’ll put it into a cooling oven it’s actually at
it into a cooling oven it’s actually at
it into a cooling oven it’s actually at about just shy of a thousand degrees
about just shy of a thousand degrees
about just shy of a thousand degrees where it’ll stay for up to 16 weeks I do
where it’ll stay for up to 16 weeks I do
where it’ll stay for up to 16 weeks I do make other work and lately I’ve been
make other work and lately I’ve been
make other work and lately I’ve been completely enamored with making plates
completely enamored with making plates
completely enamored with making plates or discs that are meant to be my idea of
or discs that are meant to be my idea of
or discs that are meant to be my idea of what it’s like to look through Hubble’s
what it’s like to look through Hubble’s
what it’s like to look through Hubble’s lens at some distant universe or that’s
lens at some distant universe or that’s
lens at some distant universe or that’s a whole photo right there and a close-up
a whole photo right there and a close-up
a whole photo right there and a close-up of one of my place
I’d like to introduce my crew of planet
I’d like to introduce my crew of planet makers half of them work part-time but
makers half of them work part-time but
makers half of them work part-time but these are incredibly skilled people and
these are incredibly skilled people and
these are incredibly skilled people and they are incredibly helpful and they all
they are incredibly helpful and they all
they are incredibly helpful and they all absolutely are dedicated to having a
absolutely are dedicated to having a
absolutely are dedicated to having a good time I also want to introduce my
good time I also want to introduce my
good time I also want to introduce my wife Katie Collman I make planets but
wife Katie Collman I make planets but
wife Katie Collman I make planets but katie is an absolutely amazing explorer
katie is an absolutely amazing explorer
katie is an absolutely amazing explorer of planets out of 2700 applicants in
of planets out of 2700 applicants in
of planets out of 2700 applicants in 1992 NASA chose three women to be
1992 NASA chose three women to be
1992 NASA chose three women to be astronauts and Katie was one of them
astronauts and Katie was one of them
astronauts and Katie was one of them she’s made two space shuttle flights and
she’s made two space shuttle flights and
she’s made two space shuttle flights and her third flight was aboard a Russian
her third flight was aboard a Russian
her third flight was aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket launched from the Baikonur
Soyuz rocket launched from the Baikonur
Soyuz rocket launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan where she spent
cosmodrome in Kazakhstan where she spent
cosmodrome in Kazakhstan where she spent almost six months in space and of course
almost six months in space and of course
almost six months in space and of course she brought along one of my little
she brought along one of my little
she brought along one of my little planets a little planet in orbit in
planets a little planet in orbit in
planets a little planet in orbit in zero-g
zero-g
zero-g in orbit around our little planet
in orbit around our little planet
in orbit around our little planet floating in the black void of the
floating in the black void of the
floating in the black void of the universe thanks
universe thanks
universe thanks [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
”
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