Glasswurx artist creates a variety of objects, most of which are practical
Published: October 17, 2007, Curry County Reporter
By Steve Raymond
Kevin Whittaker considers himself fortunate. He is self-employed, supporting himself doing something he loves.
Kevin and his partner, Kathryn Cleveland, operate Glasswurx, an art glass studio in Gold Beach, located across Ellensburg from Grant's Pancake House.
Kevin moved to Gold Beach from Grants Pass, and has been working as a glass artist for over seven years. He describes himself as self-taught, but the quality and variety of his work would suggest more years in his trade, or else an immense dedication, concentration, and many hours at developing his skill.
Glass artists, generally, specialize in one or two forms of glass art, of which there are many. Most people are familiar with glassblowing. This is a very old form of glass work in which molten glass, heated and rolled on the end of a hollow tube, is blown into the desired shape by the artisan blowing into the end of the tube.
This form was perfected during the Renaissance on the Italian island of Murano, where the process was such a jealously guarded secret that the artisans were kept as slaves and not allowed to leave the island lest the guild's monopoly on the craft be broken.
Kevin is proficient in glassblowing, but it his mastery of torch-worked glass (sometimes called lamp work) that really stands out.
If one has never seen torch working, it is a little difficult to convey. A gas torch produces a flame, glass is held in the flame, and as it becomes molten, other colors are added, and the mass is spun, twisted, or manipulated with tools until the desired form and colors are achieved. If you have never seen glass formed with a torch, do stop in at Glasswurx and watch Kevin do his stuff; it is a fascinating process.
The array of different forms at Glasswurx is amazing. Kevin makes beads, but also does hollow form work—glasses, vases, lamp glass, and bowls. He also does sculptural glass. Sculptural glass consists of figures and animals (frogs seem to be a recurring theme) as well as free form sculpture.
A stroll through Glasswurx reveals the variety of projects to which Kevin applies his hand. Drawer pulls and cabinet knobs, beads, gear shifts, paperweights, bottles, bracelets, goblets with flower stems, candle holders, necklaces, rings, and thing-a-ma-bobs.
Two pieces in particular held my interest. One was a frog caught in mid-dance, holding two blue buckets, which could be used as candleholders, but suggesting the frog as an acrobatic waiter bringing drinks.
A vase, multi-colored, looked as though the dragonfly on its side was about to take flight. As a sculptural piece it was as visually engaging on its side as it was standing upright.
Glasswurx offers classes and individual instruction including advanced classes designed to help develop technique.
Kevin also hopes to bring in artists from out of town on a regular basis to hold workshops and display the work that they do.
Glasswurx does custom work, much of which is producing functional architectural detail such as drawer pulls and lamp glass, as well as things like tiles or gearshift knobs.
In an age of mass-produced everything, hand made objects are nearly an anachronism. Visit Glasswurx to see a large variety of hand made glasswork. Definitely worthwhile.