Gathering

Until the glass is collected it rests in a complete liquid state inside a crucible, which sits enclosed in an insulated brick furnace. The temperature inside this oven reaches temperatures of over 2200 degrees Fahrenheit. For the majority of the glassblowing process, the furnace is sealed off by a door, which can be easily opened to gain access to the glass inside.

The artist reaches into the glass with a 5-foot long hollow steel pipe called the blowpipe. By slowly and evenly turning the blowpipe in the glass, the artist is able to capture the glass on the end few inches of the steel. At first the artist is faced with the challenge of evenly turning the pipe so the glass, with honey-like consistency, won't drip off the end. Later in the process, as the glass cools, the artist is no longer concerned about the glass falling to the floor but instead with the piece falling off center. Although the glass does not stay in complete liquid form for very long, it is constantly in threat of warping due to uneven turning while hot.

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