cullet shortage

[Greg Vriethoff]

Several users are commenting they are experiencing loose hardware in bags (boxes?). Second pic is a different user than first pic.

The two that sounded more alarming to me are the ones reporting metal shavings. Little harder to pick out.

[Pete VanderLaan]

I have been asked on more than one occasion to evaluate an insurance claim on a pot.

It's like putting bees in their heads.

[Pete VanderLaan]

Originally Posted by Greg Vriethoff

Several users are commenting they are experiencing loose hardware in bags (boxes?). Second pic is a different user than first pic.

The two that sounded more alarming to me are the ones reporting metal shavings. Little harder to pick out.

****
That's a serious charge. When Dobern pushed their production up by about 35% it made maintenance impossible.

[Shawn Everette]

I've been fortunate to not have had much of any issue with cullet, even when I was forced to buy the system "seconds". A trashcan full of batch seems to be fair game for anyone. Students, or the public, pay little mind to what is actually in a can.

[Shawn Everette]

I can only imagine the amusement. "So let me get this straight, you have a 2000* pot in your garage?"

[Pete VanderLaan]

Originally Posted by Shawn Everette

I've been fortunate to not have had much of any issue with cullet, even when I was forced to buy the system "seconds". A trashcan full of batch seems to be fair game for anyone. Students, or the public, pay little mind to what is actually in a can.

*****
I'm coming from an entirely different place. I want to see quality glass made for artists who will produce work that can be admitted to the Corning museum as representative of a point in time wher glass is being used to make impeccably crafted exploratory things that can be placed in an environment which celebrates 4500 years of curiosity and quality. There are about 1500 different individuals in that span. It's damn small.

Be one of them.

[Pete VanderLaan]

Originally Posted by Shawn Everette

I can only imagine the amusement. "So let me get this straight, you have a 2000* pot in your garage?"

***
I've been asked by a court of law to explain how a pot might have leaked, and then stopped leaking.

In my world, they don't do that.

[Shawn Everette]

I've learned long ago to make what I want with what I have available. Sometimes quality is more than materials.

[Pete VanderLaan]

Originally Posted by Shawn Everette

I've learned long ago to make what I want with what I have available. Sometimes quality is more than materials.

****
I certainly agree with that but from what I normally see, great glass quality often supports great designs. On the other hand, too many people treat their primary material like it was dogshit. Serious collections want to see serious quality. They get really fussy.

[Mark Rosenbaum]

Originally Posted by Pete VanderLaan

****
Serious collections want to see serious quality. They get really fussy.

Serious collectors/collections are few and far between. To make a living in this field, you need to make work that has more mass appeal. I try to make the best work that I can with the variables that I am given. If it is cullet instead of batch, or bought color instead of home-made, then that is what I will do to keep my business running at a profit. It is my business model and may not be the same for everyone, but it has served me well for the last 35 years...

[Shawn Everette]

I haven't really come across a collector, or glass that's been a contender for collection, where glass quality has been that much of an issue. If we're talking about some of what makes it into new glass review, then I know what you're talking about.

I've learned long ago that the best trait in an artist is adaptability, keeps you from getting stale. I'll never forget the GAS speech from Bertil, where he talked about his assistant totally funking up his tank with too much cobalt, and instead of tossing it out he made an entirely new body of work. Sometimes attempting perfection makes you boring, and insane. It's glass man, you gotta go with the flow.

[Pete VanderLaan]

and I spent the bulk of my career dealing with people who simply were not going to purchase a piece with a bubble in it. At the prices asked, with all those zeros before the decimal, absolutely clean materials were expected. That was true of tank glass as well as optical laminations.

I recall glassblowers having absolute shitfits over imperfections in their colors.
Now? Just use frit and shards.

The market has indeed changed. Glass is quite common now and at one time that was not the case. I am glad to no longer be trying to sell glass.

[Larry Cazes]

Originally Posted by Shawn Everette

I haven't really come across a collector, or glass that's been a contender for collection, where glass quality has been that much of an issue. If we're talking about some of what makes it into new glass review, then I know what you're talking about.

I've learned long ago that the best trait in an artist is adaptability, keeps you from getting stale. I'll never forget the GAS speech from Bertil, where he talked about his assistant totally funking up his tank with too much cobalt, and instead of tossing it out he made an entirely new body of work. Sometimes attempting perfection makes you boring, and insane. It's glass man, you gotta go with the flow.

New Glass is far from about the glass

[Shawn Everette]

That was my tongue in cheek jab at the publication.

[Shawn Everette]

Oh I understand that, I also know that I came into my own when collectors were jumping ship to protect their portfolios. Execution and craftsmanship are paramount, but on the sliding scale I'll take interesting over perfect any day. I'll also prefer the Getty over Corning.

I get way more joy out of making objects that people enjoy, rather than trying to appease glassblowers and collectors. The type of feedback you get from outside the echo chamber I also find more useful.

[Larry Cazes]

Originally Posted by Shawn Everette

That was my tongue in cheek jab at the publication.

I assumed so. I was serious as well.

[Shawn Everette]

The problem that I've generally had was that while they're accepting of things that challenge the "tradition" glass, they're not really doing it objectively through an artistic lens. Had it not been done before? Sure, still doesn't mean it was done well. I disdain screen grabs from a "performance". Performance art, theater no one is willing to pay a ticket for.

[Greg Vriethoff]

Originally Posted by Shawn Everette

...no one is willing to pay a ticket for.

Does payment validate it as a "work of art?"

[Greg Vriethoff]

Originally Posted by Shawn Everette

I'll also prefer the Getty over Corning.

^^^^^^
Why?

[Pete VanderLaan]

Originally Posted by Greg Vriethoff

Does payment validate it as a "work of art?"

****
Like Banksy?

[Larry Cazes]

Originally Posted by Greg Vriethoff

Does payment validate it as a "work of art?"

Of course not.

[Pete VanderLaan]

See Thomas Kincaide, Lord of Light...

I think a more insightful way to look at it is Why do we use glass as a medium. Some incorporate it in their work as a component and don't necessarily work with glass all that frequently. Many of us use it exclusively and call ourselves "glass Artists" which I have long thought to be odd. I don't know any Bronze Artists or Marble artists so why is that so commonly stated. If it's the case that it is kind of hard to make things out of glass then I guess I would say I worked in glass and let someone else annoint me. I could say I was an artist and I think that's sufficient but to be a "Glass Artist" is somehow supposed to do, what? Time there was when it was really rare but not now.

As to art, I haven't a clue. It's been an argument forever I think but for the most part it's an exclusionary stance. "I am one, you're a craftsman, you scum." Ferd had it down. You were never going to be shown at Habitat if you did ACE shows. Never. Marvin said that if you had shelves in your "Gallery" you were really just a shop. All exclusionary. Dale understood that the pond of qualified customers for Art was actually pretty small and that if other mediums managed to keep glass qualified as a craft that it was going to restrict his splashas well as his sales. They understood that the annointed wanted to keep those sales to themselves. They did fight it but to his great credit, he was the toe in the door. He'll never have a show at the MOMA. They on the other hand are smarter than that.

[Greg Vriethoff]

Something I have found annoying over the years is people that spend a ton of energy promoting themselves as a "glass artist" only to be frustrated when people don't view them as just an "artist." You pigeonholed yourself. When my mother-in-law insisted on designing business cards for me (she does it professionally, and is a really good graphic designer for being self-taught) she asked me "don't you want it to say 'Glass Artist' under your name?" I said to just leave it blank. She was very puzzled by my response.

On the other hand I'm reminded of a story John Leighton once told. He was working on a series that were made using sand cast bronze and black glass. A gallery owner saw them and wanted him to get in touch. During the phone call it came out that he mainly worked in glass. The response was something to the effect of "sorry, we don't deal in glass art."

So, there's "blame" to go around on both sides.

Dale is no Peter Voulkos.

I'm only one voice, and I can only speak of my own experience. I've never looked down my nose at anyone's craft practice. I have, however, been on the receiving end of vitriol from people that staunchly identify as "craftsman/woman/person/whatever." I don't know. Maybe they've had to put up with a lot of shit about it.

Yes, I believe there's a difference between art and craft. I don't want to argue about it. It's tired. The only time I address it is in my Art Appreciation classes. It's not a hill I'm willing to die on.

One of my favorite quotes of late on the subject comes from Chris Burden (RIP). During an interview about a recent work he was asked "but is it art?" His response was "Well, it's art if someone says it is. The real question is whether or not it's any good."

[Barb Sanderson]

Originally Posted by Pete VanderLaan

***
I've been asked by a court of law to explain how a pot might have leaked, and then stopped leaking.

In my world, they don't do that.

Yeah just one of the impossible claims from thieves....
Barb

[Eben Horton]

Originally Posted by Barb Sanderson

Yeah just one of the impossible claims from thieves....
Barb

Do you have closure on that fiasco yet?