Today's Most Popular Video
Apr 12, 2009 11:21 pm US/Central
Finding Minnesota: Blazing Hot, Blown-Out Art
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
If you've ever thought about trying your hand at the ancient art of glass blowing, there's a studio in northeast Minneapolis that welcomes visitors, and offers classes.
It's called Foci -- the plural of focus -- and it's the home of the
Minnesota Center for Glass Arts.
Several times a week, glass artist
Todd Cameron will arrive at the old warehouse, grab some fiery steel rods and, after some intense maneuvering, come up with glass works like you've never seen before.
"It's very personal," he said. "The work I do is, it's all inspired by my life and what I see. I get a lot of 'How do you do that?'"
It starts small, with a glowing little orb of molten glass. And it grows from there.
"It's about 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit when I start off with it," said Cameron as he dipped his growing creation in and out of the blazing furnace. "The hotter you can work it, the more you're able to accomplish."
The vase he was in the middle of creating would be made of four different colors, which he and a fellow artist added in different stages.
"Working with glass, especially large pieces, there's really no way that one person can do it by themselves, and so one of the great things about what we do here is, we all kind of help each other out."
Cameron learned most of what he knows about glass blowing at the Minnesota Center for Glass Arts. Its founder, Michael Boyd, set it up to be an open place of learning.
"Having a public studio where everybody can learn together and grow as artists is a really important thing," Boyd said. "I can't tell you how often I hear, 'I've always wanted to try that,' and then they do. They get to come in and just dig in and try it."
This isn't like other types of artwork where you can do just a little bit of work and then set it aside and come finish it later. The clock is ticking from the time you start.
"With glass," said Boyd, "once you start it, you're turning and moving with that thing until it's finished, and so you have to be very efficient."
The moment of truth comes toward the end, as the blowing begins and the vase starts taking shape, a moment Cameron refers to as the "make it or break it" point. If it's too hot, it could collapse into a puddle on the floor. Not hot enough, and it will prove impossible to blow out.
"It's very unforgiving at times, and so it humbles you," he said.
Ultimately, Cameron's four-colored vase came out something he could be proud of. It will be ready to show next weekend, at the
American Craft Council show in St. Paul.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Swimsuit Cover Model Forgot To Wear Top
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
