Visiting Artist Series
June 14-15, 2013
Jeff Mack  Glassblowing

Jeff Mack Is a glass artist and the manager of the glass studio at The Toledo Museum of Art. He has worked in glass for 20 years in contexts including master glass blower, factory stem maker, artist's assistant and gaffer for internationally recognized artists. Jeff has keen interest in the study of historic glass and is committed to the advancement of glass as an expressive artistic medium. He has taught extensively, demonstrated internationally, and his work can be found in galleries and collections throughout the World.

Jeff gave a free hotshop demonstration for the public on the 16th.

Jeff taught an intensive workshop focused on the basic principals of vessel making at the furnace. Through close observation of demos and fundamental practice, students learned from his experience and approach to better understand and communicate the basic dynamics of the glass blowing process with its unique visual language.

Students examined the dynamic correlation of gravity, material viscosity and plasticity (things out of our control for the most part) to timing, movement and tooling (things we can control) to better understand how to most effectively realize form and prepare the glass for simple color and patterning techniques. Examining these principals with focus can serve as a new foundation as well as a renewal to the glass blower who wishes for continued growth and fundamental understanding.

The program was funded in part by the Glass Alliance of Northern California.

> Watch video of Jeff making an Ampolina (YouTube)
> Visit Jeff's website

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