As early as 1980, when Hank Claycamp began using the ash of Mount St Helen’s to create glass ornaments, Washington State has been a center for glass blowers. Knowing that the volcanic ash contained silica which is a main ingredient of glass, Hank started experimenting with the ash and used it as an integral ingredient in his hand blown ornaments. He went on to establish a highly successful glassworks company. His creativity was well rewarded and some of his glass ornaments have been displayed at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. He has since sold the Centralia, Washington business which was later known as the Original Mount St Helen’s Glassworks, and now just creates enough glass art and paintings to pay for his extensive world travels with his wife, Linda. Christmas Forest in Curtis, Washington still has a few of the Original Mount St Helen’s Glassworks ornaments available for sale.
Just around the corner from where Hank Claycamp had his glass blowing business in the 1980′s, you can now watch the talented Kevin Regan create colorful glass ornaments. Kevin started Central Glass Works in 2005 when he was only 26 years old after studying with several renowned glass blowers around the world. Beginning at age 16, he has learned from the best glass blowers such as Scott Darlington of Seattle Glass and Kelsey Murphy of Pilgrim Glass. He also worked at Waterford Crystal in Ireland. Kevin’s family run business includes his wife Rebecka who is also a glass blower and they welcome visitors to their studio in Centralia, Washington.
The folks at Glass Eye Studio give credit to the Pacific Northwest weather as part of the reason why so many glass blowers set up shop in Washington state. They say that the cool temperatures help balance out the extreme heat created by the glass blowing process. They are constantly coming up with new designs and beautiful ornaments which you can purchase from The Pacific Northwest Shop.
The Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington is definitely a part of the hub of glass blowing artists, and has generated interest in glass ornaments and glass art in general. They encourage young artists through their education programs and guest lectures as well as daily viewings of glass blowers at work. You can even try your own hand at designing an ornament and the museum artisans will fire it for you.
It goes without saying that the Pilchuck Glass School has had a tremendous influence on the number of glass blowers working in Seattle and the surrounding areas. Hundreds of new artists have been trained since the school was founded in 1971 by glass artist Dale Chihuly and patrons Anne Gould Hauberg and John H. Hauberg and the Pichuck Glass School is the only international glass school in the world. Students flock to the school at Stanwood, Washington annually from around the world for the summer educational programs and many of them choose to stay in Washington to set up shop and become a part of the Pacific Northwest glass blowing community.
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Our third visit was with Leonda of Browning, Montana who uses colored glass to create vibrant ornaments. She says that her favorite ornament is the red buffalo which has real buffalo fir for the tail. She cuts the colored glass into the shape that she wants, and then she uses copper to enclose that shape for a finished look. She often uses copper for the tails and manes of the animal ornaments. Leonda has a great assortment of ornaments mostly depicting Montana life and animals. The pretty blue horse above is so nice that we brought it home to display in our office. An experienced artist who has worked with art glass for many years, she will create custom ornaments for you if you call her at 406-338-3158.
