Glass is Salsbury’s passion. He manages the kiln studio, teaches classes, produces commissions and awards, and is a featured artist in the HotShop Gift Gallery. Because of his kiln-formed glass acumen, he has instructed at Corning Museum of Glass and Pittsburg Glass Center, been twice recognized in Corning’s New Glass Review – a list of 100 artists representing what new in glass, and most recently invited to sell his work at Urban Glass Gallery, Brooklyn.
- What fired your glass journey? I was a pottery major. Then I took a glass class. It was similar, yet different. I loved the immediacy of the glass process, the seductively hot material, and working with people. I’ve never looked back.
- Why kiln-formed glass? It’s like a magic trick: “I’m gonna take this glass, put it in a box (kiln) and let it sit there for 12 hours (various temps). Open the box and – presto – it’s transformed.”
- What custom work do you do? Sinks, replacement work for light fixtures, large wall pieces, and lots of awards. Awards are fun because you’re designing harmony in a small shape.
- How many do you make in a week? It could be one — or 100! Last week I made 50 awards.
- Whew! How do you keep fresh? Creativity is really observation. You can train your brain to notice things. For example, I started noticing vessel shapes everywhere when I started taking pottery classes. The vessel shapes were always there before; I just didn’t see them.
- What is your personal work like? Functional pieces so art can be enjoyed daily. Clean and minimal. A balance of pattern and quiet space.
- And Urban Glass Gallery? How did that come about? They emailed “… We love your kiln-formed glass pieces. We haven’t encountered work like yours. We don’t know if you’re currently represented in New York, but we’d like to open the conversation…” Of course I said yes! And I’ve sold every piece I’ve sent to them.
- What still surprises you about working in glass? That I get to do it for a living. 🙂
- When not in the studio, what do you like to do? Ride my bike, play disc golf, and make home brew.
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