October 12, 2018

ARTIST FEATURE: Jeremy, Tyler, and Daniel

We have THREE new Experience instructors in our Hotshop this year! Meet Jeremy, Tyler, and Daniel!

Where are you originally from?

Jeremy: St. Louis & Kirkwood

Tyler: I’m originally from Wilmette, Illinois – which is a northern suburb of Chicago about 10 minutes from the city limits

Daniel: Born and raised near St. Louis. Grew up on the edge of St. Louis County.

How did you begin working with glass?

J: I attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville as a ceramics major in 2001 and started blowing glass there

T: I began working with glass in high school; they had a bead and pendant making class – after just one day I was hooked

D: My college, Missouri S&T, surprisingly had a glass studio in it so I started as quickly as I possibly could freshman year then stuck with it since then.

What inspires you?

J: Factories, environment, systems that keep buildings going such as HVAC and electrical systems and capturing the fluid nature of glass

T: I find a lot of my inspiration in my work comes from things I’ve never seen in person but things I’ve always wanted to see. An example would be stalactites, I know it may be weird but I cant stop thinking about being in a cave surrounded by hundreds of these natural mineral spike, that grow at a rate of around 10 centimeters every thousand years.

D: I love creating things, whether they have a purpose or they just look cute. It’s just great to think of some thinking and make in the real world, hopefully others will like it as well.

What’s in your toolbox?

J: Have some tools I got in Murano in 2003 when I backpacked in Europe for a month and lots of hot sculpting tools

T: My toolbox is made up of mostly classic glass blowing tools, but I’m not afraid to use a random metal pipe I find if I think it could help me.

D: Newspaper, a random assortment of hot shop color & flame working color, and glass calligraphy ink.

What are you working on now?

J: Gearing up for SOFA Chicago (an art show on the navy pier) in one month making a bunch of new Holey Bowls

T: Right now I’ve been working on manipulating classic vessel form into lighting fixtures, but I really hope to start making some stalactite forms.

D: Improving my limits on how thin I can get my open pieces and glass ink calligraphy coasters.

What Experiences do teach and what do you enjoy about teaching?

J: I do all of the types Experiences. I enjoy seeing people get excited about working with glass for the first time; it brings back good memories.

T: I only teach Hotshop Experiences every other weekend or during larger events, but I’m primarily an assistant instructor for our Path to Independence classes and our Washington University intensive course. I am the lead instructor for our Washington University Sampler class. I really enjoy teaching, I feed off the enthusiasm people bring into our shop. It’s exciting having people with fresh eyes who come up with different Ideas of things to make. For example a student in my Washington University sampler class said on the second class he wanted to make a glass horn or asked if its possible. Sure enough at the end of our last class together I got to make my first glass horn. When finished, we tested it out, and it was a functional horn. This was a very rewarding and fun experience that I may never have had, if I wasn’t teaching.

D: Any of the Hotshop and Kiln Studio Experiences. Hopefully, also the Flame Experiences if the timing is right. I always enjoy sharing my knowledge with other people and it is very exciting to see people go from complete beginners to making beautiful glass work all by themselves.

What do you love to do when not in the studio?

J: Hiking, camping, playing with my dog, and going to the lake

T: Since my time here in Saint Louis started just over three months ago, I still enjoy spending my time exploring the city and surrounding areas, always looking for gems of the city, as well as traveling as much as possible.

D: I love to cook, especially odd dishes like steamed buns and tamales. I also try to bake bread every week, store bought just can’t beat it.