2010 Gallery:
A bub I made with a very new color at the time called Deppe's Darkness. Mark Twain once said that "everyone is a moon and has a dark side which they never show to anybody.
Collab with Darby Holmes
It was a huge honor to get a chance to hang out with Darby Holm a pioneer in the glass world. I went down to his studio in Grants Pass Oregon to see if I could get lessons. When I was there, he surprised me by asking me to make a sculpture for the tube he was working on. This resulted in being one of my first ever collaboration projects, and gave me the confidence I needed to pursue other mega projects in the years to follow. I've gotta give much appreciation to Darbys beautiful and clean style of work. He has been one of my hugest inspirations in glass. In fact, I doubt I would be where I am with out the support of him and his beautiful family. Thank you.
Allow me to introduce you to Firenze and Collette. These lovely ladies are fully functioning tubes at about 20 inches tall. Firenze is a hot tempered redhead, while Collette has a cool calm way about her. These ladies are no exception to the rule that opposites attract, which is apparent in the way they cant keep their hands off each other.
Glassroots 2010 Competition Piece
If you had told me in 2004 on the very first day I sat down to melt glass on a torch in Northern California, that making pipes would take me to New York, Phillidelphia and many other places, I would have told you your bat shit crazy. But thats exactly what happened when I had the honor of partnering with the infamous M Slinger for the glass roots flame off competition in 2010. We really were partners in crime. Making glass pipes by day, littering the town with our tags by night. Perhaps sometimes the best way one can give back to humanity, is to rebel against society.
Inline rig made by Rodger. This collaboration was made in Grants Pass Oregon.
This was a series of pieces I did in preparation for the DFO #4. The yellow and purple piece was made in Bellingham WA. The green lady is the actual piece I made at the DFO. I don't know about you guys but, looking at these pieces kind of makes me want a fat stack of pancakes.
Collaboration with Jake C
This is a piece between myself and Jake C. We made it for the Seattle Night of Boro. It's a stemless bub and is about 16 inches tall. I made the flowers and Jake made the piece. This is one of our first collaborations.
Collaboration with Jake C
Ruby Tube is the first collaboration with Jake C. in Bellingham WA.
Smoke Signals was part of the Uprising Series I did in preparation for the 2010 National flame off in Las Vegas.
Starla is one of only two female figures I did in all white. Completed after I took home first prize in a competition in Las Vegas, this piece symbolized my mantra in that moment which was to "Reach for the stars..."
Three things I learned during the making of this piece...
1. There is a correct time and place for trying new sculpture Ideas. I suppose I should have tested my original idea for this piece on a smaller scale... When it didn't work out, my three day piece had to be reconstructed which then turned it into a five day piece from hell. Baby steps....
2. Don't give up. I believe I came in contact with my spirit animal on day four. Seconds away from throwing my precious blossoms against a wall, he a came to me an said "Lace... you've been at this for days now, make it your bitch, and don't let her get the best of you!" Who knew a squirrel would be an expert on patience and determination? Just sayin...
3. Don't be in debt. I like money. Who doesn't right? So when someone hands you a grip of cash for a "Special piece" It's probably a good idea to make the piece first. Then collect the loot. The mindset of going into a project like this needs to be of pure motivation, because otherwise it's really going to piss you off when you pour five days of your life into a project only to realize at the end that you got paid three months ago. Now your dope piece has energetically sucked you dry and your late on rent. Good times.
Tangled Blossoms is an 18 inch stemless bub. It's made entirely of amber purple and dark amy.
Collaboration with Buck
I dreamed of a Pirate Ship while driving up the Oregon Coast to do a collaboration project with Buck. Along with the help of Joe O'conell from the Cornerstone in Eugene, It took three of us over two weeks to complete this massive project. I can not say that any project before or since taught me more about glass. We blared pirate music while dreaming up new ways of constructing parts and pieces, fearlessly pushing the limits of what can be done with borosilicate glass and what can be called a pipe.
I had the pleasure of having the amazing Dosher come up to my studio in Bellingham WA. We summoned the Jedi power and after two and a half days of intense battle, (and good food), we came out victorious. The forces of love, beauty and brotherhood ruled the land once again...
There will be more to come with this duo in the near future. The force is with us and may it with with you all as well...
I went down to Eugene to kick it with Dellene Peralta. We spent three days on this piece. Dellene constructed the tree and I made the figure and hair attachments. A great amount of teamwork was used put it all together and it was probably the most fun I've ever had making a piece. The tree is definitely a symbol of the awesome time I had in Eugene. It was a pleasure working with another female glassblower.
The Amber Purple was the last lady in the Uprising Series. She was completed at the 2010 Flame off competition in Las Vegas Nevada. This piece was also in the HIGH TIMES article featuring the Las Vegas National Flame-off Championship. “Flame Off in Vegas” July 2010.
Photo by Jeremy R. Derks.
Trapped was part of the Uprising Series I did in preparation for the 2010 National flame off in Las Vegas.
Photo by Jeremy R. Derks.