2015-16
Blown glass and rope
dimensions vary, largest buoy is 12 in (30cm)
My first introduction to the concept of glass blowing was through my grandfather. He had a collection of Japanese glass buoys that I absolutely loved to play with as a child. One day he explained to me what these were made for and where they came from but his explanation just mystified me even more. Glass is a hard material so how could someone inflate it? Why would these beautiful objects be the thing that made the most sense to toss out into the middle of the ocean for fishing?
That same grandfather also new that I was going to be an artist one day and one day while driving through Boston he pointed out the Massachusetts college of Art and Design and told me that I was going to go here there one day.This piece is a tribute to my grandfather who introduced me to the concept of glassblowing and someone who always prioritized education.
This piece was created during my career at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design where I studied Glass and Art Education, and earned a BFA of 3D Fine Arts with a concentration in Glass. This piece is designed to be an interactive installation where the audience is encouraged to touch and play with the piece. I wanted to share and capture the feeling I had as a child when I first discovered glass buoys and was able to roll around with them.
