Vermont Glass Guild

I am a second-generation Vermont Glassblower. As a boy, I watched my father blow glass and I helped him in his glassblowing studio in Marshfield, Vermont. At twenty years old, I got my first glassblowing job at the world renown crystal glass factory, Simon Pearce. There I worked my way to becoming a team leader of glass makers. After eight years honing and refining my skills as a production glassblower, I left to pursue my own line of glass. I traveled the country studying glass and visiting numerous art glass studios, which were all quite different than the factory setting I had grown accustomed too. In August of 2000 I built my own hot glass studio in my barn in Williamstown, Vermont. I began experimenting and creating pieces of art glass that I thought were appealing and that demonstrated a mastery of the craft. Over the years my line of glassware has developed into what is now called Gabriel Glass.

The skills and techniques I use making my art glass combine ancient glass blowing methods with modern materials, resulting in a product of superior craftsmanship and quality. I gather molten glass onto a four foot long steel blow pipe. After the gather, I bring the molten glass to my workbench where I work quickly with wooden and metal tools. I shape the molten glass with wet newspaper and blow into the pipe with a rapid and methodical rhythm while it transforms from a liquid to a solid state. I add color to each piece individually as it is made, and then encase that colored layer in pure crystal for optimum clarity and brilliance. I design by evolution and every piece is a work in progress. My pieces are continuously made and refined, and over time they evolve into something new and fresh while maintaining the original concept. I aspire to bridge the gap between art and craft, form and function. My goal is to combine free-spirited artistry with meticulous craftsmanship to create my best work. Within that, I respect the individuality of every piece I create and cherish the unique look and feel of quality hand made glass.