Not Another Flame Off

[girlglass]

Okay it seems there are flame offs every where you look these days? Not that I'm complaining, because they're so much fun.... but here's an idea, and I would love some feedback.

Seattle Glass blowing studio has asked me to help organize the 'Functional Art Show' and Flame Off this year. And here are my thought;
At first I was thinking it would be fun to have a blind Collaboration Flame off. Not blind blowers of course, but pulling peoples names randomly out of a hat to pair them up with strangers, give them a bit of time to come up with a design and see what happens. But then I got to thinking.. what if you got paired with someone you couldn't work with. That would suck. So, here's my new thought;
Still a collaboration Flame Off, but you get to pick your partner. Maybe with a stipulation that it has to be someone you don't collaborate with normally. And here's why, anyone can come to a flame off and do what they do everyday at home alone. No real stretch of talent. So, I would love to see people work out of their box. Also, flameworking is such a solitary art, we don't have to work in a team like hot shop blowers. And I think serious creativity can come from being jolted out of your safe environment!
Nate had the idea of a surprise theme? Or having to incorporate an image that's drawn from a hat?
Okay anyone else?????
Any thoughts???
Sabina

[mer]

wow sabina, that's pretty intense. if you could find enough lampworkers that want to get out of their comfort zone it would probably be fun for you. i know that there are many lampers who are accustomed to these flame-offs and would probably be really into a surprise theme or other limitations but there are probably many others who would find the thought pretty scary. i think that for many people blowing glass in a public competition is already pretty far outside of the comfort zone. the standard at competitions that i've seen is usually really high in my opinion. perhaps you might consider making the colab competition be only one of the events and still have the standard events too, that way you could challenge the lampers in the competition circuit and still include people who are new to the scene.

a pre-chosen surprise theme or stricter limits as to time or materials might be an interesting challenge.

whisky shots every twenty minutes?

[Chris Juedemann]

whisky shots every twenty minutes?

In! That's ten minutes more than usual. I like the blind lampers thing too, no hints.

Seriously, the names out of a hat is the best idea. It would be like picking teams in grade school otherwise, the weird kid always gets picked last. If someone drew my name for instance, they could take what ever awful glob I come up with and make a jail cell around it, or shape it into a likeness and hang it by a noose, and on and on. Just because a person doesn't have great glass skills, they might have exceptional vision. And if they don't, wouldn't that challenge you even more?

The whole idea of glass competition circuit makes me ill though.

Chris

[menty666]

How about what basically amounts to a game of pictionary? Let people pair up with whomever, but each team draws a word and keeps it secret. They then make something that represents that word and those in attendance have to guess what it is. Most corrects wins.

[Ben Burton Glass]

I dig the name out of a hat idea! I like the randomness it provides... Which also provides a challenge in escense that a goblet maker might be paired up with a marble maker, or a pipe maker and a bead artist... it could be two totally different styles that would have to find a way to work together to create something within the abilities of the two artists... The flame-offs ARE fun, and the caliber of the work IS very high, but that's what makes it interesting, everyone pushing the bar and perhaps having to work out of that usual comfort zone is a way to break boundaries and realize new possibilities!!!

I enjoyed the EGS Flame-Off I competed in, in august, my first one, but definitly not the last... I didn't win anything, but I got to work alongside at least 100 years of talent and experience with all the artists lined up side-by-side... It was agreat experience all around!!! There were tons of amazingly talented artists and the work was unreal!!! Everyone was friendly and cool and open to sharing and talking and whatever!!! Although, they do give out prizes and offer 1st through 3rd places, you shouldn't think of it as a 'Competition,' but more of a gathering of brilliant minds all devoted to our art and all working to push the limits of our medium, to create something that elicites a "WOW" from the people that see it!!! And have you guys seen the prize list by the way??? The prizes make it worth enough to enter and give it a go anyways!!!

Just my thoughts on the subject...

What's the dates on that Sabina??? I'd like to check it out, just depends on how much plane tickets are at the time....

Aloha!

[vetropod]

I concur!!! Name out of the hat sounds like the most challenging and fun (at least in hindsight :D )

[Ben Burton Glass]

Hindsight??? wouldn't it be foresight??? or Foreshadowing or ESP?? Hmm??

aloha!

[vetropod]

I meant hindsight as far as the folks actually doing the collab - could be a bit crazy and frustrating while in the mix, but looking back it would be different...

Doesn't make much sense to me right now, either. :puzzled:

[VinE]

In! That's ten minutes more than usual. I like the blind lampers thing too, no hints.

Seriously, the names out of a hat is the best idea. It would be like picking teams in grade school otherwise, the weird kid always gets picked last. If someone drew my name for instance, they could take what ever awful glob I come up with and make a jail cell around it, or shape it into a likeness and hang it by a noose, and on and on. Just because a person doesn't have great glass skills, they might have exceptional vision. And if they don't, wouldn't that challenge you even more?

The whole idea of glass competition circuit makes me ill though.

Chris

I second that sentiment. The name out of the hat idea sound pretty bad ass. I always thought the concept of a glass competition was kind of oxymoronic.

[Wierdeer]

hat idea kicks ass I'd be down,When ?

[jusbag]

Sounds like fun. Would be cool to try and push the limits a bit with this many lampers put together.

[bc]

I like the idea about pulling names out of a hat, can't work with them, oh well.

[kraig]

names out of a hat rocks. I was at a flame off up there this year and it rocked! hope you get it going

[girlglass]

Thanks guys, I'm surprised everyone likes the name out of the hat idea! And I'm still open to more feedback. Sorry I didn't mention the date;
The event will be held on Saturday February 23rd. Saturday will include Demos/ Mini classes, the flame off, raffle and award presentation. BIG day!
I would also love to hear from people who think they'll be around and what they think of the 'out of the hat' idea, as they will be the ones affected.
Sabina

[CCody]

hi Sabina
that sounds like alot of FUN!
names out of a hat to make teams? that sounds cool!
topics out of a hat too? that sounds cool also
I could probably make it up to seattle in february
I have been a fan of Iron Chef for years(its a cooking competition gameshow in Japan) someday there will be a show like this for lampworking! your idea sounds kinda similar, but better! TEAMS! and would each team have different topics? or the same?
I would love to be involved! It does not feel "competitive" to me. It seems like a CHALLENGE and alot of fun to melt glass and share ideas with all of you cool people.
:blowkiss:
christina

[CCody]

oops i double posted

[wildfirelauri]

I'm listening. Keep me posted Sabina!