Best place to visit and/or live (in USA) for glassblowers?

[Bunyip]

As the years go by, I find myself more and more interested in spending time with fellow flameworkers... I started out as a soft glass beadmaker some 10 years ago and recently proceeded to working solid boro (marbles/pendants etc) for couple of years now. I'm moving into working with tubing and more sculptural/artistic types of stuff - slowly but surely with my limited torch time...

It seems like South Florida is a bit of a wasteland glasswise - There are flamworkers here - but they're thinly spread, or maybe they're just hiding from me (bad breath?)... The few I've met have been really cool, it just bums me out that there's no cohesive group down here (unless they're hiding like I said). The beadmaker ladies, on the other hand, have been very warm and friendly - it's too bad that I've lost my interest in making mandrel beads...Central Florida definitely has some guys who are into glass, but it's along ride to hang out with them, so it doesn't happen often.

So where is the glass scene hot <cough> - either for a visit, or even a potential move (that is if I could sell my house and somehow not lose money)...

[mer]

west coast, LA to seattle you're sure to be around boro. eugene is where i'm at, there are more glassblowers per capita than anywhere i know of, it's definitely hot <cough>; glass school, two great supply stores, rental stations ...and of course, the degenerate flame off! we also have friendlier glassblowing weather (if you don't mind temperate rain).

this can help you find cost of living comparisons. (http://www.bankrate.com/calculators/savings/moving-cost-of-living-calculator.aspx)

[filthy god brother]

eugene woohoo!

[iwishiwascool]

eugene is like glass heaven!

[Bunyip]

I currently live in FL ... where it rains all the time, and I grew up in the SF Bay Area, so temperate rain was a winter fact of life. So Eugene is # 1 in our countdown? What's the # 2? ...and where are #'s 3 and 4 for that matter? Is there good action in San Jose (where I grew up?)

[barefoot stash]

Florida has a great scene. Most of the cultural affiars (art, clubs, etc)in the Miami area wax and wain fairly quickly. You should check out the rest of state. I'm over on the the west coast in St. Pete. Between St. Pete, Sarasota, and Tampa there is about a strong an art scene as your going to find anywhere these days. I lived on the east coast (Melbourne)for many years. It's was beautiful and I had a great time there, but it was almost culture shock moving over here. You should also check out what Sky and Sarah have going in Gainesville and while your headed that way, keep on trekking to Jacksonville and say hey to Josh and Lance.
The summer may suck for a couple of months, however I'll take that over 4 months of hard winter any day.

[marcel]

Seattle.

[Chubbles]

There are a shit ton of glassblowers in the Tampa Bay area.

[mer]

Seattle.

haha, says the guy from eugene lol. but he's right, seattle and portland both have large glassblowing communities and cool folks.

[Bunyip]

I didn't know Tampa Bay was a hotbed of glassy activity... I've met a few guys who don't live in the S. FL area, but very very few down here... really just two now, and one moved to CA I think. Most of the Florida guys I've met are like Orlando area or above - a good 2-3 hour drive depending on how speedy I'm feeling... Too many retirees down here I think...

[Mecha]

Hold on one minute Bunyip.

You are right near the very epicenter of the glass universe. Ever hear of Sinbad, the third generation master?

Sure the west coast may have a little talent here and there, but we're talking about Sinbad. I mean, come on. His work is triple blown.

[Bunyip]

I've never heard of Sinbad (http://www.myspace.com/glassblower707) until today... but you know...now that I've heard of him... I'm gonna get me a vid-eee-ooo lessson!

edit: In all seriousness, is there some crazy underground Miami or Broward glassblowing scene? I'm so disgusted with what passes for culture down here in every other form maybe I missed it.

[LifeGlass]

Holy shit, who wants to throw in on an hour lesson?

Dude we gotta, we have to request the "Triple Blown" Lesson, please somebody......

[lucidvisions]

I'm current;y looking at Asheville, NC. Four seasons, mountains, great art scene, Penland, and housing/land is reasonably priced. Currently we're in Jacksonville Beach, FL and if the beach wasn't across the street from our studio I would go completely MAD!

Josh

[barefoot stash]

Sure sure, break out then surrender monkey!!

[RamblezMarblez]

Ithaca NY The winters sux though

[OpenFireGlass]

There's quite a glassblowing scene here in Humboldt County, CA.

PEACE,
Naomi

[Bunyip]

MmMmMmm... Humboldt...

So basically the Pacific Northwest is just riddled with glass people.

[mouseclone]

I see that Atlanta is not making the short list here. I know of a few here in the Atlanta area. I don't think that there are are tons though. Everyone seems to know about Flametree Glass in Rosewell, but I have only meet 3 blowers in person, and 2 were at Flametree Glass.

[Cosmo]

Asheville, NC is pretty happening for glass. I've heard good things about Eugene and the surrounding area too, but never been there...

[glasspapi]

I have been to quite a few cities and always try and check out the glass scene as much as possible.

The two cities I love are...Seattle which definetly has some sweet glass, but there overall art scene is really gallery oreintated from what I can tell.

Portland, (I live here), definetly has a lot of glass workers whether that be lampworkers, fusers, off hand, stained glass, or beaders, there are a lot. While portland has a big gallery scene, the faire/festival/art show scene is huge. There are Art fairs on a yearly basis for many of the different neighborhoods here in Portland (at least 10+ just in the city and not suburbs), 2+monthly art walks with HIGH HIGH volume traffic, and random art events for "handmade" items. So if you are into the more, what I like to call gypsy vending there is plenty of oppurtunties for a lampworker. Especially if you arent keen on working for some prodo shop or trying to hit up headshops constantly there are many places to sell.

I think cities with a big art scene definetly get my vote. Art scene as in antigallery antiwine antilookatmelookatme!


oh did I forget the portland saturday market??? blah!

[Sparkey]

I lived in Chicago and, while there are many talented glassblowers there, I had trouble finding instruction (without being quoted an obnoxious hourly). I'm in Eugene and find the people here much more willing to discuss techniques and I can get amazing artists to work with me for $20 an hour.

I'd say anywhere in the PacWest, from Humboldt up to Seattle would be a great bet.

Josh

[Bunyip]

Sweet. Places to go in case I have to dip out to avoid getting a hurricane in the face...

[st-pete-glass-crew]

if you wanna blow glass move to tampa bay area aka the burg

[Snurf]

Colorado has a lot of glassblowers, and a decent economy. Beautiful mtns, epic mtn biking, hiking, great Snow, 300 sunny days a year.... If you like that kinda thing

[Bunyip]

Colorado has always been on my short list! The Southwest area is looking good - Don't know if I am up for too cold of weather, I lived in Vermont long enough to know better - it's great to visit (Snow Sports!) but living there gets old. I like being near enough to drive but not near enough to have to shovel snow :)