Let's talk about "Vólta"

[christopher]

I hope I'm not busting some copyright by quoting a section that is too long from Bandhu Dunham's book, I hope he would go along with it in the name of artistic discussion. This is from contemporary lampworking:

“In Italian, or maybe just in Muranese, the glassworker’s term vólta refers to the best system of executing any given design. This can be compared to the way mathematicians use the word “elegant” to describe and especially clever, efficient, and graceful solution to a problem. The vólta is the method of executing a piece that brings the easiest and most consistent success, that gives the most professional result and which makes the best use of the inherent properties of glass. Given the expenses of running a professional glass studio, it probably also the method that makes the best use of materials, fuel, and overhead.”

So, what do you all think? I've been wanting to post this thread for a long time. Is there a "right" and "wrong" way? I finally decided to post it because the points vs. blowtube thing has come up again, stick stack vs. Eusheen's way(laying stringers i/o to completely cover the inside of a tube), one hand up vs. both hands down. . .etc.

I'll keep my opinion to myself, but I'm curious to see how you all feel about it.
Wonder if I'll start a brawl with this one?;)

Chip

[ScurvySee]

I don't really think there is a right or wrong way. There are ways that are better to achieve certain goals, but I have seen videos of guys blowing glass in a hotshop like plumbers. Just ripping it off the pipe, it's all about what yer going for.

[WORLD FAMOUS]

Hmmm. good one Chip! In my opinion...Is there really one best way to do anything? Yes and no.

I think there are many things that we can logically/scientifically/mathmatically break down if we really get into it, like basic production costs, and most efficient way to break down tubing (points vs. bliwtubes), etc. while techniques such as the best way to wigwag, or best way to do a blowout are difficult to compare with so many variables such as fuel pressures, color batches, kiln settings, etc.

My point is this, with so many variables, it's really hard to prove there is 'one best way to get X accomplished', and it would be a much easier statement to agree with if we all had the exact same torches, same pressures, same regulators, same batches of color, etc. Many times people adapt to their own unique settings and setup, often resulting in multiple variations of achieving the same common design.

Examples? Some say oxidizing flames will yield the best results for dichro, and some claim the opposite. Some say reducing flames for exposed crayon colors, some say the opposite. Some claim the high yield of a rod encasement is absolutely worth the extra time spent and potential materials wasted, versus other methods. Kiln temps, coe problems, boiling issues, silver striking, etc. The 'best way' is in every situation mentioned, arguable according to a seemingly infinite # of variables.

I can agree that there may be a best way to accomplish a design with each different glassblowing setup, but it would be hard to agree all the time with the statement that there is a 'method of executing a piece that brings the easiest and most consistent success' with so many variables out there.

Just another .02

[WORLD FAMOUS]

Fun drinking game: Slam down a beer for everytime I say "Variables" in my last post.

[somberbear]

umm its all finding your personal one... finding works best and gets what you need. not the one definitive way of doing any thing..... its not a universal concept. its using what your strong at to the best of your advantage.

[Firekist]

i like the idea of it more than the possibly reality of it.
on a personal level, it seems more feasible to me.

i wonder if this is the new art (craft) vs Art debate.

i'd like to hear what some 20+ year fulltime production workers would say, because after 5, as i try new variations in method, am i able to see some subtle improvements in different approaches.

early morning hmmings
z--seth

[FredLight]

I mildly disagree. There was no option for that.

I get a feeling from the word "Volta", I don't know if it's right, but "return" is what I feel it means.

We ,as individual artists, have found many new ways to accomplish these things. When we share them with each other we all grow. A return, in my opinion, would be a step back to the days when the results of our trial and error were not openly shared.

Maybe I'm way off. That's possible.

[schmoinkel]

Everyone has diffrent experiances that guide them in exicuting a piticular tech. And diffrent tools, there body for one, heat source, hand tools.....ect. Mathmatitions all use the same tools, numbers. Plus, what looks right to ones eye may not look right to anothers.

I'm going to have to disagree with volta. There is definatly more than one way to...............


Scott

[christopher]

I mildly disagree. There was no option for that.

I get a feeling from the word "Volta", I don't know if it's right, but "return" is what I feel it means.

We ,as individual artists, have found many new ways to accomplish these things. When we share them with each other we all grow. A return, in my opinion, would be a step back to the days when the results of our trial and error were not openly shared.

Maybe I'm way off. That's possible.

Fred,

Being the accounting type, when I think "return" (I don't know if that's what the italian word means - pretty similar to spanish, though) I think of return on investment, i.e., what technique gives you the best andmost efficient return on the time, materials, etc., invested in the piece.

[$$$$$$$]

hopefully rigles jumps in here.. if it isn't his way it's wrong..

[brettodie]

well i cant give you 20 yrs of prodo experiance but i have 10. i have certain items that ive made the whole time or some variation of it. what ive found is a continual refinement of what i do till i hit a point where the gains diminish to the point where changing anything in the process doesnt make enough of a difference. normaly when i change something its adds a small amount of time somewhere in the process and takes away some elsewhere. my goal is to build a balenced looking piece in the least amount of time i can. i dont belive in short cuts that sacrifice quality for time. every onie,spoon ect. that i make represents me and my ablities and i want to be proud of the products i offer and that can add time to a piece. volta i feel is there i make onies,ive made 10's of thousands of them over the years.i have a process for them that never varies,so is that volta? is it the process of refining till there are no improvments to be made to the process....over the years ive picked up alot of techs that i feel have improved my quality and process in all aspects of everything i make.its a continual learning curve of ups and downs with smaller downs as times go on. i think you can achieve volta as a blower within the context of your knowledge and capabilities.practice practice practice and dont be afraid to change the way you do things if you see something that may be and improvment,dont let the ego slow down your learning and progress as a artisan.enjoy the change and evolution of your style and process. peace brett

"The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood." MLK

[UmaJulz]

We may each have our own personal Volta, within our own set up and skill set, but I don't think that you could state that there are universals. There are just too many variables.

Besides isn't it the manner that we manipulate the variables that makes it our art, and not just generic production?

**edited to add the I googled "volta" and whle there are a lot of interesting topics, this one seems to be one expression of the idea:
"Volta (disambiguation) is the name for a change in subject matter or "turning point" in a sonnet, from Italian for "turn".
also:
"Volta: The place at which a distinct turn of thought occurs."

does anyone have other links/info for more reading or reference?

[mer]

i'm sure that there are some situations where we reach the most efficient means of completing a task but that being said i have some problems with the concept of volta. for one thing i think that it can be limiting to believe that a process cannot be improved upon. when we stop trying to find ways to improve then stagnation is sure to follow. also i'm sure that what we are doing in borosilicate is constantly evolving. all of the new processes that have been invented in the boro world are evidence of the rewards of thinking creatively about the possibilities that are available to us. new styles necessarily involve new ways of thinking about glass.
peace, m

[UmaJulz]

I don't think that the way that Bandhu has described Vólta implies that it is static nor finite, and therefore, limiting or unevolving.

[mer]

i'm not even trying to dismiss dunham's incredible work or writings, but i cannot find anything in my copy of contemporary lampworking that would suggest that a technique would continue to evolve after finding it's "volta". i may misunderstand the stated concept........ all the things i don't know could fill a book (or a library). i certainly mean no disrespect.
peace, m

[somberbear]

how can you stop a tech from evolving or refining?

But there is confusion in what the term means please let ups define it. Contemp lampworking is a start. let us explore this. he took it from some where so there is more to it then i believe a blurb in a book.

With this maybe we can come up with our own def. of it or decide it does not apply to what we do.

Then we can add it to the wiki and fight over it there over time so time we can move on to the next big question in concepts

peace
rob

[UmaJulz]

No, not saying you were dissin' Dunham at all, not at all. And I am certain that my book of unknowns is bigger than most's- I have a long way to go.

I think that the concept of Vólta could be expressed at a perfect moment in time when everything is just as right, correct, perfect as it could be, for that moment. In the next moment, it could be different; it could be the same, but it would be its own moment.

Maybe it's a vólta point- not a fixed and repeatable set of techniques and conditions... just a perfect moment when everything flows. A zen moment, not fighting with the medium, the conditions, our own shit- a perfect creative moment.

I found this glossary of terms while hunting around, looking for stuff about vólta in this sense: http://www2.josephwright.com/prod/default.asp?page=/prod/glossary.asp
Don't know the guy, don't know the validity of the content, but thought it was an interesting find.

[nickglassdood]

dood i go to volta all the time its above the hempest

[The Bigles]

ok, Adam. Someone told me that my name was mentioned in this thread so I guess I have to post now.

I agree with Volta or the concept or whatever. If you guys stop to look at it the other way it'a pretty easy. It's hard to say, "This is the best way to do this." But it's pretty easy to say, "Hey, what the fuck is taking you so long? That technique isn't that hard."

You know you've all seen someone (probably named Nicky) make something some really stupid way and have it turn out great. Unless someone tells them that there is a better/faster way they won't know because they're getting the result that they want.

So there are definately BETTER ways to do things. And if some ways are better than others then there is likely to be a best way. Or in some cases a couple different "best ways". There also could be some techs that have a lot of equally valid approaches. But those techs will still have some obviously wrong approaches.













And for the record, Adam gives me shit all the fuckin time about talking to people about "how I do things." When someone is doing something differently than I do (usaully Adam) I say what I would do and say why I would do it and then ask WHY they do what they do. No one ever seems to fucking know WHY they do something. If someone was doing something differently than me and they could explain WHY their approach was better than mine I would switch to their approach immediately.

I think Adam in particular usually does know why he does something but he acts like he's not quite sure just to be a dick. so people put hotsauce on his cupcakes.

[dislexei]

Many people live there lives by Volta, the whole world seems to. But for those few who don't feel the need to live by others rules, they find the liberation of creation from it's root source. The human spirit and intuitevness must come from it's own stream, with that anything is possible. Volta is good for the amature, to an extent, but the creativness needs to be able to flow in a stream of conciousness.

We all know how working with glass gets us into the here and now. At that given point in time. The use of techique and and all the knowledge we aquire is used. Once we figure out the order of events and the cause and effects, we start to build a routine.

Propper technique and a propper understanding, is a must, but fallowing a list of protocals to the T is hardly making art. Self expression is key. Understanding is key, but to fallow someone elses path, is misleading to ones self. You got to go your own way at somepoint.

[Alex Boyd]

I 100% believe in volta as a goal. As something to aspire towards. It means always looking from different viewpoints to try and find a better way. It insures progression. That being said, I don't believe volta truly exists. As an artists i never want to find volta. That would mean I would stop searching for a better way. But I always want to be searching for it.

[mer]

I 100% believe in volta as a goal. As something to aspire towards. It means always looking from different viewpoints to try and find a better way. It insures progression. That being said, I don't believe volta truly exists. As an artists i never want to find volta. That would mean I would stop searching for a better way. But I always want to be searching for it.

word.

[Steve Sizelove]

I'm down with the idea of volta. Iny many ways its a matter of efficiency. And I agree with the people that have said that it is subjective. I think you could also use the word "dynamic." My understanding of the concept changes as my skill set changes.

Maybe volta is the glassblowers Nirvana? Have you attained volta?:contempla

[Swampy]

As a lateral thinker I constantly strive to find ways of doing the same thing.

That often leads to other branches of the tree.

Branches of different trees look similar.

The beauty if it is, the forest is vast.