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<font size="+1">Google Alert for: <b>glassblowing</b></font>
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<a style="color: blue;"
href="http://www.ridgwayrecord.com/articles/2006/05/04/news/news02.txt">St.
Marys man master of unique artform</a><br>
<font size="-1"><font color="#666666">Ridgway Record - Ridgway,PA,USA<br>
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<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.ridgwayrecord.com/articles/2006/05/04/news/news02.txt">http://www.ridgwayrecord.com/articles/2006/05/04/news/news02.txt</a><br>
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<div align="left"><span class="detailheadline"></span><span
class="byline"></span> <span class="timestamp">Thursday, May 4, 2006
2:43 PM EDT</span><br>
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<p class="content" align="left">When
the subject of art arises, one often pictures painters on secluded
hillsides, potters molding gently by hand or a sculptor prying life
from dead stone. St. Marys resident David Kuntz can attest that there
is much more art has to offer than that and it can be every bit as
beautiful. Kuntz creates his art from glass. </p>
<p class="content" align="left">Kuntz
got his start in Florida at the University of Miami seven or eight
years ago utilizing a kiln to create what are called “warm” glass
pieces. Beginning in Fort Lauderdale, he soon joined a guild in Miami
who, after receiving his help rebuilding after Hurricane Andrew, taught
him the delicate art of glassblowing in a “hot” glass style. </p>
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<p class="content" align="left">Kuntz uses the “hot” glass method at
his shop in St. Marys today. The hot glass process can be
time-consuming. The multi-step process requires step-by-step molding
where a piece is shaped slowly and then slow cooled in an oven
overnight. Each color and accent to a piece must be molded on
separately and requires the reheating of the main piece to fuse it to
the addition. Each color, piece and design is another step in the
process and nothing is ever glued or painted on. </p>
<p class="content" align="left">Kuntz
said that most people don't realize the time and expense that can go
into a piece. He said of his chosen artform that it can be a costly
practice. Maintenance fees to keep up a glass shop are expensive, as
are colored glass, specialized tools used on different pieces and the
cost of natural gas for a kiln. </p>
<p class="content" align="left">Kuntz
noted that he usually works alone, although glass blowing is
traditionally done in a group setting. He said that he hasn't found
anyone locally yet who is really interested enough in it to take up the
artform seriously. He said that he would someday like to teach the
artform though, as it is an artform generally passed on from one person
to another. The artform can be dangerous, Kuntz cautioned. The very
nature of the process allows for glass chips and other debris and a
high-temperature environment. Kuntz also stated a desire to someday be
in a position to allow the public to learn more about the
semi-secretive artform, and even possibly allow public viewing of the
creative process. </p>
<p class="content" align="left">Kuntz said
that he gained his art education mostly from learning with the Florida
guild and being exposed to a large number of other artists. He says
that he admires the Venetian style of glasswork and said he blends the
style with that of his influences and tries to emulate the Italian
style. </p>
<p class="content" align="left">When asked about his
influences, Kuntz points to glassworker Dale Chichuly. Chichuly, said
Kuntz, has a unique blend of abstract and realist styles that he
enjoys. Kuntz said of Chichuly's work that it was instrumental in
popularizing the artform in America. He said that Chichuly enlightened
Americans to European styles and popularized the “hot” process style
glasswork. </p>
<p class="content" align="left">Although relatively
new in America as an artform, glassworking, said Kuntz, is fairly
widespread outside of this area and he hopes to see the artform
continue to grow. </p>
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Tony Patti<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:gaffer@glassblower.info">gaffer@glassblower.info</a><br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.glassblower.info">www.glassblower.info</a><br>
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