[PA-NJ Glassblowers] WheatonArts Traveling Volunteer Glassblowers are NJ ambassadors for art of glassmaking

Tony Patti gaffer at glassblower.info
Mon Jun 20 22:12:27 EDT 2016


This showed up as a Google Alert today, this article was just published:

http://www.nj.com/inside-jersey/index.ssf/2016/06/nj_ambassadors_for_art_of_
glassmaking.html

 

glassAA.jpg

 

Image caption: Frank Stubbins, left, Jeff Vanaman, center, and Wes Stubbins
- 

members of the WheatonArts Traveling Volunteer Glassblowers - 

work on a piece of glass during a demonstration. (Courtesy of WheatonArts)

 


N.J. ambassadors for art of glassmaking

By  <http://connect.nj.com/user/njwolf1/posts.html> Tom Wilk | For Inside
Jersey on June 20, 2016 at 8:00 AM, updated June 20, 2016 at 8:07 AM

 

New Jersey's roots in the glass industry predate the American Revolution and
the
<http://www.wheatonarts.org/artists-2/wheatonarts-volunteer-glass-blowers/>
WheatonArts Traveling Volunteer Glassblowers are working to keep that
tradition alive in the 21st century.

They are keepers of the flame - literally and figuratively - by promoting
the craft while working with temperatures that reach 2,200 degrees.

The glassblowers serve as goodwill ambassadors for the Millville-based
<http://www.wheatonarts.org/> WheatonArts and Cultural Center, home of the
<http://www.wheatonarts.org/programs/12025-2/> Museum of American Glass. The
group travels the Mid-Atlantic region from April to October, presenting
demonstrations at fairs and events.

"A lot of people know glass is made from sand, but they have no idea how to
make glass," says Frank Stubbins, who serves as a glassblower, along with
his son, Wes, 44, of Woodstown, and Jeff Vanaman, of Clayton.

The elder Stubbins, 71, and Vanaman, 69, have been with the group since its
first demonstration in 1986, marking their 30th anniversary this year.
WheatonArts estimates its demonstrations have been seen by more than 1
million people.

Susan Gogan, executive director of WheatonArts, praises the dedication and
skill of the group. "They have advanced the understanding of the process of
glassmaking," she says. "Countless individuals and families have visited our
campus after experiencing the Traveling Glassblowers demonstration."

A Pilesgrove resident, Frank Stubbins lives about 10 miles from the site of
the  <http://www.wistarburg.org/overview.htm> Wistarburgh Glass Works in
Alloway, Salem County. It was the first successful glass company in America,
operating from 1739 to 1777.

Glass is a family affair for Frank Stubbins. His wife, Marie, handles the
bookings for the group. And Wes Stubbins' children - Quinn, 18, and
Kayleigh, 14 - have shown an interest in continuing the tradition.

 
<http://media.nj.com/inside-jersey/photo/stubbins-3jpg-80bc7ec03e360021.jpg>
Stubbins 3.jpg

A green cup by Frank Stubbins, of the WheatonArts Traveling Volunteer
Glassblowers.Philip Vitale 

 

"As a father, to pass glassblowing on to my son, it's one of the greatest
things that's happened to me," says Frank Stubbins.

Once he started blowing glass, Vanaman developed an appreciation for the
craft and even launched his own company, New Fislerville Glassworks, in
Clayton in 2007.

"It's a mesmerizing skill," he says. "The more you do it, the more you want
to do it."

The glassblowers have found receptive audiences for their programs - from
the Philadelphia Folk Festival to George Washington's home in Mount Vernon,
Va.

"When you pick up the blow pipe, it's like a magnet on the crowd," the elder
Stubbins says.

"When people hear the roar of the furnace, they are drawn to it," adds
Vanaman.

glassDD.jpg 

Some samples of work made by members of the WheatonArts Traveling Volunteer
Glassblowers.Frank Stubbins

 

The blow pipes are used to gather molten glass from a propane-powered
furnace. The glass is then formed into such products as pitchers, vases,
candlestick holders, mugs with handles, and tumblers. The glass must be
cooled in an annealing oven for 24 hours to allow the products to harden
before they can be sold.

During demonstrations, one of the glassblowers provides narration for the
audience. They wear special lenses made of didymium to protect their eyes
and often Kevlar sleeves to keep their arms from being burned. "The bigger
the piece (of glass), the more heat it generates," Frank Stubbins says.

Blowing glass in summer, dealing with the extreme heat of the season and the
sweltering temperatures from a propane furnace, is particularly challenging.

"You try to drink a lot of fluids," says Vanaman.

"You just grit your teeth and sweat," adds Frank Stubbins, with a smile. 

 

 

Enjoy,


Tony Patti
  
 <http://www.glassblower.info> www.glassblower.info
  
 <mailto:gaffer at glassblower.info> gaffer at glassblower.info

 <http://www.glassblower.info/qr-code.html> QR Code for Tony Patti -
www.glassblower.info

 

 

 

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