Jonathan’s Glass Journey

Ten years ago I began blowing glass through my local community college in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I was enamored with the material, immediately revealing a strong desire to work my way toward its mastery. After the semester ended, I no longer had the ability to pay for school. Eager to continue my glass education, I began assisting my instructor from the beginner course, Cedric Mitchell. Cedric was an up and coming artist at Tulsa Glassblowing School whom I respected and admired. After the work day I would assist Cedric, allowing me to practice with the guidance of someone with more skill and experience.

I applied and was accepted as an intern at Tulsa Glassblowing School quickly leading to a part-time position, assisting with production and classes. While working two other jobs, I made time to continue my practice at the studio when I could. I was eventually hired as a full-time employee along side Cedric, my friend and now mentor. This was a dream come true. I not only would improve in skill with glass, but knowledge of maintaining a studio. I would also be working under our skilled shop director Kenneth Gonzales, who would give me occasional help and pointers.  

Cedric and I would take turns opening, and assisting each other during the early hours when we were allowed to use the facilities. We were both eager for our skills to improve, watching videos after work featuring different glass artists. I also found a greater understanding of the material as I began teaching students through the school, including the same classes from which I had learned. Along with these responsibilities, we were given the opportunity to work with artists Davide Salvadore, Rob Stern, Suzie Ririe, Tom Kreager, Nick Fruin and Randy Walker. In that time, I decided that glass is what I want to pour my life into. I left my home in Tulsa, to work in a new environment, making work more specific .

 I found a top of the line facility in Kansas City at Monarch Glass Studio. At Monarch, the work we did daily varied based on each client. We had the opportunity to make many different designs, changing in both scale and number. While my knowledge of glass work grew exponentially, I also saw the requirements for running a studio efficiently. This knowledge would allow me to progress my skills assistant, and a glassblower. I found my love for Venetian cane work at Monarch, as many of the products demanded a particular design. I was also forced to hone my skills through making shapes or forms repeatedly. Monarch’s owner, Tyler Kimball was given the nickname “Coach”, for his ability to demand and bring out the team’s best. This accelerated my progression, which was my biggest desire when leaving Tulsa, and to this day I am thankful for. I was also fortunate to work my off days at another studio called Rock Cottage Glassworks. Rock Cottage is owned and operated by Dierek Van Keppel, who’s been blowing glass over thirty years. I would help make larger work, blowing into old factory molds. Getting to see heat management and shaping on a larger scale, helped me understand more about the properties of glass.

During the studio’s closure for the summer, I had the opportunity to travel and explore different glass communities. I received scholarships to Penland School of Craft, Pittsburgh Glass Center, and Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. It was great to see the glass world outside the Midwest, and inspired me to continue moving, in hopes of gaining more knowledge. Upon completion of my time in Kansas City at Monarch, I accepted a position at Pittsburgh Glass Center as a Technical Apprentice. This was a life changing experience, assisting in the progression I sought after, along with new opportunities to meet and work with different artists.

My time at Pittsburgh Glass Center, gave me the opportunity to meet and work with several artists I admired, one being Tom Moore. Tom is an Australian artist specializing in cane work and sculpture. This would indefinitely inform my approach to glass art and finding my voice in the material. With the strong community PGC provides, I found another spike in my growth as a glass artist. Mimicking my Kansas City work ethic, I worked every hour my mind and body allowed me to. I am grateful for the hours of practice and shared knowledge I was given in Pittsburgh. The working class grit of the city’s culture felt relatable, adding to my drive.

My time in Pittsburgh held much reflection about the glass community in the United States. In other parts of the world, glass blowing is a skilled trade, reserved for those willing to strive through its difficulty and hard labor. I recognized this differed from much of the community of aspiring glass blowers I had met. This realization pushed me into a new direction, one that desired to see a change in the future of glass makers. Currently glass in mainly accessible to art school students, a path reserved for those who can afford such education.

Upon leaving Tulsa, I found less and less people who had accessed this material through community programming. This pointed me back to the youth classes I had helped teach at Tulsa Glass Blowing School, reminding me of the importance to pass the knowledge that had been generously given to me. I found a program in Tacoma, Washington started by Dale Chihuly called Hilltop Artists. Upon accepting a position as one of their Teaching Artists for their middle school elective program, I left Pittsburgh to shift focus from my glass career, to a personal goal of passing on this skill set to young people with different backgrounds.

Hilltop Artists seeks to provide better futures for youth through glass art, allowing them a creative outlet and a safe space to learn. This experience would provide me with access to many resources, giving me the tools to help middle school students who were in need. My time in Tacoma allowed me to reach many students, while also finding work with Veterans at the Museum of Glass’s “Hotshop Heroes” program. By the end of my time working for Hilltop Artists, I had a solid foundation and certainty of my desire to work with young people and others who found glass making to be the life changing experience I felt it was.

I am now back in Tulsa, Oklahoma working for the place that gifted me the tools to experience life as a glass blower. I am working for Tulsa Glassblowing School as both and Glassblower and Outreach Coordinator. It is my hope to build programming that will give back to Tulsa’s community. I wish to find more students who come from different backgrounds, providing the rare access to glass, and giving them tools that may change their lives, the way this has changed mine.

I am forever thankful for the guidance that led me to blow glass for a living. I love each person who has helped me on the way and try to pour that love into everything I make. I feel that to do any less would be a disservice to those who I aim to make proud. I hope my efforts and feelings shine through every piece I make, from the piece of art on a shelf, to the cups in patrons’ hands. I am grateful to make glass for you.