How did you get started in glass?
My mother and grandfather were both oil painters. I couldn’t draw or paint so art wasn’t part of my repertoire. When my wife and I first got married we were fascinated by the beauty of the three dimensional art glass form and structure and we became collectors - buying pieces as we traveled. I told myself someday, if I ever got the chance, I wanted to try to learn the art of furnace glassblowing to see if there was a hidden artist embedded in my genes.
Why did you become interested in glassblowing?
As a physician, aside from the artistic beauty of glass, I became fascinated with the physics, chemistry, optics, thermodynamics, and light and color properties of the material. About fifteen years ago as I approached retirement and was looking for a new hobby. My wife, aware of my longstanding interest, came across a brochure from Sonoran Glass at the local library and bought me a “Paperweight Experience” as a birthday present, Paul Anders-Stout and I spent a Saturday morning in the studio together and I was hooked. Through introductory, intermediate and private instruction I have continued on a fascinating journey through the multiplicity of techniques and exposure to the masters of the glass world.
What is your favorite part of working with glass?
The hot shop for me has been an escape from my professional life and a place of zen-like concentration and inestimable pleasure. I have been welcomed into the local glass art community, far removed from my medical career. I have had the opportunity to meet and work with remarkable people. There is a never ending new direction of technique and design to explore. I have always blown glass for the personal satisfaction of accomplishment. When someone complements my work I consider that an unanticipated dividend.
I never thought that with Paul's time, effort, and tutelage that I would be able to construct pieces of increasing complexity of design and execution and be able to bring my artistic visions to fruition with ever increasing technical facility.
Much to my wife’s dismay, I have completely filled our home with the color, whimsy, and diversity of my work. She invites our friends over with a shopping bag.
I wanted to thank Sonoran Glass for providing the venue to foster and support my glass journey. As a former member of the board, I wanted to thank the school for its efforts to promote glass education in our community and letting an old man to follow his passion and leave beautiful artifacts for my family and friends.
-Dr. Larry Temkin
