more Wendling brain cells

[sistawendy]

So after many months of talking about it, we three went down to the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, which includes a "hot shop" where a small crew blows glass. The Wendling was pretty excited about the exhibits, as were we grown-ups, but wasn't thrilled with the hot shop. (He says, as he stands at my elbow and reads over my shoulder, that he liked it at first.) That's hardly what you'd expect, is it? I mean, big, hot, firey things and molten, glowing glass were put on earth to thrill the little boy in everyone. It probably didn't help that he couldn't watch the crew without looking right into the "glory hole" -- he borrowed my shades. And yes, glass blowers have to "flash" their pieces in the glory hole repeatedly to keep them at the right temperature, which slows things down. Blowing glass takes patience, like costuming, but entails more collaboration, more expensive equipment, and more danger.

Geeky cool thing alert: in the MoG hot shop there's a glass pipe organ driven by convection. Each pipe has a torch inside.

Comments

[thevfrchick.livejournal.com]

Wow - I so want to go there!

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

I liked it. My favorite exhibit was a series of life-size pieces of (cut?) frosted glass of clothes without people in them, all life-sized, and gorgeously executed.

[intrepid-reason.livejournal.com]

I love it!

[stryal.livejournal.com]

Oooo! I wished I known you were going to be in Tacoma! I would've sat you all down for hot chocolates!
And yes, I'm near the MoG! Isn't it great? My kids LOVE that place.
The TAM isn't as good as the SAM, but it's still pretty cool.