Questions to Ask

The Riddle: “I can be as clear as crystal, red as rubies, or blacker than the darkest night. When hotter than dragon’s breath I turn to liquid Light. When cold, I’m like ice and more solid than the rock or steel. What am I?”

So lets start with some helpful questions. If you have not seen glassblowing, or even if you have but do not remember what the glass makers were doing, these questions will give you a better idea about what to ask when you come to visit us.

If you have seen glassblowing try to answer the folowing questions first:

• Have you ever seen glassmaking? Where?
• Can you remember what the glass makers were doing?
• Can you describe a little of what you saw?
• Do you know any glassblowers? Who?
• Would you like to try glassblowing? Why?
• If you could make anything out of glass, what would that be? Why?

Guideline Questions:

• Where does glass come from?
• What temperature does glass melt at?
• How can you get something that hot?
• How can you color glass?
• What dangers are involved in glass? What scares you about glass?
• Glass is on of the top 5 collected items in the world. What would you collect(made of glass) if you could afford it? Why?
• Glass as a material is cheap(ca.25-50cents/lb.). Art made from glass on the other hand tends to be very expensive. Why is that?
• Glass can be incredibly hard, yet if you drop it, it breaks. Why is that? Glass can be very clear(or see-through/transparent). What are some other things that have this quality?
• Glass can be made very dark or opaque(you cannot see through it). Can you name some other things that do this?
• When glass is hot enough, you can cut it with scissors(we call it “trimming” with shears-just like cutting hair or fixing the hedge). When glass is at room temperature its as hard as rock or steel. What cuts through such hard substances?
• Glass has many qualities or properties. Describe three of them.(for example, it may appear shiny,or rough or...also it can be made into many things-like.....). How do eyeglasses work? How about telescopes and microscopes?
• How do the reflectors on a bike work compared to glass?
• Do you have any Pyrex glass at home? What makes it so special?
• Why do scientists love Pyrex or boro-silicate glass?
• Speaking of love, why do grandmas love glass Christmas ornaments?
• What’s your favorite color of glass?
• How do prisms work?
• How would you make a bottle or jar?
• What’s the smallest and/or largest piece of glass that you have seen?
• Volcanos produce glass naturally. What do scientists call this? What does it look like?
• Lightning strikes to the earth can also make glass. How? Why? What’s it called?
• When hot, you can stretch glass (just like bubble gum or taffy). When pulled very thin, (thinner than a human hair), we get a useful telecommunication material. What do we call it?
• Very,very thin glass, all bunched-up like cotton candy can be very useful in other ways-do you know what for?(Hint:sometimes it’s pink- like the panther or yellow in color).
• What part of a neon sign is glass?
  All
  None
  The neon part
  The tubes
  
• How does neon glow? What do you need to make it work?
• How old do you think glassblowing is?
  2000 years
  1000 years
  100 years
  50 years or less
• Where in the world did glassblowing begin?
• Who is recognized as contributing significantly to the development of glass?
  The Phoenicians
  The Egyptians
  The Romans and Venetians
  The Middle East
  Dale Chihuly
• What’s an excellent activity to do, if you want to become a great glassblower? (Hint:you can use a pen or a pencil and it doesn’t require access to the Web.)

Compare & Contrast Some Topics for Discussion

The following questions are giudeline for better understanding the art of glass present at the Museum and the process of making glass.

Size and Scale

Why make it this size? What if...it were smaller, larger?

Shape

Why was it formed so? Does it remind you of something? What process was used to make it?

Color

Why this color(s), not another? What process was used to achieve it?

Light

How does light affect the work? What if it were lit differently? Is the light reflective or refractive or other?

Surface & Texture

Describe the surface of the work. How was it done? and Why? What difference does the surface or texture make to this pieces overall look?

Installation/Presentation

Notice how and where the object is. How does lighting affect the work? What if the piece were displayed in another space, or on another surface? Higher or lower? Are there other materials used in conjunction with the glass? Why were these materials chosen over some others?

Artwork

Does this qualify as art? Do you agree? Why did the museum choose this particular work over others? How does this piece make you feel? Does it remind you of something?