Joint Venture
Artists collaborate on soft glass pipes and borosilicate rigs in the Hot Shop
April 19 & 20
Although the Pacific Northwest is renowned for its hot glass community, a portion of these artists have sometimes been overlooked in the conversation. The greater pipe community also has its origins in the region and developed alongside the rise of soft glass. With the mission of further exploring this important corner of the glassmaking world and elevating these artists, Museum of Glass is hosting a collaboration of soft glass and borosilicate (hard glass) pipemakers in the Hot Shop for Joint Venture on April 19 and 20. The Museum will also be open late on Saturday, April 19, where artists will continue to demonstrate in the Hot Shop and visitors will have the opportunity to bid in a silent auction for a selection of the glass pipes and rigs made by the demonstrating artists.
Visitors can also visit A Joint Venture Exhibition in the Museum’s Grand Hall, which features a curated selection of pieces from the collection of demonstrating artist Joe Tsoulfas (Bigspin Glass).
Weekend Schedule
Working on one side of the Hot Shop, soft glass pipemakers will take the stage to demonstrate their approach at the furnace. On the other side of the shop, artists will demonstrate how modern borosilicate glass rigs are made.
April 19 | 10am-5pm
Pipe and rig making demonstrations in the Hot Shop
Flameworking in the Grand Hall
April 19 | 5-8pm
Food truck and beer garden
Pipe and rig making demonstrations in the Hot Shop
Silent auction of select pipes and rigs by demonstrating artists*
April 20 | 10am-5pm
Pipe and rig making demonstrations in the Hot Shop
Flameworking in the Grand Hall
Artist Talk about pipemaking with Joe Tsoulfas (Big Spin Glass) at 1pm
*Silent Auction is only available to attendees of the April 19 evening event. Must be present to win and collect your prize.
Regular Museum admission is required. Museum Members receive free admission.
We will see you in the Hot Shop!
Pieces by Jeff Ballard.
Soft Glass vs. Borosilicate Glass
Soft glass (soda-lime glass) has a relatively high coefficient of expansion. This type of glass, melted in the furnace and then shaped and sculpted, is what one most commonly sees used in the Museum Hot Shop. It melts at lower temperatures but is more sensitive to extreme heat and cold and is therefore susceptible to shock. Some pipes will be made with soft glass during the demonstrations.
Borosilicate glass (hard glass) has a relatively low coefficient of expansion, which makes it resistant to thermal shock. This allows the glass to withstand extreme changes in temperature. Borosilicate glass must be melted at a much higher temperature than soft glass but allows the artists using it to be very exacting. Glass rigs are often made with borosilicate glass.
Read more about the difference between soft glass and borosilicate glass on the Museum blog.
Work from Demonstrating Artists Jeff Ballard (Soft Serve Glass) and Joe Tsoulfas (Bigspin Glass)
History of A Joint Venture
In 2023, Museum of Glass accepted into its Permanent Collection three pieces from Ryan “Buck” Harris of Buck Glass. These pieces (see below) – usable glass pipes painstakingly flameworked by the artist – are the first of their kind that have a permanent home at the Museum. With the goal of highlighting artists like Buck, the Museum started Joint Venture in 2024, where pipemakers could spend a weekend in the Museum Hot Shop — a collaboration of soft and hard glass artists — demonstrating their craft and educating our audiences on this corner of the glassmaking world. Moving past preconceived notions of this approach, Museum of Glass is thrilled to present this complex, and once taboo, art form which bridges the gap between functional and fine art.
From the Museum Permanent Collection
The pieces below by Ryan “Buck” Harris of Buck Glass (with help from Scott Deppe of Mothership Glass) are the first examples of functional glass pipes to be accepted into the Museum’s Permanent Collection.
Credits
Ryan "Buck" Harris (American, born 1981). Triceratops Skeleton, 2022. Flameworked glass; 9 × 5 × 20 in. (22.9 × 12.7 × 50.8 cm). Collection of Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington, anonymous gift from @thelandlordscollection (2023.11.3). Photo by Lucas Reilly.
Ryan "Buck" Harris (American, born 1981). Inside functional glass made by Scott Deppe (American, born 1976), Mothership Glass. Jaguar, 2022. Flameworked glass; 7 1/2 × 4 × 8 in. (19.1 × 10.2 × 20.3 cm). Collection of Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington, anonymous gift from @thelandlordscollection (2023.11.1) Photo by Lucas Reilly.
Polar bear skull made by Ryan "Buck" Harris (American, born 1981). Exposhere design made by Scott Deppe (American, born 1976). Exposhere design by Mothership Glass. Polar Bear, 2022. Flameworked glass; 7 × 5 × 4 1/2 in. (17.8 × 12.7 × 11.4 cm). Collection of Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington, anonymous gift of from @thelandlordscollection (2023.11.2). Photo by Lucas Reilly.