UK Boro people - how many are there?

[fionaess]

Fascinating Ian - maybe we should have a map of boro UK?

[Hamilton Taylor]

Ian, I blush to be included in the middle of that list!
As I understand, John is no longer running Phat Glass as a going concern, although of course all designs are still in his ownership. I visit John on a regular basis, and he has helped me greatly with scientific techniques, picking up where his predecessor at Glasgow ( William McCormack, now at Newcastle) left off.
I started pursuing scientific boro working through frustration at the lack of artistic boro teaching in the UK. Having now done a fair bit of scientific (some people even pay me for it!), I would recommend anyone working with boro to hook up with someone blowing scientific glassware - there are a hundred ways to work boro, and an experienced scientific glassblower knows every one of them. What's more, they WANT to pass their knowledge on. Learn the techniques sci glassblowers use to make the most complex bits of glassware hang together, then apply them to your artistic work. Just my 2p.

:-)

sean

btw: having just completed a masterclass with Gianni Toso (did I mention that??), I'm not giving up soft glass just yet...

[fionaess]

Having now done a fair bit of scientific (some people even pay me for it!), I would recommend anyone working with boro to hook up with someone blowing scientific glassware - there are a hundred ways to work boro, and an experienced scientific glassblower knows every one of them. What's more, they WANT to pass their knowledge on. Learn the techniques sci glassblowers use to make the most complex bits of glassware hang together, then apply them to your artistic work. Just my 2p.
:-)
sean

But how do we find them Sean - is there a list somewhere?

[garishglobes]

BSSG?

I would agree absolutely - but would add that there is a lot to be learned just by getting together with other boro workers even if they haven't spent a lifetime in scientific work.    Exchange of knowledge is always a good thing.

Who is Gianni Toso again? 

[Hamilton Taylor]

Of course, getting together to share what you know is a great, and inexpensive way to expand your knowledge; even when you think you can't contribute anything useful, more than one head is better than less than two.
I don't think Carrie Fertig has been metioned yet. She splits her time between Scotland and the USA. She has been teaching at P&T this last week, and is demo'ing this morning at 10am at the Ruskin Centre if you happen to be here.
Also, there is Zoe Garner, who works somewhere in England, and who I know little about, but if you Google her, she has a website.

[Ian R Pearson]

One of the plans of the BSSG is that there should be more communcation and action between artistic and scientific lampworkers. The AGM of the BSSG in next Friday and I will mention this again. The BSSG hold section meetings and could and do at times throw invites out to all. I am sure the GBUK could do same. There is a list of BSSG Members but restricted access. Of course not every scientific glassblowers in UK is member of BSSG. Just like not every beadmaker is a member of a Society. Pretty certain that with this Forum and input from people like myself, Sean and others then if there is a meeting of scientific glassblowers, news of this will be posted and you all will be invited. The future is not "Orange" but "glass".

Ian

PS Yes apols for Carrie ommission. She learnt a lot from Stuart at Edinburgh and spent time in my workshop where she gave me the nick name, "bravest glassblower in Scotland"

PPS Zoe's work is great and seen it in London Glasblowing's studio

[fionaess]

Hi Ian
I spent about an hour last night googling scientific glass blowers in Glos and came up with sweet nothing -maybe Glos is bereft of them ?

[garishglobes]

The future is not "Orange" but "glass".

..surely the future is orange glass (ie just the right orange to manipulate) ?

And does being the bravest glassblower in Scotland make you BraveHand?

I strongly suspect there isn't a scientific glassblower in all Cumbria (certainly south of Carlisle) either. Then again, I could be very wrong.