Behind the Scenes of Great Glass Artists

Author: Odessa Patmos

This past semester, I had the amazing opportunity to intern at Pittsburgh Glass Center, a creative hub for glass artists to refine and celebrate their work. My time with Pittsburgh Glass Center has opened my eyes to a new branch of the contemporary arts scene and allowed me to meet and talk with some of the best artists in glass.  

During my internship, I undertook various duties at Pittsburgh Glass Center such as helping with an elementary after-school glass program, and writing blog posts for the Glass Center’s website. Along the way, I regularly ran into artists in the building and learned more about the glass art community. About halfway through my time at PGC, I heard some exciting news: the top three finalists of the Netflix show Blown Away, a popular reality show centered around a glassblowing competition, would be completing a short-term residency at the glass center. I asked my supervisors, Valerie Bundy and Paige Ilkhanipour, if I could interview the finalists, and they were happy to set it up. 

My first step was to research the work of the three artists, John Moran, Minhi England, and John Sharvin. I had seen their creations on Blown Away, but seeing each of their full ranges of artwork helped me better understand their identities and the stories they wanted to tell. I then compiled a list of questions that I wanted to ask them. My questions mostly centered around their upcoming joint exhibition, Undefined, which is set to open at Pittsburgh Glass Center in February 2023. I also wanted to know about their creative processes and how they work as a team.  

Talking with John, Minhi, and John was a dream come true. When the time for the interview came, I ended up being sick, but luckily, we were able to set up a Zoom call. The three were enthusiastic to share details about their exhibition and what they’d been up to during their residency. Their closeness and camaraderie was clear, each bouncing off each other’s ideas and joking around together. Afterwards, writing the article was a quick and easy process because the conversation between the artists flowed so naturally. I decided to pursue an article format rather than a Q&A, but I was able to pull a lot of direct quotes from the artists. My supervisor, Paige, helped me edit the story and get it prepared to publish on the Glass Center’s blog. I am excited to see it published because I feel that it showcases the incredible talent and closeness of the glass art community.  

Interning at Pittsburgh Glass Center has caused me to step out of my comfort zone and try new things. I knew next to nothing about glass art before I started my internship, but now I understand the processes involved for different types of glass work and was able to make my own glass art along the way. Writing an article about the top three artists of Blown Away allowed me to show how much I’ve learned during my internship. I have become a better writer and collaborator through my internship and am grateful that my eyes were opened to the world of glass.

Odessa Patmos, Museum Studies Intern at Pittsburgh Glass Center, Fall 2022

Constellations Group