Today we’d like to introduce you to Jared F..
Hi Jared F., we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As fate would have it, I stumbled upon glass while in college. A couple girls who lived down the hall from me sophomore year were art majors, and worked in glass. When they described it to me, it sounded crazy that they would let anyone do that! At the time, you didn’t have to be enrolled in the arts program (which I wasn’t) to take a glass class. So senior year, for fun, I signed up for the introductory class… I was hooked!
Twenty years later, having worked in some eighteen studios scattered coast-to-coast, and thousands of pieces made, I’ve found myself in Austin Texas.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Glass blowing is a very demanding craft. It’s akin to playing a musical instrument, like the violin. Though unlike the violin, you can’t practice glass blowing in your bedroom! Since a glass studio is an expensive set up, most glass artists end up congregating in areas that have a public access studio where you can rent by the hour. Though there are a lot of drawbacks to working in a communal space where skill levels and personalities vary. Glassblowing is also not a solo venture. Having a good assistant (or two) will determine your profitability and expands your creative range. And, well, down here in Texas its HOT!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Driven by curiosity, I’ve pursued the full spectrum of glassmaking techniques, from hot sculpting to kiln casting. But I can’t help but continue to come back to the drinking glass. As much as I love to create a one-of-a-kind art piece, its the utilitarian everyday objects that most fascinate me. Often these items are boring and fade away into the background, but I wanted to bring them to the foreground, and bring awareness to the present moment. That’s the basis for the JFR GLASS drinkware line.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
From 2015-2018 I had the opportunity of a lifetime to blow glass on Celebrity Cruise Lines through the Corning Museum of Glass. There were three ships with an all electric glass studio on the rear top deck, where we would demonstrate and narrate the process. This allowed me to travel to some 40 countries, and share my passion with guests from all over the world. These travels have significantly inspired my work to date, and further drive my desire to create.
Pricing:
- $50+ Rocks Glasses
- $75+ Cocktail Mixing Glasses
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jfrglass.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jfr_glass/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNCvIZR8jbg
