Trio of Balloon Goblets. Tallest, 14.25”

These whimsical goblets feature colorful assemblages of party balloons in the stem, including balloon animals (a teal dog on the left, yellow giraffe in the middle, and white dog on the right). The glass balloons are actually solid, not blown, so I had to develop my own technique for creating the little animals.

Red Wabi Goblet Trio; tallest: 11.5” high x 3.25” diameter

“Wabi sabi” is the Japanese expression for a sensibility that embraces eccentric beauty, rough around the edges. I think of these goblet and others I have made like them, as blending a Southwest aesthetic with a bit of Asian influence. The iridescence in these charming goblets comes from 24 karat gold which is vapor deposited onto the surface, sometimes trapped under trails of hot glass before the final shape is blown. The effect changes somewhat depending on the arrangement of lighting.

Lidded Sea-Green Coral Goblet 125” high x 5” diameter

The color in this piece is somewhat changeable depending on lighting conditions. When the light shines through from behind, it looks a bit more green; in reflected light, more blue. The underlying ideas of this piece include composition with gesture, and the visual tension of a fragmentary portion of an organic pattern that is nonetheless integrated into a tightly defined, symmetrical structure.

Goblets

I experience the goblet form as a traditional vehicle to be explored in new ways. Aside from the technical challenges of making a goblet (which are not inconsiderable), I think artists are called to interpret this ancient form with a fresh approach that blends surprise with familiarity. As an object of composition, goblets have three basic components: the bowl, the stem and the foot. These components exist in a rhythmic relationship, which the artist manipulates to achieve a desired effect. The tools with which the rhythmic relationship is manipulated include similarity and contrast in form, color and pattern. Furthermore, the elements of functionality and traditional social purpose invite another level of exploration as we consider the implications of how we think and feel about this familiar-but-still-not-completely-explored archetype. So goblets can be enjoyed simply for their immediately obvious form, but also on a deeper level if we consider the traditions from which they spring.

Finally, I embrace goblets as a vehicle for the free play of wit. Just as wine might make us a bit loquacious as we celebrate a special occasion, the goblet form seems to invite clever or whimsical twists in the form of visual (or even verbal) punning. This attitude is definitely visible in my goblets.