Still Growing

This 18" wide, 8" tall, open weave red bowl is one of a series called "Still Growing."  I cut double strips of glass in multiple widths, cleaned and dried the strips, and placed them on a kiln shelf lined with thin fire paper.  The composition was fired to 1420 degrees.  The second step was slumping to 1220 over a large stainless steel bowl covered first with fiber blanket.  Wear a mask and gloves when handling fiber blanket.  I cut ends of the fiber blanket and twisted them into the way I wanted the glass to bend.  Over the blanket I placed a cut piece of fiber board.  Using fiber board is very helpful to make the bottom of the bowl flat.  I have used alumina hydrate over all of this to prevent any sticking, but for this piece and the others in the series, I covered the blanket and the board with thin fire paper and fired very slowly to 1220 degrees.  Also had a very long anneal cycle.  I love this series because the light will bounce around and through the bowl. The bowl looks like it is moving.  I enjoy telling customers that this bowl is alive and will probably grow about a half inch every day!  Even with the holes, this style is very useful.  It is beautiful filled with fresh fruit.

• system 96 glass
• fiber blanket
• fiber paper
• fiber board