Recently I had the honor of meeting Fritz Dreisbach.

Fritz received a Master of Fine Art in 1967 from the University of Wisconsin where he was assistant to Harvey Littleton.  Littleton started the first college glass program in the U.S. and taught several artists who became prominent in the history of studio glass including Fritz, Dale Chihuly, Marvin Lipofsky, Sam Herman, Tom McGlachlin, Christopher Ries and Michael Taylor.  Fritz, nicknamed the Johnny Appleseed of Glass, continued on with a 35 year teaching career, teaching at 130 institutions world wide.  He is credited as one of the fathers of the studio glass movement. 

Fritz lectured at the Bay Area Glass Institute, talking about the beginnings of the studio glass movement and his involvement within it, as well as showing the evolution of his glass work.  Then he demonstrated the making of one of his little glass trucks.  Betsy (founding President of Glass Alliance of Northern California) and Richard Ehrenberg donated a piece of Fritz’s art for a fundraising raffle to support BAGI, and I luckily won – a beautiful piece from Fritz’s lariat series. 

Yes, I’m super lucky! 

( Fritz making a truck, assisted by Treg Silkwood and Dean Bensen)

The second piece in my series about being caught in negative aspects of ourselves and our lives – bad habits, depression, worry, unhealthy relationships, unhealthy emotional or mental states, etc.

Usually I prefer my work photographed against black for the dramatic effect.  This piece was too dark and transparent to show up well, which is why we switched to a white background.

Angst, 2

42″h x 8″w x 8″d

Glass

(Hangs from ceiling)

How plants might pollinate in an alternate reality. 

Pollinating

18″h x 12″w x 9″d (2 figures together)

Glass

Another in my tumbleweed series, Garnet Tumbleweed Before its Tumble. 

8″h x 12″w x 8″d

Glass

At this time, I have four pieces in process. 

One is Night Tree, the frosty tree with silvered acorns.  I’m not quite happy with the barrenness of the tree and will add some smaller branches to fill it out.

Two, I’m working on a male and a female plant “reproducing” human style. 

Three, my life cycle cyclone.  I still need to make fruits and leaves and then attach them all to the cyclone.

And finally, a collaborative piece with Susan Longini.  www.susanlongini.com

After these pieces I think I will do a plant baby I have been envisioning.