An Interview with Western Art Glass

Hooray! I am so excited to be able to announce the start of an ongoing interview series with artists from cosa verde! I've been trying to get this up and running for a while now, but you know how things go... So without further ado, let me introduce you to Brian Western of Western Art Glass.

interview with Western Art Glass

Name: Brian Western
Shop: Western Art Glass
Blog: http://westernartglass.blogspot.com/
Website: westernartglass.etsy.com/
Location / Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota

What do you make, and how are your products environmentally-friendly?

I enjoy wrangling various leaf shapes from the sides of discarded beer and wine bottles which in-turn are incorporated into leaf mobiles, single twirling leaves, and earrings. This is my celebrated "Poorman's Slumping Technique," realizing the curve of the leaf from the bottles curve without the use of a kiln. I also scrounge around for scraps of German mouth-blown glass from large architectural projects in the area, for more or less traditional stained glass designs.

Why did you start making earth-friendly goods?

It was purely accidental--I desired curved glass, and I couldn't afford a kiln plus the electricity to boot! Ahh...the authentic starving artist, dontcha know?

What is your favorite material to work with? Why?

There's a mysterious reaction when light and glass interact--something about bubbles and lines simulating motion...

What's your favorite thing you've ever made? Why?

Elm Leaf Mobile...

...Minneapolis had wonderful elm leaf canopies dappling the light that filtered through along the boulevards, and was an ever present pleasure growing up in the 60s--whhheeeeee! The bottles that go into one of these concoctions contain some of the finest beer and ale I can think of--metaphysical jabberwocky, eh?

Give us a link to one of your favorite resources for running your business:

http://www.bestbelgianspecialbeers.be/main_eng.html

Give us a link to one of your favorite handmade artists:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/fricdementol

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35235403

What's your #1 tip for living greener?

Have a look-out posted while you're hauling asbestos and lead paint to the trash dumster...whoops? I meant...keep a wary eye for feral marshmallows, and a pointy stick at the ready!

What's your #1 tip for crafting greener?

Probably my 1/4" Weller Soldering Iron Tip--it's quite versatile and can maneuver in tight spots--spot on!

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
X-Ray Vision?

Brian sent in the speediest interview response ever, so he's up first. (Plus, we do love a healthy dose of irreverence.) For information on how to be interviewed for this column, shoot me an email at liz at cosaverde.com. Yay!

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An Interview with Western Art Glass

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