‘Wave’ tumbler and pitcher set by Anchor Bend Glasswork

Anchor Bend Glasswork is a glass artist collaborative established in 2003. This collaborative comprises of three   childhood friends Michael Richardson, Justin Tarducci, and Timothy Underwood.  All met while exploring their shared enthusiasm for art, glass, and creation in and around Newport Rhode Island. Each member of the team has their own style and expertise when it comes to glass art, but those unique talents have melded together into award winning work that can be seen in select galleries and museums nationwide.

Although the three artists of Anchor Bend Glasswork met long before opening the studio, their paths to being successful artists were very different. Michael Richardson went to St. Michael’s College in Vermont and is a skilled marketing and studio manager. Justin Tarducci began glass blowing when he was just 14 and this head start over  contemporaries allowed him access to the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design where he studied the conceptual applications of glass. Timothy Underwood ventured out to study under many nationally renowned glass artists which exposed him to the exclusive world of glass masters and honed his skills that way.Through their work and mission, they help support many nonprofits and charities including: The American Heart Association, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, March of Dimes, Boys and Girls Club of Newport, and many more.

Raindrop Vase by Matt Seasholtz

Matt Seasholtz’ education and early career were as a mechanical engineer. He began working with glass in 1984 at Glasslight, Inc where he blew glass and contributed to product design. Engineers can often make incredible artists as their technical and problem solving skills can sometimes lend themselves to seeing new ways to create art and manipulate materials. Over the following decades of working with Joel and Candy Bless at Glasslight, Matt began creating his own style of work. In 2004 he moved to Johnson, Vermont and built his own studio to pursue that artistic vision.

Matt’s design philosophy approaches glass art with simplicity and elegance in mind. This philosophy can clearly be seen in his work as he focuses on the interplay between fields of transparent color, and subtle surface textures created from molds. “ I work with organic and free flowing forms to best take advantage of the fluid nature of glass.” Much of his work is functional while the rest alludes to function, but all of it can serve as gorgeous decoration.

‘Blaze’ glass sculptures by Scott Hartley

Scott Hartley’s studio and gallery is called Infinity Art Glass. Scott works out of Benton, Kansas making ornate and dynamic glass sculptures, paperweights, platters, and more. His first love was biology, but after teaching for years, the spark of art, passed down from his father, caught in Scott and he switched to glass art full time. Scott makes all of his own glass in his studio starting with mixing the most basic elements of sand and soda ash and melting them together to make glass. The kilns that the glass is melted in run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.

Because he makes and mixes all of his own glass, Scott has a connection to the art and style that are entirely unique. He currently designs all colors and sizes of paperweights, perfume bottles, glass fish, glass eggs, disks, shells and bowls, vases, large sculptures, votives, mugs, and many glass pieces. His children and family are what gives him energy and the glass itself gives him inspiration.

Channel Platters from Helen Rudy

Helen Rudy creates beautiful functional art out of fused glass in her Denver, Co studio. She focuses on careful placement of colors and design to combine fine art with into functional pieces. Each piece is made from hand cut panels of glass and is designed and assembled in layers. The layers are then fuse melted together by heating up the arrangement in a kiln. By layering the glass and colors, Helen creates an incredible depth and intensity to her art.

Much of Helen’s art is functional bowls, platters, and serving pieces. The idea of form follows function is true in her work as it can be displayed as a decorative piece of art or be completely functional. She also creates a lot of custom work such as table tops and chandeliers.  Helen wants her customers to have unique and beautiful fused glass that fits your sense of style and design.

Lotus series vessels by Terry Weaver

Terry Weaver was a licensed architect  in 1988 when he took his first  glass blowing workshop. He was hooked instantly and that  passion evolved until he opened his own part-time glass studio in 1998. For several years, Weaver would fire up his studio once a month to blow glass. This allowed him to slowly and methodically build his skill. After many years of juggling construction, architecture, and glass blowing, he decided to dedicate his life full-time to glass blowing. In 2007, Weaver began creating and selling work out of Woven Glass Studio, a clever play on his last name and glass art style.   

His architectural background is a strong influence on the shapes, designs, and colors that have evolved in the studio. Weaver wants his glass to be looked at as functional art. The intent is to keep the pieces smaller so that the customer will be comfortable using it and not just having it on display. He tries to keep the shapes clean and simple. Some of the pieces become playful with striking contrasting colors and at other times the colors become softer and more laid back. 

Working with recycled plate glass, kilns, and sandblaster – Michael creates one-of-a-kind glass sculptures. Hand-cut from flat sheets of glass, each creation is carefully assembled, then fired in an electric kiln.  After firing, the fused glass forms are then carved and etched to completion.

Within each form, Tonder employs internal lines, altered surface textures, and light reflection, refraction, and diffusion to create tension, stimulate curiosity, and engage the eye. His art reflects the many influences of his experience as a forester and park manager, and excursions into Minnesota’s Boundary Waters and Ontario’s Quetico Provincial Park.

“Most recycling plants don’t accept window glass. It ends up buried in landfills. I divert glass from the waste stream and turn it into sculptures, tiles, back-splashes, and privacy windows for homes businesses and schools.”

“My goal is to create eco-friendly art that is fresh, positive, and enhances the quality of the space for the people who inhabit it. Whether it’s a huge mural on a commercial building or a few tiles in someone’s kitchen.”

My process of hand-carving a ceramic master mold allows me to make additional sculptures at minimal cost. Thus, a limited edition series varying in color and glass density, can be executed and installed in more than one location. This offers a great value relative to the cost of the original sculpture. I can also make sculptural companion pieces by utilizing smaller sections of the mold. The size and shape of these pieces can be customized to suit spaces that would benefit from an art installation. In this way, a unified design theme can be extended throughout a facility.

My glass-work is the result of an original and unique process. For the administrators who have not seen my art in person, I will provide physical samples of my glass to help them visualize it.

Maintenance, repair and restoration info: The non-porous nature of glass makes it more durable than ceramic tile. It can be cleaned in the same manner as window glass. Should a piece be damaged or broken I can make replacement parts using the original master mold.

My contemporary style is inspired by the natural beauty of glass and my belief that its fascinating properties should be the focus of my work. By making glass beads in clean, colorful geometric shapes and keeping my metalwork clean and simple, I strive to create jewelry that makes a statement with vibrant color and bold design, yet is easy to wear every day.

I make each glass bead used in my jewelry one at a time using the lampwork technique. I work in mostly Italian and American (Bullseye) glass. I also hand fabricate each of my sterling silver setting and components.

I discovered my love for creating jewelry while in high school in 1984 when I took my first class in jewelry design, focusing on metal fabrication.

Through the years, I explored a variety of styles and techniques while developing a particular fondness for incorporating beads into my work.

In 1999, as a birthday gift, my father paid for a series of glass blowing lessons for him and me to try together. I had always been inspired by the colorful, shimmering blown glass displayed in local galleries. I immediately fell in love with working molten glass. As my obsession with glass grew, I was eager to find a way to work with glass in as much of my spare time as possible.

Lampworking, and the ability to incorporate glass beads into my jewelry designs, became the perfect way to combine my two favorite media.

-Kristin Perkins

Charles Grisham began his career in fused glass art began when he and his wife (also a fused glass artist) were invited to do an art show with nationally known ceramic artist, Amy Sabrina, at her Art Harvest in 2007. Since then their art has grown in popularity.

They find the biggest compliment is when buyers come back to purchase more pieces due to the success and compliments they gain after their first purchase. One of their fans has approximately a dozen necklaces and continues to request a look at “whats new”.

Their art has found homes in Sweden, Australia, Norway, Germany, Guiana South America, Hawaii, Washington, Wisconsin, Florida, New York and many other states.

They have done special requests for special occasions, and have not only met, but rose above their expectations.

For approximately 15 years, I have been creating and designing handmade jewelry. About a year ago, I turned my hobby into Kari’s Kreations, because I had numerous people ask me where they could purchase my jewelry. My love of beading began while on vacation at my grandmother’s home in northern Minnesota, one of my very favorite vacation spots where we normally enjoy hiking, boating and fishing. However, this time, it had been raining half of the week and my mother and I were getting cabin fever. We went into town to go shopping and found a bead store where we purchased beads to make a few bracelets and fill our afternoon. Since then, I have spent hundreds of hours creating unique pieces of jewelry. Each piece is one-of-a-kind combining contemporary design with a variety of colors and textures. I offer beaded necklaces, bracelets, watches, earrings, bridal jewelry, beaded bookmarks, beaded wine glasses, beaded wine dresses and greeting cards. All jewelry is made with quality items and close attention to detail.