Glass artist, Ben Richgruber is VIVA’s Guest artist for March!
Ben answers some fun questions!
From where do you draw your inspiration?
When I started with glass I was living in Hawaii, so water was a big influence, both in its colors and movement. The influence of the ocean pushed me to learn more about how glass itself behaves. How does it flow as it melts? How can I harness that flow to create patterns, textures, and forms? I’m still very new to the medium, so my inspiration is often just as much about exploring new techniques as it is exploring the world around me.
What does your studio look like?
The studio is organized chaos. Shelves full of glass in various forms, boxes of mold materials, and equipment from kilns to the sand blast cabinet. I’ve got three work tables - one is reserved for glass cutting and assembly, one for the messy work of grinding and mold making. The glass needs to be clean when I goes in the kiln, so there is a mindful dance to do when moving from one side of the room to the other.
What’s the most indispensable item in your studio?
The kiln!
