Started working in glass in 1989 at the California College of Arts and Crafts (now CCA) in Oakland, CA.
www.elinchristopherson.com

Elin Christopherson earned her BFA from California College of Arts and Crafts in 1989, and her MFA Degree at Alfred University in 2001. Her artwork reveals intersections and overlays of both natural and human-made forms. Elin currently teaches Glass and Sculpture at California College of the Arts in Oakland, California.

“Laurel Cluster #2”
Elin Christopherson
2011
Plate Glass and Enamel

“Laurel Column”
Elin Christopherson
2011
Plate Glass, Enamel and Steel
92″ x 20″ x 20″

Started working in glass in 1968 at UC Berkeley.
www.cohnstone.com 

Michael set up his first studio in 1973 in Berkeley, California, and has been operating glassblowing studios continuously since that time.  He is currently co-owner of Cohn-Stone Studios in Richmond, Ca.   Started working in glass in the 1970’s.

For as long as I can recall, I have made things with my hands. It is what I do. It is one of my primary forms of expression. I am also completely fascinated by fire — by its incredible power to destroy as well as to create.  It is appropriate then, that I have devoted the greater part of my life to the creation of objects of glass (or primarily glass).

The act of glass making is elemental — it involves earth, air, fire and water. It is a series of choreographed steps — a fiery fluid dance frozen in motion. Even after working so closely with this material for so many years, I am still amazed that a pile of what appears to be basically sand can be shoveled into the furnace and the next day can be transformed into essentially anything ones imagination, skill and strength will allow. Physics, alchemy and magic each play a part in the process.

I am inspired by the purity of the classical forms and the beauty and diversity of the natural world, as well as by the ingenuity and functionality of machinery. I derive equal satisfaction in the creation of high quality decorative and/or sculptural glasswork as well as in the design and construction of the furnaces, ovens and other equipment which make the work possible.

Selected Collections

• Mint Museum, Charlotte, NC
• Oakland Museum, CA
• Corning Museum of Glass, NY
• Museum fur Kunsthandwerk, Frankfurt, Germany
• Huntington Museum, WVA
• National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, Japan
• Toledo Museum of Art, OH
• Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
• High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA
• Kestner Museum, Hanover, Germany
• Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA
• Musee de Design et d’Arts Appliques/Contemporains, Lausanne, Switzerland
• San Francisco Fine Arts Museums, CA
• J P Lannan Foundation, Palm Beach, FA

“Space Cup”
Michael Cohn

“Roll over Mondrian and tell Brancusi the news_ #49”
Michael Cohn

Started working in glass in 1972 with John Zadori, a mercury refiner and laboratory glass instructor, in Los Angeles, CA.
www.aargon-neon.com

Bill Concannon has been working with neon since 1973.

In 1975 he established Aargon Neon making neon sculpture, commercial neon signs, and neon sign props and special effects neon for the motion picture industry, working on projects as diverse as Milk, Basic Instinct, the Star Wars series, and Howard the Duck.  A recent project was the neon signage for the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit at the de Young Museum.

Bill has worked as an instructor teaching neon sculpture at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco since 2004 and has taught at the Pilchuck Glass School just north of Seattle.

His sculpture has been shown nationally and internationally since 1977.  In 2010-2011 he had a solo show at the Museum of Neon Art in Los Angeles entitled, “Recycled, Reclaimed, and Reinvented: The Neon Art of Bill Concannon.”

In June of 2008, Bill was invited to present his lecture, “Glass Graphics: The Joy of Signs,” to the Glass Art Society Conference in Portland, OR.

“Blue Boy”
Bill Concannon
2010
Neon and mixed media
28″ x 15″ x 20″

“Cornucopia”
Bill Concannon
2002
Neon and Plastic Shopping Bags
60″ x 54″ x 48″

 Started working in glass in the 1970’s.

www.nourot.com

Ann Corcoran’s formal glassblowing education began under the guidance of Marvin Lipofsky at the California College of Arts and Crafts. Ann graduated with a BFA in 1974. It was in the glass class that Ann met her future husband Micheal Nourot and apprenticed with him at his first studio. In ’74 they formed a business partnership and later that year were married. She applied her many talents to the tasks of designing color patterns with enamels that would become part of their product line, though her knowledge and enjoyment of the glassblower’s art extends far beyond the production of actual glass.

Started working in glass in the 1970’s.
www.unionstreetglass.com

Guy Corrie, designer, glassblower, and master craftsperson, with the help of his wife and business partner Leanne, carved out their vision for a contemporary art glass studio, and Union Street Glass was born in 1980. By fusing innovative design concepts with old world glassblowing techniques, Guy, Leanne, and their studio continue to forge new interest in and appreciation for their unique art form.

Through his commitment to creating fresh innovations and his obsession with hand blown glass, Union Street Glass has grown from a tiny 600 square foot studio into a 10,000 square foot studio in Richmond, CA. Guy works with a small team of skilled artists who create our home accessories, lamps, and light fixtures here in the studio. Together they produce about thirty pieces per day. We are still a small family of ten employees, which ensures that each of us works toward our commitment to quality, and that the pieces you purchase from us were made with loving care.

Over the years, we have developed a sister production team in the Czech Republic’s community of Bohemian Glass blowers. After years of producing stemware in house, our Bohemian partners have exceeded the stemware skills we developed here and drastically improved the quality of our stemware. Guy explains, “They demonstrate the commitment to quality and detail I require of all my designs that wear the Union Street Glass mark. I personally train the artisans to create my designs, but usually discover I learn as much as I teach. These glassblowers have a 200 year tradition in mouth blown glass, passed down from generation to generation. Our partnership has allowed us to maintain our commitment to quality.”

Both Guy and Leanne grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, and they have always been inspired by the natural, urban, and human elements of this special region. Since Guy discovered the art of glass blowing, he has been dedicated to promoting the art and supporting the movement throughout the Bay Area and beyond.

Trans Trio for Light Fixtures
Guy Corrie

Urchin Small Flat Vase
Guy Corrie

Started working in glass in the 1990’s.
www.erikeiserling.com

“Some of the finest glass masters in the world such as Lino Tagliapietra and Jens Eltorp have shared their knowledge with me.  My goal is to share that appreciation of the art of glass blowing with the world through teaching and the creation of the unique and beautifully hand crafted works.”

Erik Eiserling was introduced to glass blowing while attending Santa Monica College in Southern California. He studied with the Swedish glass masters at the Orrefors Glass Factory, and after two years of perfecting his technical skills there, he attended California College of the Arts (CCA). Erik was there introduced to the Italian styles of glass blowing, and he worked with Italian glass master Lino Tagliapietra at the Pilchuck Glass School and again at Pratt Fine Arts Center. After teaching glass blowing at CCA for three years, Erik has gone on to work with other glass artists and to exhibit his work internationally.

Complete Artist Bio and artwork images coming soon…