AVANT-GARDE ART GLASS
Colorado Springs
22 years on the torch 

How many years on the torch, and how did you get started?
I'm 22 years on the torch. I was a potter and a sculptor in high school, and afterwards I worked at a local pottery manufacturer called Van Briggle here in Colorado Springs. When I was 19, my friend had a small lampworking torch and a little glass he let a few of my friends mess around with. None of us had any knowledge about how to work glass, but I think most anyone given the chance to play with fire and lava would take the opportunity. Later that year he was trying to sell the setup to one of my friends — but luckily I scooped it first and the rest is history.

What’s your favorite part of glass blowing?
Having a creative outlet as a job and the freedom of owning your own business.

What drew you to build on the Puffco platform?
I had a Puffco Peak, and we sold them out of our storefront before we closed it. I very much liked the convenience of the Peak and wanted to make something for it, but it was hard to find the time for R&D at that point in my life. Illuminati SC had been pushing me to make something for quite awhile, and I finally got around to devoting time to design my first few styles.

What’s one of your favorite pieces you’ve made?
That would have to be the collab with the talented artist and my good friend, BTGB. It’s a recycling avant-tech piece we dubbed the Shellcycler. It percolates through the walls, showering one of his dinos with water and terps. It was a super technical, fun build – we made two attempts before the third try made it to the finish line.