Fritz Dreisbach - handblown and wheel carved glass

Noted glass artist, Fritz Dreisbach is recognized as one of the pioneers of the American Studio Glass Movement. Crowned the “Johnny Appleseed of Glass” by his peers, Fritz has presented hundreds of lectures and demonstrations in over 175 distinct institutions in over 56 years throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

His colorism and linearity, fluidly woven into liquid glass, declares an affinity with modernist painting from Monet to the abstract expressionists, and informs his work with irrepressible vitality.

Dreisbach started making glass in 1964 and has lectured and demonstrated glass art techniques all over the world. He is founder of the international Glass Art Society and his work is featured in many museums, private and corporate collections worldwide.

Living and working on Whidbey Island since 2010, Dreisbach continues his remarkable journey in glass, currently focusing his efforts on producing a series of wheel-carved and cameo-cut glass vessels, in addition to his singular show pieces: playful goblets, trick glasses, toy vehicles, and “Mongos.”

Call about current availability and pricing.

Mongos

Dreisbach's Mongo Series started in 1979 as a reaction to his earlier more tightly controlled symmetrical work. Wanting to regain a feeling of spontaneity he dramatically increased the size and weight of his pieces and 'let the glass move again', oftentimes on the edge of control. Many of these pieces incorporate intricate patterned canes created in the Zanfirico technique.

Cameo Style Intaglio Engraved Multi Hued Vessels

This technique initially starts with thin, intense, multi-colored overlays, which are subsequently wheel engraved in the Intaglio style, thereby revealing the hidden colors beneath the surface. Later during the reheating and shaping of the final form, the original Intaglio cuts are fire polished to a smooth, glassy surface.

Engraved and Wheel Carved Glass

These pieces start by blowing solid colored vessels from a colored glass furnace. Fritz calls these 'blanks' and begins by cold carving shapes and edges much like faceting a diamond. These edges create dramatic optical effects and color changes caused by the variations in wall thickness. He experiments with a variety of ground surface textures:  everything from as shiny as hot glass to the velvety smooth matte-look similar to acid-etched glasses popular in the early 1900s.  The velvet surface help us to 'see' the complete form more accurately since the surface does not disappear into a shiny glitter.    

Goblets

Goblets have been interesting to Dreisbach since he started to blow glass in 1964.  Historically, goblets have always demonstrated the delicate fluidity of molten glass.  They consist of three distinct sections or zones:  the cup (for drinking), the foot (for support) and in the middle the artist can put anything he wants. But, no matter how loose and organic the stems are, the lip and foot must still function!

About 1980, he conceived the concept of a reversible goblet.  Since each goblet foot is also a bowl, you can drink out of either end.

Flower Bearers

These pieces were created by Fritz’ longtime studio assistant Patricia Allison in collaboration with Fritz at The Glass Eye Studio in Seattle in 1989.

Please contact the gallery at 360/222-3070 or 800/858-5063
to inquire about Fritz's currently available work.