Emrys Berkower pauses from his work of shaping a
colorful vase at the Wimberley Glass Works just long enough to
agree with Erik Mordt, who is serving as the narrator, explaining the
glassblowing procedure. “`Coaxing’ is a very good way to put it,” Berkower says
of the process of molding the glass.
“Having good lungs isn’t necessary for blowing glass,” Mordt says as Berkower
and Eric Harvey demonstrate the fine art and craftsmanship of making glassware.
One strong puff on the end of the hollow rod holding the hot glass is all it
takes to form a softball-size hummingbird feeder. The rest of the shaping is
done with a few basic tools and constantly rolling the glass. “One of the most
useful tools is gravity,” he said.
When Tim deJong opened the Wimberley Glass Works in 1992 he wanted it to be
more than just a factory or gallery. A graduate of Alfred University in New
York, deJong envisioned his gallery as being a place where visitors could see
the ancient art of glassblowing demonstrated. Mordt joined the company two
years ago, Berkower and Harvey are more recent arrivals.
The glassblowers work at three butane ovens that keep the glass around 2,000
degrees. While the glass is being shaped it must be kept a temperature high
enough to keep it malleable, yet cool enough to be firm.
Once a project is begun, the artisan acts quickly to coax the blob into shape.
While Berkower shapes a small pitcher-shaped vase, rolling it constantly on the
arms of a large chair and bending it with a tong-like tool (a jack), Harvey
prepares the taffy-like material into a handle to be attached at just the right
moment. It is all choreographed teamwork making one wonder how Tim deJong could
have run the place without assistants for two years.
The gallery produces a variety of vases, bowls, and tumblers in all sizes and
colors, ranging from $12 to $225. Each year they produce a variety of
Christmas ornaments that are all one-of-a-kind — one even made its way to the
White House Christmas tree last year. Mordt said the artists are free to
experiment with their own designs and often take suggestions from customers.
“We started doing the hummingbird feeders because of a customer suggestion,” he
said.
The glass shop and adjoining Spoke Hill Gallery are 1.6 miles south of the
Wimberley Village Square on TX12. They are open noon-5pm, Fri.-Mon. or by
appointment, 512/847-9348. The artisan handiwork can also be seen at Sable 5
Art Gallery in Wimberley during the “Gathering of Glass,” Sept. 21-Nov. 11. The
four artisans will also be working at the Texas Renaissance Festival in
Plantersville (Oct. 5-Nov. 17) and the Gen. Houston Festival in Huntsville in
April.
Coming up this weekend…
Texas Folklife Festival at the Institute of Texan Cultures in San Antonio
celebrates food, music, and history the ethnic mix that created Texas, Aug.
1-4. 210/558-2300.
Fireman’s Fiesta in Brenham includes arts & crafts, cookoffs, games, and
music, Aug. 2-4. 409/836-1688.
Gillespie Co. Schuetzenfest at Bear Creek Shooting Ranch off of TX16 outside
of Fredericksburg preserves the pioneer tradition of testing one’s
marksmanship, Aug. 3-4. 210/699-6294.
Coming up…
“What Tree Is That?,” a guide for identifying trees is free from the National
Arbor Day Foundation, Nebraska City, NE 68410.
Outdoor Skills Seminars at REI begin at 7pm and include: Basic Backpacking,
Aug.1; Intermediate Backpacking, Aug. 8; Basic Bicycle Maintenance, Aug. 15;
Paddle Camping Basics, Aug. 22; Intro Rock Climbing, Aug. 29. 343-5550.
This article appears in August 2 • 1996 and August 2 • 1996 (Cover).
