36th Niijima International Glass Art Festival

10/20-26
"Interlace"

Mel Douglas Nancy Callan

Requirements

Students should have basic glassblowing skill. Four Years of solid glassblowing experience preferred.

Tuition

¥120,000 yen (lodging and meals not included)

Mel Douglas has worked as an independent studio artist since 2000. In 2020 Douglas was awarded her PhD from the Australian National University for practice-lead research investigating how studio glass can be understood through the aesthetics of drawing. In addition to winning the 2020 and 2014 Tom Malone Prize, a prestigious award through which a work is acquired each year into the collection of the National Gallery of Western Australia, Douglas has received several major awards including the Ranamok Glass Prize in 2002, the International Young Glass Award in 2007 from Ebeltolft and in 2022 she was a finalist in the Loewe Craft Prize.
In 2019 her work was the inaugural acquisition for the NGA’s Robert and Eugenie Bell Decorative Arts and Design Fund. Douglas’ work is held in the private collections and public institutions internationally, including the Corning Museum of Glass, New York, the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA; the Ebeltoft Museum of Glass, Denmark, and National Gallery of Australia, Australia.

Nancy Callan grew up near Boston, MA, working as a pizza-maker, band roadie and graphic designer before attending the Massachusetts College of Art (BFA 1996). A chance peek into the hot glass studio changed the trajectory of her life; she was entranced by the fluid, glowing material and the demanding choreography of working at the furnace. In 1996 she relocated to Seattle, WA to join maestro Lino Tagliapietra’s glassblowing team, rising to a key position as his assistant and travelling internationally to teach and demonstrate the craft. Through this nineteen-year apprenticeship, Callan mastered the traditional Venetian glassblowing techniques that are the foundation of her innovative work with line, pattern and color.

Nancy Callan has blazed a trail as an LGBTQ woman, helping to inspire, teach and mentor the next generation of diverse artists in glass. Residencies, workshops and collaborations continue to feed her practice and create space for experimentation. Callan’s work brings a contemporary sensibility to the material and processes of hot glass working.
Nancy Callan is represented by galleries throughout North America and her work is in the collections of the Museum of Glass (WA), Microsoft Collection, Chrysler Museum (VA), The Mint Museum (NC), Peabody-Essex Museum (MA), Barry Museum (VA), Corning Museum of Glass (NY) and the Shanghai Museum of Glass (China). A major solo exhibition, “Nancy Callan: Forces At Play”, opens at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, WA in October 2024.

Interlace

　To weave together elements (form, pattern and surface) in a way that they are linked or intertwined.
　Our class, Interlace, will explore how form, pattern, and surface come together to create beautiful glass objects. You’ll develop new ideas through spontaneity, experimentation, and thoughtful practice.

What We’ll Cover:

• Form: Focus on mastering one of three basic shapes—sphere, cone, or cylinder.
• Pattern: We will learn some cane working techniques and play with cane application
• Surface: we will look at ways to transform your objects in the cold shop through changing the surface or adding texture or pattern.

Hello Students!

We’re excited to be part of the 36th Nijima Festival and look forward to meeting you! Our class, Interlace, will explore how form, pattern, and surface come together to create beautiful glass objects. You’ll develop new ideas through spontaneity, experimentation, and thoughtful practice.

Pre-Class Task:
Please bring a small object or image that combines shape with pattern or texture in an interesting way. We will use this as a starting point for the class.

What to Expect:

Hands-On Learning: Most time will be in the hot shop, with the last day in the cold shop. In the hot shop, we’ll focus on Venetian glassblowing, teamwork, and spontaneity. In the cold shop, we’ll work on surface decoration techniques like carving and engraving.
Teamwork:
You’ll work in teams, supporting each other while developing your skills and ideas.

Preparation and Supplies:
Hot Shop: Bring your own palette of glass colours, including stiff colours like black and white (duro), plus your favourite transparent and opaque colours. If you have glassblowing tools, please bring them. Don’t forget a set of calipers!
Cold Shop: Bring a respirator, waterproof shoes, apron, sketchbook, and drawing materials—anything that helps your process.

Additional Info:

Skills and Experience: Some cold shop experience and advanced glassblowing skills are preferred.

Goals: By the end, you’ll have new technical skills and ideas for future projects. The focus is on exploring and developing, not making finished objects.

We can’t wait to explore the exciting possibilities of glass with you—combining form and surface to inspire your creativity!

10/20-27
Nintai（忍耐）

Roger Parramore

Requirement:

program require students at least 4 years of basic technical mastery.

Tuition:

¥120,000 (lodging are not included)

My interest in glass began when I was 9 years old, and 54 years later my interest has never faded. Beginning as a hobby I received an apprenticeship in scientic glassblowing. My technical base has developed into an art and personal voice. I have long had a comittment to teaching and glass has taken me the world over. I continue to focus on teaching and developing new and different techniques and ways of understanding this most ancient material.

Nintai（忍耐）

　Goblet making is an absolute commitment. It has been the tradition for many centuries that the goblet is the expression and definition of the glass blowers' art. It is a commitment to technique and aesthetic balance, to form and function. To be a goblet maker is much more than a being a glassblower, it is a commitment to a philosophical principle that one must follow without fail.
In this class we will explore the traditions of goblet making both current and old, and we will convert them to the modern burner work traditions of today focusing on the principles of nintai: patience, practice, perseverance, and perfection.

Letter to students

　Welcome to Niijima! I am so very happy to return to my favorite place to teach, and I look forward to working with you all. This class will focus on the goblet, both form and function. Goblets require a very deep committment to technique and aesthetic balance, in other words, a lot of practice! We will focus on this throughout the class. We will look to history and modern technique to gain a well rounded perspective on goblets. What will you need? A desire to learn and your normal tools you are accustomed to working with. Also, you will find claw grabbers, a graphite paddle and graphite reamer very useful. I highly recommend a blow hose assembly as this will make it much easier to progress quickly. I look forward to meeting you all on Niijima!