About Eric Dandurand

“I imagine my works as being in families for generations, as being initiators of conversations and as being sources of joy for their guardians. I am proud to be a glassblower. I admire both the creative and technical aspects of glass. It is a fascinating medium that enables me to go into that no-time zone and flow.”

- Eric Dandurand

Read more about Eric Dandurand in the May, 2009 issue of Journal Plus.

Materials & Techniques

Molten glass (approximately 2000 degrees Farenheit) is gathered onto a blowpipe where it is allowed to cool, becoming stiff. This enables the blower to gather another layer, increasing the mass of glass. This process is repeated until the desired amount of glass is collected.

Colored glass can be added to the hot glass throughout this process. Colored glass can be applied in the form of powder, different size chunks (frit), and in a molten state. Dandurand uses colored glass in all of its states and in a variety of combinations and layers to attain his finished product. He often manipulates the surface of a piece into a specific decoration involving both texture and color.

Once the gathering and decorating are finished, the glass is hand formed and blown into its final shape. At this point, one can further embellish a piece by misting it with metallic salts. This creates an iridescent layer. This is a very sensitive process in regards to timing, temperature, andoxygen atmosphere. The piece is then placed in an oven where it is annealed (slowly lowered in temperature at a rate that ensures thermal balance – to prevent cracking). The final stages involve grinding, polishing and inspecting the work before it is signed and dated.

Education & Experience

1995 University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
B.A. degree – Art major / Spanish minor

1996 – 1997 Velamsund Glass Studios, Stockholm, Sweden
Apprentice to Claes Uvestan and Ebba von Wachenfeldt

1998 – 2002 Phoenix Studios, Harmony, CA
Glassblower & Apprentice to Carl Radke

2004 Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
guest instructor for 2004 class program

2002 – 2006 Central Coast Glass Artists Studio, Atascadero, CA
glassblower, instructor, co-owner

2006 – 2007 Santa Barbara Artglass, Santa Barbara, CA
glassblower

2009 Host & Assistant to Charles Lowrie & Michael Angelo Menconi – “Spheres of Consciousness” series

2010 Bay Area Glass Institute – Murrinni & Pattern Bar Workshop with J. Schmuck

2010 Host & Assistant to Jiri Pacinek – Czech Glass Master

2011 Host & Assistant to Charles Lowrie & Michael Angelo Menconi – “Transcensions” series

2007 – 2011 Harmony Glassworks, Harmony, CA
glassblower, instructor, owner