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Heart of Glass - Blenko Glass

Blenko Glass is a West Virginia treasure that spans generations. Nothing symbolizes the state of West Virginia better or more beautifully than Blenko Glass. We will discuss current and former craftsmen and designers and how important it is that Blenko and West Virginia glass be appreciated and valued by the younger generation.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Ron Hinkle exhibit at State Cultural Center


The West Virginia Division of Culture and History will open a new exhibit, Ron Hinkle Glass, one of the West Virginia’s Gift to the World series, in the Lobby Gallery of the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex in Charleston. An opening reception to celebrate the show will be held Monday, Aug. 30, at the Culture Center beginning at 6 p.m. The exhibit and reception are free and the public is invited to attend. Ron Hinkle Glass will remain on display through Oct. 31.

The evening’s event will include remarks by Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith of the Division and a Gallery Talk by Hinkle. The artist also will have 100 signed and numbered pieces entitled “Flower of the Evening,” for sale to the public for $40. The special edition piece is a six-inch-tall cranberry glass starflower mounted atop a solid base of crystal glass that rises up in a spiraled vine where the flower sits.

The exhibit has the theme “While You Were Sleeping,” and will resemble a glass flower garden. There are approximately 1,000 pieces of glass in the show including flowers, stars, orbs and leaves in a variety of shapes and colors – all set against the backdrop of a night sky.

Hinkle is an accomplished master glass artist who embodies great passion and appreciation for glass and the history of glass making. He was born and raised in Buckhannon and developed a love of glass at the young age of 12. Using the glass tubing from his chemistry set, Hinkle taught himself to bend and stretch glass over the burners of his gas stove.

During the summer before his senior year at Buckhannon-Upshur High School, Hinkle learned that the glass factories in nearby Weston needed summer help. He began working for Louie Glass and ended up spending the next 20 years there, learning from the masters, while developing his own style.

Within a few years, Hinkle began working independently during his breaks and after work to learn the art of glass blowing. He soon was assigned to a glass blowing position, where he remained for 14 years. He began crafting paperweights during every spare moment and secured an apprentice to assist him. In mid-1993, Hinkle left Louie Glass and opened Hinkle’s Dying Art Glassworks on Jan. 1, 1994 in Buckhannon. He initially sold his work wholesale, particularly to Princess House Consultants. For the first five years, his business grew by 30 percent each year. His art glass is available in more than 30 states and select international locations. In December 2005, he changed his company’s name to Ron Hinkle Glass.

Hinkle’s work has been featured on the West Virginia Governor’s Tree and the Christmas Pageant of Peace trees at the White House. He regularly demonstrates his craft at the Mountain State Arts and Craft Fair in Ripley and the WVU Jackson’s Mill Jubilee near Weston and has been featured in USA Today, Lifestyle Crafts Buyers Guide, Wonderful West Virginia, West Virginia Living. Corridor, West Ways and All About Glass magazine. His product line includes designer vases, rondels, bowls, stemware, table lamps and a series of novelty figurines including animals, fruit and flowers. He currently is developing a line of handcrafted custom lamps in collaboration with blacksmith artist Jeff Fetty of Spencer.

For more information about the West Virginia’s Gift to the World exhibit, Ron Hinkle Glass, contact Charles Morris, director of museums and collections and exhibits manager for the Division, at (304) 558-0220.
I plan on heading over after work tomorrow - I hope some of you will as well!

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

LATE NOTICE
BUT WE WILL DRIVE DOWN TO CHARLESTON FOR THIS.
HINKLE IS AN ARTIST
MUCH LIKE DAVE OSBURN YOU CANT KEEP THESE GUYS IN A FACTORY THEY ARE TOO CREATIVE.
ASK OSBURN ABOUT OUR MEETING. I ASK HIM TO REDUCE THE PRICE AND HE ASK ME TO LEAVE.
LATER WE WERE OK. HE HAS SOME DAMN GOOD GLASS IN THAT SMALL SHOP
ALL GLASS COLLECTORS SHOULD VISIT EACH AND EVERY TIME THEY RETURN TO WV.
MOUNTAIN RITA
PS ROXIE< MARGIE< RAM< I MISS OUR OLD GROUP ARE YOU ALL HERE BUT SILENT?

Anonymous said...

I'll be there Hilary.
Ted E.

Anonymous said...

photos of the lamps please.

Anonymous said...

I like going to Osburns and talking to him, I like talking to the other guy there also, i don't know his name he's a big guy, very soft spoken, but damn he knows glass and how to make it. He said he also used to work for Blenko. I learned alot the day I was there.

Spooky Momma said...

I am lucky enough to own a small, multicolored flower made by Hinkle! It's so beautiful.

Spooky Momma said...

I am lucky enough to own a small, multicolored flower made by Hinkle! It's so beautiful.

Spooky Momma said...

I am lucky enough to own a small, multicolored flower made by Hinkle! It's so beautiful.

Dr.BOB said...

We'll go this weekend.
Randall Smith is in my opinion one of the best hires Gov Manchin has made.
The man is proactive and supportive of WV.
I hope he will make Ron Hinkles exhibit one that travels across the state.

Dr.BOB said...

We'll go this weekend.
Randall Smith is in my opinion one of the best hires Gov Manchin has made.
The man is proactive and supportive of WV.
I hope he will make Ron Hinkles exhibit one that travels across the state.

Dr.BOB said...

Hello Mountain Rita,
What is the foilage like in your area? Leaves are already turning here.

sweetdoc said...

We will be in Charleston on Saturday for this.
Hilary are you available to meet for lunch? Blossom Dairy maybe, around 3pm - I'm sending the phone #s to the blenkoproject email.
10 of us will be driving up, spending Saturday night returning Sunday.