Thursday, April 23, 2009

Dave Fetty master demonstrations

Dave Fetty of Fenton will be doing master demonstrations at FENTON GLASS - this info is from the Fenton Glass website. Check the website for dates and times.

Dave Fetty and Shorty Finley remain friends and weekly they talk about glass arts and designing new projects. FENTON GLASS one of the FEW remaining Glass Factories in the USA.
Fenton has long been associated with the television home shopping networks and has many many local collectors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The phrase "off-hand" really means working "by hand," as the glass artisans create various effects by shaping molten glass and applying threads or bits of glass in contrasting colors.
Dave may use a mould to bring the piece to its final shape, but all the decorative effects -- colored frit, hanging hearts, pulled feathers, handles, ringing, threading, etc. are done strictly by hand.
Don't miss out on your chance to attend a FREE 1 hour master craftsman seminar featuring Dave Fetty or one of his apprentices...on a special Saturday !
Spaces are limited for these special "up close and personal" sessions so reserve your seat today!
About Dave...
A skilled glassworker, Dave Fetty retired in 1999 after more than 40 years in the glass industry. Dave came to Fenton in 1964 after learning the trade in Milton, WV, at the Blenko Glass Company, where he began as a carrying-in boy when he was 19. Dave's mentor at Blenko was glassworker "Shorty" Finley, who taught Dave many of the skills needed to make glass off-hand (without moulds).
In the mid-1970s, Dave worked with glass artisan Robert Barber, helping to design and create some of Fenton's first limited edition pieces. In 1998, Dave taught a "pulled feather" technique to other glassworkers, and he supervised them as they produced this vase for the 1998 Connoisseur Collection.
Even after his "official" retirement, Dave has continued to contribute to Fenton.
http://www.fentonartglass.com/ BUY GLASS MADE IN THE USA!

17 comments:

  1. WHY IS FENTON FLOURISHING AND BLENKO IS NOT?
    WHO RUNS FENTON?
    I NOTICE THE WORKERS SIGN THEIR OWN PIECES AND ALSO RECENTLY WAS TOLD BY FENTON WORKER THEY ARE PAID PER PIECE.
    WHATS THE STORY AT BLENKO?
    MOUNTAIN RIA

    ReplyDelete
  2. A theory perhaps but it appears all the glassworkers look great after age 60?
    Les Womack and the gentlemen at the Olders Days at Blenko all looked super good and now Mr. Fetty is also ageless.
    Is it the chemicals?
    Your thoughts?
    Rhonda

    ReplyDelete
  3. Fenton is successful due to good marketing, good employee relationship and a good neighborhood policy.
    Sam a Fenton neighbor

    ReplyDelete
  4. Myself I discovered Fenton on a shopping network. Then while googling Fenton I found this blog, from this blog, I found many other wonderful online sellers.
    During late nite on calls downtime I revisit Blenko Collector Four my fave and the Fenton Collector websites to learn.
    My thoughts are Blenko will recover, loosing the spokesperson is never easy, the economy is bad, however currently it is in vogue to buy locally and to buy handcrafted.
    Fenton, Blenko and many others will flourish.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Blenko BLENKO Blenko -
    Founded in 2005, Sacred Destinations is an ecumenical guide to more than 1,250 sacred sites, holy places, pilgrimage destinations, religious buildings and sacred artworks in 61 countries around the world. In addition to fully illustrated articles, there are photo galleries containing over 24,000 high-quality images plus detailed maps and lots of practical travel information. It is a big project that is being expanded almost daily. Happy exploring!

    Sacred Sites by Destination

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    Ivory Coast

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    World Heritage Sites

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hilary
    Is something the matter? You are not responding to blogger questions, and you did not write yet about Earth Day or Mother's Day.

    Margie Hale

    ReplyDelete
  7. Mountain Rita
    No USA glass company is flush curently - these are tough times.
    I have no knowledge of Fenton's management or pay scale.
    Thank you for Buying Made In the USA and Blenko Glass.
    hjh

    ReplyDelete
  8. Rhonda
    Perhaps just ' being near the glass' Mr. Bill Blenko, Wayne Husted, Joel Myers, Marvin L, etc don't 'work' the glass but they do seem not to age.
    Excellent observation and perhaps a thesis topic?
    hjh

    ReplyDelete
  9. Bone
    Thank you for your generous comments, please continue to learn about USA Glass and to buy BLENKO!
    Bridgett
    How did you get past my spam filter?
    hjh

    ReplyDelete
  10. Margie,
    Graduation is the 2nd week in May, and I'm very busy with moving, exams, so forth. This day I did write a post for Mother's Day and took time to respond to bloggers questions.
    Thank you for the push.
    HJH

    ReplyDelete
  11. I think thats because she used Blenko Blenko Blenko in her email. Also, its not spam its good information. You all should try the website 'www.sacred-architecture.com', great insight in to archichitecture of sacred places around the world and you would be surprised what you find in there. I am sure you would find it very interesting. Thanks for posting it Bridgett.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Blenko Blenko Blenko

    I meant to say: "www.sacred-destinations.com"

    Enjoy the website.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Does anyone know why if Fetty worked at Blenko, he like Dave Osburn left?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Nice vase in this article. Phoned Fenton you won't believe the cost.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hilly,
    Are you not graduating?
    Read on line the dent school graduation is mid may no invitation was in my mail, no announcment on the blog, many students take 5 or even 6 years to finish, so don't feel too bad.
    We are all behind you.
    The blog and blenko take a lot of time, so its understandable.
    Whatever the year, you invite me and I will come.
    Sol

    ReplyDelete
  16. I own a collection of 8 Fetty that I purchased as a set when an online collector was selling to prepare for retirement home.
    Fetty s work is perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  17. ??? Why not promote Fenton more, it is a WV Glass company and its open and very visable.
    Just a suggeston.
    My bet is the Fentons would welcome the idea and provide you with more stories than you could use.
    Want me to connect you? I joined last year and have become a very vocal supporter.

    ReplyDelete