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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.

Friday, March 31, 2017

Marvin Liposfsky . Blenko Glass.

Hillary
Can you tell me about the link between Marvin Liposky and Blenko?  I attended a Glass Group here in Greensboro and the Gentleman said Liposky and other Glass Giants visited Blenko and other Glass factories in the 70s.  I can find no information about these collaborations.
Was there glass made for sale?  If so where do I find these items?    John G.

John,   Your lecturer was correct.  Joel Myers ( Blenko Designer)  was instrumental in inviting other glass artist to  experience working with factory glass.  These men later became the foundation of the early Glass Arts Movement.  Marvin L.,  Henry Littleton,  Fritz D.  and several other glass artist/ teachers visited factories in W.Va.  Marvin L. would go on to found the GAS.
RE: Items made,  I have seen several, none for sale.   May I suggest you contact the W.Va. Museum of  American Glass  230 Main Street,  Weston, WVa.   phone 304269 5006.
We met Marvin for the first time in 2009 ( Pittsburgh GAS conference).  He had fond memories of Blenko and the 'Wonderful" people of West Virginia. 

In Memoriam   ( Taken from Marvin Liposfsky website)      
  

September 1, 1938 — January 15, 2016

Marvin Lipofsky in 2003 Marvin Lipofsky, 77, renowned San Francisco Bay Area teacher and sculptor who worked with glass, died of natural causes on Friday, January 15, 2016. Mr. Lipofsky was born and raised in Barrington, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, where his parents Henry and Mildred Lipofsky owned a small department store. He earned his BFA in Industrial Design, 1957-1962 at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, followed by an MS and MFA in Sculpture, 1962-1964, University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Mr. Lipofsky was among the first students to work with Harvey Littleton, the celebrated founder of the American Studio Glass movement, at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Immediately upon graduation, he was hired by the University of California, Berkeley to build and direct its glass program, where he taught until 1972. Teaching full-time, he developed the glass program at the California College of Arts and Crafts (now the California College of the Arts) in Oakland where he remained until 1987, when he left to work full time in his studio in Berkeley until his death.
In addition to his daughter Lisa Lipofsky-Valenzuela, Mr. Lipofsky is survived by his grandchildren, Briana & Antonio, his sister Barbara Marsh, and his good friend, Jeanette Bokhour.
Mr. Lipofsky's work was prized for its rhythmic forms and complex concave and convex shapes, which suggested both abstract and organic sources. Glass was his chosen medium of artistic expression. A consummate colorist, and fine artist, Mr. Lipofsky took great advantage of the chromatic possibilities of working with hot glass. He was dedicated to honoring the artists who worked with him and the places where he made his work.
Celebrated for his working method, Mr. Lipofsky regularly traveled to glass workshops around the USA and the world (he visited 30 foreign countries, including Bulgaria, China, Israel, New Zealand, the Soviet Union, and from coast to coast in the USA; he taught over 300 workshops around the world), where he gathered the raw material for his pieces, worked with local sculptors and their students in their hot shops, observed local communities and traditions, and then returned to Berkeley to assemble his final objects. Mr. Lipofsky functioned as an ambassador for sculpture in glass, often naming the groups of works that resulted from his voyage for their place of origin, for example, the Stockholm Series (1989) and the Kentucky Series (2000).
Mr. Lipofsky's work was widely exhibited and collected. It is included in the permanent collections of the Corning Museum of Glass, the Museum of Art and Design in New York, the Oakland Museum of California, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the St. Louis Museum of Art, the National Museum of Modern Art in Kyoto, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Renwick Gallery (National Museum of American Art) Smithsonian Institution at Washington, D.C., and the Musée des Arts Decoratifs in Paris, among many others. The recipient of a Lifetime Achievement award from the Glass Art Society in 2009, he was also the subject of a retrospective exhibition at the Oakland Museum of California in 2003. A founding member of the American Studio Glass movement, he was the most influential glass artist in California. Marvin Lipofsky was a formidable character and leader in the close knit community of glass artists and collectors, within the USA and internationally. He will be greatly missed.
   

Purple Moon Estate Sale.


Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Blenko Glass Company. Heart of Glass. Blenko Blog.

Blenko Glass is having a 10% discount on all green glass.  In honor of St Patricks Month.  Please go to www.blenkoglass.com to view all the many items available at this discount price.  As always shipping is available and Blenko accepts all credit cards.

Shamrock from Carolee and wiki

Sunday, March 12, 2017

St Patricks' Day. Blenko Glass Blog. Blenko Glass Company. Heart of Glass

Thanks to Carolee and wiki for this info.

Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, "the Day of the Festival of Patrick"), is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick  (c. AD 385–461), the foremost patron saint  of Ireland.

Saint Patrick's Day was made an official Christian feast day in the early 17th century and is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion (especially the Church of Ireland), the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Lutheran Church. The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and celebrates the heritage and culture , of the Irish  in general. Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals, céilithe, and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks.[ Christians also attend church services and the Lenten restrictions on eating and drinking alcohol are lifted for the day, which has encouraged and propagated the holiday's tradition of alcohol consumption.

 Modern celebrations have been greatly influenced by those of the Irish diaspora,, particularly those that developed in North America. In recent years, there has been criticism of Saint Patrick's Day celebrations for having become too commercialised and for fostering negative stereotypes of the Irish.

   In West Virginia we often give 'green' gifts to those we care for - flowers, mints, or GREEN GLASS,  and most pubs offer green colored beers for the celebration. 


Photos of Blenko Green from Bruce S. ( Texas Collector)

Thursday, March 09, 2017

The Month of March - Think Green! Blenko Glass Blog. Heart of Glass.

No one does green...like BLENKO!
Any green item in stock at Blenko - is 10% off this month.

Monday, March 06, 2017

Easter arriving at Blenko - Bunnies, Eggs and baskets!

Special Edition Bunnies are beginning to make their way to the shipping department here at the factory. Our skilled artisans have been hard at work designing a color scheme for this bunny that is both beautiful and eye-catching. This year’s bunny is known as the “Crocus” Bunny because it mimics the colors of the Crocus flower and pays tribute to the Easter season. They are completely hand-formed by our team of skilled glass artisans and enhanced with a splash of purple, blue, green and white colored glass encased inside of each. Available for pre-order now at  shop.blenko.com Bunnies will begin shipping as early as next week. Order by March 31 to ensure delivery before Easter. The height of each bunny varies but they are generally around a chubby 6 ¾” in height with a flop ear. $52 each

We are 
also making a mini basket from 448r shape and a large handblown egg that can is supposed to have a large enough flat vase so it can be stood up. these 2 are still in development but bunny is online. 



Sunday, March 05, 2017

Spring Open House - Make Your OWN Easter Egg

 Open HouseMarch 18, 2017

A One day, Saturday Only event. Classes offered to the public to make handmade glass Easter eggs Blenko family signing event. Limited edition of special pieces for sale in our Visitors Center include an annual edition hand formed Bunny, as well as limited edition spring vase and pitcher

Wednesday, March 01, 2017

Blenko Glass Blog. The Heart of Glass 3/1/17

BLENKO GLASS WAREHOUSE SALE!  
This is a large event - for Blenko Vendors - also for Blenko Collectors or folks looking to purchase xmas gifts for great prices -  or just to refill your gift closet.
Blenko's Dean Six is continuing the Blenko Warehouse Sale for 2017.  NOTE the event is for FOUR DAYS ONLY.
You'll want to plan to visit - if you need lodging etc info - write to theblenkoproject@aol.com and we'll provide you with a list of lodging and great places to eat - and shop for vintage Blenko.


Blenko Warehouse SaleMarch 18-21, 2017
Four (4) Consecutive Days ONLY!!!
We open our factory warehouse with overstocks, preferred seconds, and some unique and one-of-a kind Blenko at special discount prices.  We will also feature special items in our on-site store. A great shopping opportunity.  This event previously was almost two weeks but we have less excess inventory and have shortened the event dramatically.