Exploring Glass Blowing At Sherwin Art Glass Studio

Published in Green Mountain Outlook, Feb. 17, 2010Sherwin Glass paper weight Welcome to the hand-crafted world of Sherwin Art Glass, located at 33 Bridge Street in downtown Bellows Falls, a unique art studio and gallery featuring the glass-blown creations of Southern Vermont native Chris Sherwin, who opened his studio in August of 2005. However, there is certainly much more depth to this artists than just glass. Born in Brattleboro and raised in Westminster, Chris graduated from Bellows Falls Union High School in 1986 and received a liberal studies degree with a concentration on special education from Southern Ct. State University (SCSU).
"In addition to my concentration in special education at college, I also studied history and psychology. Who would have thought I'd become a glass blower?" Sherwin said in a recent interview. It was during his senior year at SCSU that Sherwin discovered glassblowing as a class elective and has been creating glass art ever since.
Chris has also explored other art media and materials in his career including drawing, painting, ceramics, wood turning and burning.
In 1993 Chris became an apprentice for Simon Pearce, Inc., a prestigious glass studio with facilities in Windsor and Quechee, that specializes in high-quality, functional crystal. Chris honed his glassblowing skills , with a special concentration in stemware and handled pieces such as tankards, pitchers and Irish coffee mugs.
In 1997, Sherwin and his wife (then fiance') Cheryl, moved to California where she pursued her college education and Chris worked as a glass blower for Orient & Flume Art Glass, a world-renowned glass studio famous for their intricate work, brilliant colors and torch work designs.
Chris Sherwin In his studio"For the next several years I watched and learned from masters of the trade, while experimenting and developing my own techniques," he added. "Specializing in iridescent and torch work design, I sold pieces on the Orient & Flume production line and had my own retail section in the showroom." Then, in 2004, the Sherwin's decided to move back home and settled in Bellows Falls, with Chris opening his studio a year later.
As mentioned, Chris specializes in torch work design and application, using specifically designed, hand-pulled canes of glass and a hand-held oxy-propane torch to melt and shape his creations. Currently, the studio is about 70 percent studio and 30 percent gallery, while always moving forward towards a more definitive showroom space.
"I am also starting to show other area artists' work in my studio," Chris added. "Two local artists currently displaying their art in the studio include the original paintings and cards by Scott J. Morgan, as well as Jean-Claude Manner, a jack-of-all-trades artist specializing in wood, stone and metal sculpture."
Just a few of Sherwin’s artist affiliations include the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, the Vermont State Craft Center at Frog Hollow, the Vermont Crafts Council, the Glass Art Society and Bellows Falls Downtown Development Alliance.
Sherwin’s work is also featured in many galleries throughout New England and beyond. The Sherwin Art Glass Studio currently displays around 100 unique glass Sherwin Art Glasspieces for sale, with many seasonal specials and new pieces often available.
To learn more about Sherwin Art Glass or to purchase one of these custom-created glass art works, call 376-5744, visit the studio at 33 Bridge St. or visit their studio on line at www.sherwinartglass.com.