Glenn Krum, in a recent life was a scientist and engineer in the petroleum industry. These two professions
are reflected in the technical attention Glenn has devoted to the kiln-fired "warm glass" and to the future
"hot glass" (glassblowing) facilities in Laurel Studios.
Glenn studied glassblowing with nationally
recognized artist and glassblowing teacher, Jayne Duryea and now he is satisfying his desire for a glass studio to allow
him to work with glass at all temperatures and share his enthusiasm for the art with others.
Glenn is self-taught
largely in kiln-formed "warm glass", but perfected his experience with glass artist Karen Bobetic of Houston. Fusing
glass and slumping or molding it into graceful forms (warm glass) are a mixture of art and science too. Taking
a solid like glass and being able to mix and enhance colors through a heating process involves the skills of an engineer,
the eyes of an artist and the heart of a scientist.
The Art Glass Process:
Designing on paper the work to be created;
Selecting the colors of glass to be used;
Cutting and fitting the glass to make a
flat version of the work, maintaining a 6 mm In a glass working kiln, fusing the glass.
Annealing
the fused glass in the kiln to relieve stresses as it slowly cools.
Repeated these steps additional
times to make complicated designs in the glass for the future piece.
Slumping the glass into
or over a heat-proof mold or shaping in the kiln through some other means, like gravity or “raking” the softened
glass;
Carefully annealing the cooling glass again to relieve stresses.
"Cold working" the piece to achieve additional artistic effects.
The Laurel Studios has three kilns for "warm glass" and tools for "cold working" the slumped
pieces. In addition, equipment for creating molds for slumping glass is present, as well as molds for many sizes and
shapes of warm glass art.
