CHRONICAL 3

This water pipe was assembled from the broken pieces of an antique Pyrex cooking dish. I was interested in the color because the dish was produced before the advent of glass smoking pipes brought a colorful palette to a mostly clear, scientific medium of borosilicate glass. When the Pyrex dish broke I saw an opportunity to transmute the shards of this pre 1980’s transparent colored boro into a functional work of art.

There were many unknown factors in approaching this project. I did not know if the old Pyrex was compatible or whether I had enough material for the project I envisioned. Unlike traditional glassblowing, the broken pieces could not be melted in a crucible. With only a torch at my disposal, each piece was melted individually and “skinned” to remove the surface tension from the glass. The glass was then blown into workable sections. The pastel colors in the disk are repurposed “gunmount” glass collected from old box TVs. I hoped this antique opaque borosilicate (also produced by Corning around the same time) would be an interesting contrast to the color of the Pyrex.

This project is about materiality and repurposing. It arose out of a contemplation on the history of glass production: how the vibrant craft-revival movement of pipe-making brought a resurgence of flameworking to America and in doing so helped turn borosilicate glass into an artistic medium. I hope this piece challenges perspective on the items we take for granted, and displays how things falling apart may present opportunity for new beginnings. I have found a great sense of achievement in following through with my wildest pipe dreams.

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