Husband and wife glass-blowing team Jeff and Heather Thompson have been creating sculpture in molten hot glass together for over 17 years. Their artworks are an intelligent blend of contemporary, traditional and custom techniques that they compliment with a diverse taste in modern sculpture. Their style is based in the traditional Italian method of glassblowing which utilizes a long steel blowpipe to ‘gather’ liquid hot glass from a crucible furnace. They are best known for their sea life sculptures as well as their contemporary vases and large-scale installations.
“We are inspired to create glass sculptures in a broad range of styles. The desire of creation moves us into new realms every day we are in our studio. Working side by side and having the connection between us is a driving force in the studio,” says Heather.
Jeff, a fourth generation Oregonian, grew up in Bend and graduated from Bend Senior High in 1995. While at the University of Oregon he took a marble making class that focused his interest into glass. After being married for about a year Heather began to assist Jeff in the studio and now, through teamwork, they are able to accomplish much more complex glassblowing projects. Previously based in the Corvallis area the Thompsons moved their glassblowing studio to Bend in 2005.
“Behind the art there is a scientist inside me and I find it very satisfying to design, engineer and build my custom studio equipment which includes crucible furnaces, oversized kilns and many various peripherals. For me, this global view of my process is an important part of mastering the medium,” says Jeff.
Jeff are Heather are the newest member artists at the Red Chair Gallery. Their work is represented in fine art galleries all over the country and they were featured on Oregon Art Beat in 2007.
You can view their website at thompsonstudioglass.com or connect on Instagram @thompson.studio.glass
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