Hudson Beach Glass Philadelphia

Only Two Weeks Left to Pull a Glass Flower

We won't be pulling glass flowers again until the fall so make your appointment to come in over the next two weekends. You choose from a wide range of colors to create your design. Then, with the help of a highly trained glassblower, you'll use giant tweezers to pull glass that has the consistency of honey into the shape of a flower. Every bloom comes out totally unique. Pulling a glass flower is an exciting and unique experience to share with your family and friends. If you're wondering what to get for those bridesmaids consider a glassblowing experience they'll never forget. And if you're looking for a fun bachlorette party call us for details on our "Make Your Own" parties. Flowers cost $35 each. Please note that your flower will have to cool overnight so you can either pick it up the next day or we'll ship it to you.

June is all about Jewelry and Beer at HBG in Philadelphia

Our Jewelry show, "The Body Adorned", opens on June 4th which is also the kick off of Philly Beer Week. "The Body Adorned" is a fantastic show curated by our own Jenna Efrein. It features Sydney Cash, Joyce Roessler, and Abigail Seligsohn (her earrings and their inspiration are above), as well as other very talented artisans. The show explores themes in Jewelry we rarely stop to contemplate. Below is Jenna's curatorial statement:

Jewelry is as diverse as the people who wear it. It represents commitment, memory, and our own sense of style.  It’s the charm necklace that contains her grandfathers’ dog tags. The cuff links he wears to set off his suit at the wedding. The jangling announcement each footfall makes from her anklet. Colorful barrettes that are the finishing touch to our latest style. Jewelry affects our lives whether we are paying homage to a loved one or defining ourselves. A subtle addition or a bold placement their significance defines our identity and it’s many facets. Because jewelry means nothing without the person it adorns. 

Beer Week is June 4th-13th

We here at Hudson Beach Glass love beer and are very excited for this year's beer week. We've got two great events going on during the week. And more then likely we'll be drinking lots of beer. I'm pretty sure that's what you do during a whole week devoted to the stuff.

Design Your Own Pint Glass

We're inviting people into the studio to design their own Pint Glasses. Make an appointment to come in and choose from a wide range of colors and 7 stamps (skull and cross bones, barley, an eagle head, a four leaf clover and more) to design the perfect pint. Once you've decided what your masterpiece will look like step into the studio and watch as the owner of Hudson Beach Glass Philadelphia and his apprentice make it for you. Call to make your appointment. Designing your own pint glass costs $40. Please note that your pint glass will have to cool overnight.

Cut Your Favorite Bottle into a Cup

We're guessing that during beer week you're going to come across a lot of very cool looking beer bottles. So we're offering to turn that awesome bottle into a cup. Bring in any bottle that has an enamel label and we will happily cut off the top and turn into into a glass for you. Please make sure to clean the bottle first. And please no paper labels people, they catch on fire. Each cup costs $15, or 4 for $50. It takes about 3 days to make your bottle into a cup. You can drop them off during any of our regular business hours.

"Plumage" Opening was a Blast

Thanks to everyone who came out and made May 7th such a fun night. Below are some pictures by Kevin Hershey.

A great shot of the limited edition glasses we collaborated on with Gail for "Plumage"

Gail's work looks just wonderful with all our glass!

 

Jan Pethick, Gail and my art teacher at Baldwin, made it to the opening with his lovely wife Barbara. We were so excited they came.

Gail Cunningham in front of the store holding our new glasses.

Gail Cunningham's "Plumage" Opens this Friday

Gail Cunningham's Plumage opening reception 5:30-9:30

This show is the first time we have ever collaborated on cups and judging by how much we love the out come it won't be the last. Gail did the design for these cups and Sean Gilvey (co-owner of Hudson Beach Glass Philadelphia) made the cups.

This is just one of the two designs we are doing for Plumage. We are only making 75 of each design. All of the cups will be signed by both artist and numbered. They are $65 each.

In addition to the above cups we are showing ten of Gail Cunningham's cut paper pieces. Each one of these is cut from a single piece of paper. Below are 6 of the larger pieces. Gail's artist statement is at the end of this post.

 

Flock of Birds Couch

20”x 32”

$1600

Hammer and Saw Couch

25.5”x 18”

$1400

Hidden and Captured

19.25”x 19.25”

$900

Bell Jars and Lace

17”x 18.5”

$900

Chair Vines

12”x 14”

$750

Twisted Buildings II

18.75”x 25.5

$1400

Artist Statement:

My work centers around a fascination with social organization. The format of the house and its interior anatomy influence how we position ourselves in social environments. I tend to work in metaphor using rooms and buildings as a way to stage an interaction with various forms of seating, which have become my stand-in for people.  I have always veered away from using figures in my work, because the body is something that is so personal. I want to work with imagery that you can take a few steps back from. Chairs, beds, and sofas, are all examples of furniture that shadow the human figure, their primary function being to hold a body. The way a piece of furniture holds you and the way it looks effects how you experience your environment. The hard and simple feel of the Shaker ladder back chair stands stark in comparison to the lavish and opulent style of a Louis XV sofa or arm chair, where the upholstery and button tufting become defining plumage. Much in the way a peacock will flaunt his feathers, we broadcast our individual aesthetic through objects and their arrangement like plumage. It is a way to explain ourselves, our likes and dislikes, and to attract or repel others. With that in mind, these pieces reflect different relationships I have experienced, relationships with others as well as with myself. I invite the viewer to imagine entering these rooms, coming upon these pieces of furniture, these staged scenarios, and to be aware of the level of comfort or unease it creates, or how one feels when situated in a particular piece of furniture.

All of these pieces are cut out of a single sheet of paper, making them fragile and lace-like. While I often find the design phase of the work grueling and a daily test of will, the process of cutting paper is meditative and cathartic for me. The finished work and the process become a place where I can exert control and a sense of perfection that is seemingly otherwise absent in daily life.

Pull a Glass Flower for Mother's Day

Instead of getting your mother a bouquet that will eventually wilt away why not make her a glass flower? Or better yet, bring her in and make flowers together. You choose from a wide range of colors to create your design. Then, with the help of a highly trained glassblower, you'll use giant tweezers to pull glass that has the consistency of honey into the shape of a flower. Every bloom comes out totally unique. Pulling a glass flower is an exciting and unique experience to share with your mom. May is also the beginning of wedding season and if you're wondering what to get for those bridesmaids consider a glassblowing experience they'll never forget. And if you're looking for a fun bachlorette party call us for details on our "Make Your Own" parties. Flowers cost $35 each. Please note that your flower will have to cool overnight so you can either pick it up the next day or we'll ship it to you.