Chris Sherwin – Artist Profile
Art has been an
integral part of my life for more than 17 years. In
addition to glassblowing, I’ve also enjoyed exploring a variety of media and
materials, such as music, ceramics,
drawing, painting, and woodturning/wood burning.
I first encountered glassblowing
in 1991, as an “elective” during my senior year at Southern Connecticut State University, in New Haven, CT,
while earning a B.S. in Liberal Studies, with a concentration in Special
Education. After two years of
working in Maryland as a residential direct-care worker for individuals with
Developmental Disabilities, I returned to my home state of Vermont to begin my
‘lifepath’ as a glassblower.
In 1993, I hired on as an apprentice with Simon Pearce, Inc., a prestigious glass
facility in Windsor & Quechee, VT, known for their high-quality production
of functional crystal. I
became a journeyman glassblower and team leader, and my
particular concentration was in stemware and handled pieces (pitchers, tankards,
Irish coffee mugs, etc.) as well as various bowls and vases.
In 1997, my fiancé and I moved to Chico, California, where she pursued her BA/Masters degrees in Speech Pathology and I worked as a glassblower at Orient & Flume Art Glass, an internationally-renowned glass studio, known for their iridescent vases, intricate paperweights, and torchwork designs. For the next seven years, I watched and learned from some of the “masters of the trade,” experimenting with new colors and techniques, developing and refining my own skills, and specializing in iridescent and torchwork design. I sold many solo and collaboratively-designed pieces on the “O & F” production line, and had my own successful retail section in the Orient & Flume showroom.
In 2004, after
our respective educations, wonderful adventures and life experiences, we
returned home to New England to raise our daughter in the same close-knit
community setting we grew up in, closer to both our families.
For the next year I worked to set up my glass studio, and on August 28,
2005, Sherwin Art Glass was
officially recognized by the State of Vermont as a business, complete with a
scenic location overlooking the Connecticut River in Bellows Falls, VT.
I live about a
mile from the studio with my wife, Cheryl, a Speech & Language Pathologist
in the Rockingham School District, our daughter, Cassandra, a happy, healthy
sixth-grader at the local elementary school, and a few furry, four-legged
friends.
When not blowing glass, I enjoy many outdoor sports and activities
(especially disc golf and hiking), playing guitar, and spending quality time
with my family and friends.
Create Happiness!
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