Glass Microbiology "These transparent glass sculptures were created to contemplate the global impact of each disease and to consider how the doctoring of scientific imagery affects our visualization of phenomena."
posted by dhruva on Sep 3, 2009 - 9 comments

Clothes made of ceramic shards from the Ming, Yuan, Qing and Song Dynasties by Li Xiaofeng, a 43-year-old Beijing artist who has found a way to link his contemporary work with traditional Chinese 10th Century art. Some of the porcelain bits were salvaged from the roof tiles of the emperor’s palace. [more inside]
posted by nickyskye on Jul 5, 2009 - 12 comments

In the early 1980s, Roni Horn travelled to Iceland and lived alone for a few months in the (supposedly haunted) lighthouse at Dyrhólaey. While there, she made rocky, earthy drawings. They formed the first volume of a currently incomplete, abstract encyclopedia of the country [flash navigation] which has now progressed to include beautiful photographs of hot pools, glaciers, lava and rivers. A river's surface has appeared in different guises within a university. She has even made a library of water in a little Icelandic town. However, those currently in or near London can visit an exhibition in Tate Modern. [more inside]
posted by paperpete on Apr 4, 2009 - 7 comments

Nestled amid the red buttes of Papago Park in Phoenix, the Desert Botanical Garden hosts one of the world’s finest collections of desert plants. Home to 139 rare, threatened and endangered plant species from around the world, the Garden offers interesting and inspiring experiences, while their website offers gardening help including good growing guides. The Desert Botanical Garden has educational programming and research for children as well as adults. The internationally acclaimed living collection of over 20,000 desert plants, with particular emphasis on those inhabiting the Sonoran Desert, continues to serve the public and scientific community. [more inside]
posted by netbros on Feb 7, 2009 - 13 comments

Mingei is a transcultural word which combines the Japanese words for all people (Min) and art (Gei). The site has a flash interface and features over 5,000 high resolution, zoomable objects. More information on the Mingei Movement.
posted by tellurian on Jan 27, 2009 - 13 comments

In 1952, Bernard and François BASCHET reveal a new acoustic principle. They manage to amplify the internal vibration of metal, thus founding a new acoustic instrumental family : The Sound Structures [more inside]
posted by Grangousier on Jan 21, 2009 - 4 comments

Glass Blowing Venice Man Makes Cat (YouTube link, via)
posted by dhruva on Jan 1, 2009 - 39 comments

Anything but clear. It is well known that panes of stained glass in old European churches are thicker at the bottom because glass is a slow-moving liquid that flows downward over centuries. Well known, yes, but long known to be wrong. Scientists still disagree about the nature of glass, and researchers continue to try to understand its dual personality . [more inside]
posted by amyms on Jul 29, 2008 - 15 comments

The making of a glass trombone. [more inside]
posted by Upton O'Good on Jul 11, 2008 - 33 comments

"Meat Vision" allows Bacon Boy to propel sausages and corn dogs out of his eye sockets - A young man's art therapy produced a hero, Bacon Boy, and has been chosen by the Tacoma Museum of Glass as part of a traveling exhibit, "Kids Design Glass". [more inside]
posted by nomisxid on Jun 30, 2008 - 15 comments

Kim Neely has enjoyed a very rich professional life already. A writer for Rolling Stone for fifteen years, she also penned the Pearl Jam biography. These days find Kim involved in an entirely different pursuit. Lampworking is a type of glass work that uses a gas fueled torch to melt rods and tubes of clear and colored glass. At her mom's unused workshop Kim created Bluff Road Art Glass. [more inside]
posted by netbros on May 15, 2008 - 7 comments

Bandhu Scott Dunham makes kinetic sculptures out of glass, including the steam engines that power some of them. He discusses how they are made in this podcast. For videos of these sculptures in action, you can view the collection in his gallery or watch some home videos.
posted by Upton O'Good on May 1, 2008 - 5 comments

Prince Rupert’s Drops are quickly cooled teardrop shaped glass pieces that have amazing physical properties. While tough on the big end, they will explosively shatter if broken on the small end.
posted by Tube on Feb 17, 2008 - 49 comments

When it's been gray for days and it seems like spring will never come, making a terrarium (sometimes known as a Wardian case) is a good way to keep from going mad. Your own little ecosystem can be set up easily and cheaply in almost any clear-walled, enclosed container -- even a Mason jar or a two-liter Coke bottle. (Inspired by this.)
posted by fiercecupcake on Jan 25, 2008 - 21 comments

Andy Paiko's Glass Sculpture
posted by dhruva on Dec 19, 2007 - 17 comments

A day by day account of the progress of the manufacturing of 12 Glass Windscreen panels by artist Mario Muller. The pieces are a commission by the MTA Arts in Transit program for Kingsbridge Road station in the Bronx. The work is being done at Franz Mayer of Munich in Germany. More on the artist here and here.
posted by pt68 on Oct 14, 2007 - 6 comments

The art of perfume and snuff bottles: Chinese snuff bottles and more, a variety of types, painted inside and about that technique. About snuff and its use in China. Images on Flickr, at Christie's. Perfume bottles, the history of perfume bottles and perfume. Beautiful glass bottles painted inside by disabled Burmese artist, U Nyo Lay.
posted by nickyskye on Jul 1, 2007 - 12 comments

The glass flowers of Leopold Blaschka were created to provide enduring botanical teaching models. During his lifetime 4,000 models were created; a selection of 17 specimens are currently on display at the Corning Museum of Glass. MeFi has previously been treated to the splendor of the Blaschka marine invertebrates.
posted by donovan on Jun 25, 2007 - 12 comments

Glass Art : A site with thousands of images of glass art objects.
posted by dhruva on May 4, 2007 - 8 comments

3D Glass Paintings by Xia Xiaowan. [Via Table of Malcontents.]
posted by homunculus on Apr 17, 2007 - 24 comments

Ira Glass sits at a soundboard and schools us on the art of storytelling.
posted by bigmusic on Mar 20, 2007 - 75 comments

Verrines are described by the L.A. Times as layered luxury in a glass and are defined as appetizers or desserts that consist of a number of components layered artfully in a small glass. Feast your eyes on these uniquely prepared culinary items. Prepare your own at home by following these sweet and savory recipes.
posted by inconsequentialist on Mar 7, 2007 - 31 comments

How marbles are made. Video showing colored marbles being hand-crafted, layer upon layer, into miniature works of art.
posted by ReiToei on Feb 8, 2007 - 29 comments

At one time or another you've probably rubbed your finger along the rim of a glass to produce a note. In 1761 Ben Franklin took the idea further with the invention of the glass (h)armonica. The instrument enjoyed some popularity, but is believed to have caused health problems due to lead content in the glass. Performers complained of loss of feeling in their hands, some even suffered nervous breakdowns. People became very frightened of the armonica, and by 1830 it was all but extinct. But there's been some renewal of interest: they're being played, and they're being made. You can play a surprisingly good-sounding virtual version. Or listen to a charming rendition of a seasonally appropriate tune. [more links inside] Oh, and: [previously]
posted by flapjax at midnite on Dec 23, 2006 - 15 comments

Historic Glass Bottles. Bill Lindsey of the BLM created a tremendous resource to assist you in identifying and dating most utilitarian glass bottles and jars produced in the United States and Canada between the early 1800s and 1950s. Check out information on glassmaking, bottle dating, and bottle types. Of particular interest to me are the pages on liquor, wine, and beer bottles.
posted by monju_bosatsu on Oct 7, 2006 - 14 comments

From the outside it's hard to guess this is a car factory. But then again, even from the inside the parquet floors and lack of shelves may have thrown you off. Welcome to VW's Incredible Glass Factory.
posted by furtive on Dec 24, 2005 - 16 comments

The Infinity Project "I began to hide planets - first near my house, and then later I brought them with me to leave behind whenever I traveled. Once I learned to fly, I was able to drop planets in truly remote locations from a tiny window on the pilot's side of the plane." (via)
posted by dhruva on Nov 17, 2005 - 38 comments

How do we know he didn't invent the thing?
posted by kafziel on Oct 18, 2005 - 18 comments

If you live in the Midwest, or just like to travel, you may want to consider visiting the Dale Chihuly exibit in Kalamazoo, MI, his only major North American exhibition for the rest of the year. Mainly known for his glass work, he also does paintings and drawings. Previous discussion of Chihuly's work here.
posted by handshake on Sep 25, 2005 - 18 comments

Glassy eyes. The German art of glass eye blowing was developed in Lauscha, Germany in 1835 using cryolite glass. It's a dying art, Australia has only one practitioner in the country. This slow loading but fascinating video [sorry, Windows media] shows the process (apparently in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea). With a family history in the trade and a pioneer in contact lens development, this man's daughter feels that her father is in need of a bit of recognition.
posted by tellurian on Aug 22, 2005 - 12 comments

Ever played Operation or Mouse Trap or any one of 100 other games? Then Marvin Glass is the man behind your childhood fun. And while he may not be a house-hold name, he is a toy industry name. Kaboom!
posted by meech on Apr 11, 2005 - 8 comments

Glass and Light Very cool gallery of glass and plasma sculptures by Ed Kirshner, of Aurora Sculpture. Found via Mona – the Museum of Neon Art, in LA. The Mona site includes an eclectic gallery section, too. I especially enjoyed Eric Ehlenberger’s floating jellyfish (more of his work here), Brian Ferrin’s “Blind Faith,” Vince Koloski’s neon crop circle, and David Wilson’s amazing hand-blown neon lifeforms.
posted by Man O' Straw on Jan 24, 2005 - 7 comments

Sea-creatures in glass. In the late 19th Century, Dresden-based glass-artist Leopold Blaschka, together with his son, Rudolf, made scores of beautiful and intricate glass models of marine invertebrates. [First link via an e-mail from Alex Vaughan.]
posted by misteraitch on May 9, 2004 - 10 comments

Vitrum: Glass Between Art and Science in the Roman World , an exhibition hosted by the Institute and Museum of the History of Science in Florence, describes the use of glass in different areas of Roman life: technology, daily life, architecture, and science. Each of the items in the themed galleries is linked to a large, high-resolution image; some beautiful examples of 2000-year-old glass include: a decorative glass hexagon, a blue glass cup from pompeii, and a striped mosaic glass cup.
posted by carter on Apr 18, 2004 - 5 comments

"Swept Off My Feet" is a current wonder by Sculptor Christina Bothwell, who works primarily in kiln cast glass, often with raku ceramic or mixed-media. Examples of her beautiful yet strange, compelling work can be found on her site, as well as on various galleries and the Web.
posted by Shane on Mar 1, 2004 - 5 comments

Vaseline Glass is a particular color of yellow-green glass that is made by adding 2% Uranium Dioxide to the ingredients when the glass formula is made. The addition of the Uranium Dioxide makes the glass color yellow-green. A 'magnificent obsession' site crammed with images and information on art glass, novelties, collector themes, and manufacturers.
posted by quonsar on Sep 30, 2003 - 11 comments

"I don't think it's your average everyday pothead that is buying these pieces." [Via Zed]
posted by debralee on May 30, 2003 - 14 comments

Mille Fiori by Chihuly - a sweeping glassworks art installation marks the opening of the new Tacoma museum building. Dale Chihuly, one of the great masters of our time, also has an exhibit in Hamilton, NJ through July. Not content with stunning windows, walls and chandeliers, Chihuly creates towers, gardens, ceilings, and more, often weaving his work within natural elements to create fantasy waterscapes and landscapes. - more -
posted by madamjujujive on Apr 26, 2003 - 12 comments

War as a Way of Life The latest Reggio/Glass collaboration - Naqoyqatsi - is coming out Oct. 18. From the looks of the trailer, this could be the coolest of the trilogy. Of course, who could forget the scene from Koyaanisqatsi where Reggio jumps from scene of Twinkies rushing through production line to fast-forward scene of daily-grinders moving up escalators in subway station - priceless. Just more 70's grad-student dope-smoking backdrop -- or essential media for our age?
posted by minnesotaj on Sep 26, 2002 - 15 comments

Amazing stuff in glass artist Dale Chihuly's latest installation at the V&A Museum in London. He continues to amaze me. I envy those who can experience it in person.
posted by abosio on Aug 23, 2001 - 28 comments

The Infinity Project Josh Simpson makes glass planets. Tickle his fancy and you too may have the opportunity to hide one for posterity.
posted by plinth on Jan 8, 2001 - 14 comments