Every now and then I'm in touch with a craftsperson who's work I totally admire, and that's the case with LA-based glass blower and designer Joe Cariati. I included his swell-egant glass decanters in a recent Trendwatch feature for Canadian House & Home and, since our theme was Mad Men, they were a perfect fit. Joe kindly took a couple of minutes to tell me about his work, influences and style:
"If I had to choose one word to describe my style it would be 'Air'! I love to inflate, or blow the glass. Too often I see glass that is squelched by heaviness and weight. A great Italian master alerted me to the "feeling" that the glass has when the material is blown extremely thinly. I agree! The quality of the work transforms instantly. It is my hope that the viewer also has an experience, perhaps like re-discovering something that you are familiar with, but seeing it in a new light.
Weight, light transmission and overall clean lines are really what my glass is about. I'd love to see it float off the table at times...and it's extremely difficult to execute this quality in terms of technique which I find very exciting, it keeps me engaged in the process....
In terms of design, I do choose to work off mid-century wine decanters, but these are hardly replications. I feel that they are more paying homage to a great tradition that the glass houses flexed in the States in the 50's and 60's. My lines are a lot more simple, my colors, well, elegant and contemporary to say the least...
There's a lot of action in the process of glassblowing, and it's this process or action that drives my work. Engaging in this heavy amount of action - glassblowing - has also shaped my designs. I'm not a "fussy" glass blower, I cannot stand to spend time on surface decoration or frilly techniques. For me, the purity and process of glassblowing is constant, there are no breaks, no time to rest, no lull. So, with that, my approach is Clean, Pure, Simple and More. That is the M.O. of my company..."
Take a look below at some of Joe's work, and see more here; his glassware is available exclusively in Toronto at Hollace Cluny, and the lamps are a (gorgeous) brand new venture with Swank Lighting. [Image 1, 2: Phillip John Cybulski]
