Glenn Krum, in a recent life was a scientist and engineer in the petroleum industry. These two professions
are reflected in the technical attention Glenn devoted to the kiln-fired "warm glass" during his last
five years. Glenn has now moved on to concentrate on another of his arts, fine woodworking and creation in
wood.
Past artistic history: Glenn studied glassblowing with nationally recognized artist and glassblowing teacher, Jayne Duryea.Glenn
is self-taught largely in kiln-formed "warm glass", but perfected his experience with glass artist Karen
Bobetic of Houston. Fusing glass and slumping or molding it into graceful forms (warm glass) are a mixture
of art and science too. Taking a solid like glass and being able to mix and enhance colors through a heating process involves
the skills of an engineer, the eyes of an artist and the heart of a scientist.
Glenn's
"Warm Glass" Artistic Process:
Designing
on paper the work to be created;
Selecting the colors of glass to be used;
Cutting and fitting the glass to make a flat version of the work, maintaining a 6 mm In a glass working kiln, fusing
the glass.
Annealing the fused glass in the kiln to relieve stresses as it slowly cools.
Repeated these steps additional times to make complicated designs in the glass for the future piece.
Slumping the glass into or over a heat-proof mold or shaping in the kiln through some other means, like gravity or
“raking” the softened glass;
Carefully annealing the cooling glass again to
relieve stresses.
"Cold working" the piece to achieve additional artistic effects.
The original Laurel Studios in Rockport Texas had three kilns for "warm glass" and tools
for "cold working" the slumped pieces. In addition, there was equipment for slumping glass, as well
as molds for many sizes and shapes of warm glass art.
