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Glass Cast

Glass Cast is a series of research trajectories that manipulate this ubiquitous and fragile material through the investigation of two methods of working: hot glass blowing and warm glass slumping. The design process and its tools, including custom manual forming tools and a reconfigurable slumping kiln, are as significant to the work as the resultant glass components, Diffuse Globes and Distort Windows. Casting techniques and the limited range of material available to work at the high temperatures necessary to form glass are the basis of the research. Such tools construct environments to control the thermal performance through time-based processes, choreographing the work and physical mediations.

{process film} by Stebs Schinnerer of Paper Fortress


A collaboration between:
Wes McGee of Matter Studio Design and Catie Newell of Alibi Studio
with Aaron Willette, Lucy Olechowski, Brandon Clifford

Fabrication Team:
Grant Weaver, Simon Rolka, Patrick Ethen, Maciej Kaczynski, Etienne Turpin, Andrew Stern, Brian Muscat, Chuck Newell. Mark Meier

Consultant:
Steve Karnowski

This work has been funded by:
Research Through Making Grant | Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
and
Office of the Vice President of Research | University of Michigan