Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Schwartz.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have been working with glass for nearly 40 years. I began as a self-taught stained glass craftsman circa 1978 and grew that passion into owning a stained glass supply store, a teaching studio, and a custom stained glass fabrication shop in Milford, CT. Three kids and several engineering jobs later, I returned to glass, more recently adding experimentation with fused and kiln formed glass.
Combining my engineering background and my glass experience, I have developed several unique techniques for the creation of glass, including a “carved frit” process and a methodology for producing 3D fused glass pieces.
I enjoy working with customers to produce custom, one-of-a-kind glass pieces that reflect the customer’s unique tastes and interests. Whether its imagery on the glass or a functional glass piece, my hope is that my glass it will be a cherished memento of a captured moment in time.
Has it been a smooth road?
I have been working in glass for a long time, but as with any labor-intensive, hand-crafted product, it can be difficult to pay the rent, much less make a good living. So, except for a period in my twenties when I owned a stained glass shop, glass was more of a hobby for me.
Now, I’m finally in a position where I can afford to make glass, and not worry too much about the financial return. I want my art to be out in the world and enjoyed by as many people as possible. My gallery and studio on Harrison Ave, SOWA, give me that opportunity. I’m not interested in having a museum there, I want my pieces to be affordable and obtainable, and therefore don’t stay on the shelf too long.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with InFusion Art Glass – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
InFusion Art Glass is known for two distinct glass products.
There is the functional glass pieces, plates, platters, bowls, etc that I make in many styles and I really try to use the entire color palate that glass offers. Glass can be so beautiful just in the sheet form, as I buy it from the manufacturers, and then I get to create functional pieces that enhance the beauty of the glass even further.
I also am very proud of a process I developed myself, I call it “carved frit”. Frit is the term for finely ground glass powder, which I use to create imagery of a glass substrate. After the frit is carved, I fire the piece in my kiln so that the glass powder fuses into the glass substrate. It is a modern take on the old-fashioned stained glass. It makes for stunning imagery on glass, with a stylized photographic esthetic.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
My favorite thing about Boston is the wide variety of cultural activities, shows, galleries, sporting events, music… all relatively easy to get to. My least favorite thing is the rush hour traffic… from my Albany Street frontage in my gallery, I can see the Expressway and often wonder if the name is inappropriate.
Pricing:
- Functional glass pieces all under $100
- Custom imagery on glass priced from $150 – $1500
- Stained glass panels from $50-$400
Contact Info:
- Address: 460C Harrison Ave Suite 8B
Boston, MA 02118 - Website: infusionartglass.com
- Phone: 603-327-4602
- Email: eric@infusionartglass.com
Image Credit:
Vita Melignano
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