Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Slater.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
My childhood interest in art and tinkering lead me to many experiments. One ongoing experiment was melting glass from around the house with my father’s plumbing torches. I quickly hit a brick wall with my ability to advance and yet my search for people to teach me more came up empty. Over the next ten or so years I asked every glassblower I could find to teach me and they all said no! Remember this was before the days of the internet so the yellow pages, word of mouth, and craft shows were my only exposure to glass artists.
Later in life the opportunity came through serendipity, I literally pushed open a door that said “do not enter” because I suspected someone was working hot glass in there. I annoyed that man long enough that he took me on as a shop apprentice.
I was looking for a hobby, but, the moment I melted glass I knew that this was what I was meant to do. I learned the basics from my mentor but that shop was a very unhealthy environment so after a few months I set off on my own and I’ve taught myself from then on out. 15 years on and the marble, one of the first things I made, is still my inspiration and my source of fascination.
Please tell us about your art.
I make flame worked glass spheres. I call them marbles because, I guess, orbs are too pretentious? My inspiration is around patterns in nature. Where geometry can be found in natural objects and organic life can be found in geometry. There is a point where the two meet and that fascinates me. coral walks that line, many shells and ocean-based life do, also lichen and aerial photography of certain environments. The Micro and Macro show it better than the mid view… I hope people take away a moment of fascination akin to the one I feel when I’m on my knees looking at lichen through a magnifier or snorkeling on a coral reef. That moment of discovery and surprise is very invigorating
Given everything that is going on in the world today, do you think the role of artists has changed? How do local, national or international events and issues affect your art?
the roll of an Artist has not changed. We have always had a responsibility to talk to our audience about important issues. Once you get people’s attention it would be irresponsible to only entertain them without putting a bit of your heart in there. The thing that has changes is the ability of non-popular artists to reach a large audience through the internet, specifically social media.
Right now, I am making a limited series of ten “bleached reef” marbles that are meant to bring awareness to growing bleaching events around the world that are a symptom of our dying reefs. Half the proceeds of the sales are going towards conservation and educations efforts. This project has reached a huge (for me) audience through social media and that is the type of thing that wasn’t really possible in the past.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Open studios at western avenue studios in Lowell – my studio is # 216
My website: www.aaronslaterglass.com
Any of the league of NH craftsmen stores
Cambridge artists coop in Harvard square
On we website you can sign up for my mailing list for my show dates in the area. These days much of my new work sells through Facebook and Instagram (Aaron Slater glass on either).
Contact Info:
- Address: Aaron Slater glass 122 western ave
suite 216 Lowell, ma 01851 - Website: www.aaronslaterglass.com
- Email: aaronkslater@hotmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaronslaterglass/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Aaron.Slater.Glass/
Image Credit:
Portrait: Megan Moore
All other: Aaron Slater
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