The Glass Masters


The yellow-white glow from the furnace reflects off the face 
of the gaffer as he gathers the 3000¡F liquid onto his pipe 
and blows the first bubble.

A little more liquid is gathered, the bubble grows a bit 
bigger. Carefully, the gaffer begins shaping the glass, using 
water-soaked wood blocks, gravity and centrifugal force to 
coax it into the desired form.

The technique has changed little since Ancient Romans 
developed the process. Today's gaffer (the "old father" or 
the eldest, most experienced glassblower) still uses a 
mixture of silica sand, limestone and soda ash -- with 
perhaps a dash of potassium chromate (green), iron oxide 
(brown), or cobalt blue thrown in for color.

The Gaffers' Guild at Iowa State is keeping the centuries-old 
tradition alive, meeting weekly to fashion new works of art.

Steve Martin, associate professor of materials science and 
engineering, is the faculty adviser to the group, but admits 
his status is that of a "servitor," one who assists the 
gaffer.

"I'm learning right now," he said, noting he has practiced 
the art for only about a year.

Martin started out gathering the glass and learning how to 
use the pipe. His first assignment was a simple weed pot 
("one that isn't good enough for flowers, but good enough for 
weeds"). Next, he learned to put a shaped lip on the pot, and 
gradually he worked up to larger, more complex pieces.

"You have to slowly build up your skills," he said. "It's a 
lot like woodworking. You have some very simple, but very 
different processes."

Even the most skilled gaffer sooner or later is reminded that 
glass often has a will of its own.

"You don't always get the shape you intended," Martin said. 
"Oftentimes, some-thing will happen. The glass can move in 
ways you don't want it to. Sometimes, the glass tells you 
what shape it wants to go into."

Martin frequently assists gaffers John Rundle, laboratory 
mechanical technician, and David Martin, professor of 
materials science and engineering, both of whom have been 
blowing glass for 20 years.

David Martin started the glassblowing tradition at Iowa State 
in the mid-1960s when he came to campus. The furnaces, 
originally in the old Engineering Research Institute 
Building, today reside in the Engineering Annex.

While the Gaffers Guild is interested in creating art, the 
glassblowing process also serves as a teaching tool for 
ceramic engineering students, Steve Martin noted.

For example, students learn about the corrosion, insulation 
and casting of materials. They also learn about designing 
furnaces -- how to build them and what materials can be used.

The glassblowing lab "has been a marvelous training facility. 
Students can see the materials in action," Martin said.

The lab also is popular with school children, Veishea guests 
and other campus visitors. Bleachers occupy a permanent 
section in the lab just to handle the crowds. 
The glass masters -- continued on page 3
The guild is happy to provide demonstra-tions for any type of 
group, Martin said.

The guild's alumni do their part to keep the practice alive. 
Among donations are special blocks and bricks to make up the 
furnace. Right now, the guild is testing whether glass 
cullett (broken pieces of glass) can be melted down and 
blown. If so, an alumnus is ready to donate more to the 
group.

While other colleges and universities may have glassblowing 
operations, they usually are found in the fine arts 
departments.

"Ours is probably the only one in the engineering 
department," Martin said. "We're kind of different because we 
take our engineers and turn them into artists."

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contact:  Linda Charles, University Relations, (515) 294-3129
updated:  9-28-95