Underground Glass Artists Featured at 2013 Night with Borosilicate Gallery and Torch Show

Editor's Choice - Seattle's Glass Pipe Gallery Show

** Bob Snodgrass started the glass art pipe industry as we know it today as he followed the Grateful Dead and blew glass in the parking lot outside shows. He will be collaborating with others in this evening of art and live glassblowing.  In 30 short years, America's newest folk art has gone from the dead show parking lot to the attention of serious art collectors. 
          

Dragonslayer (Lace Face & Big Dan collaborative piece)

 SEATTLE, Wash. - The underground world of “functional” glass art will emerge in an established gallery at the 7^th Annual Night with Borosilicate on May 4^th, 2013.  The event, hosted by Hot Glass Color & Supply and co-sponsored by Piece of Mind, will feature live torch demonstrations, Seattle’s only glass art pipe gallery show, a silent auction, raffle & technical workshops for glass artists. The event will be held in the Belltown neighborhood, at the Seattle Glassblowing Studio space. Tickets for the evening’s events are $10 and will be available at the door.

 Although relatively unknown in the mainstream art world, a vibrant scene has emerged around a new American folk art – elaborate, hand blown glass pipes that are functional enough to use for smoking. These amazing creations will come out of the shadows and into one of Seattle’s premier glass art galleries for a night of glassblowing, camaraderie and charity. The documentary film ‘Degenerate Art’ by Marble Slinger Productions helped popularize this art form when it was released on Netflix in 2012. The passage of I-502, the ballot initiative legalizing recreational marijuana use in Washington State, is bringing wider recognition to this rebellious art form indigenous to the Pacific Northwest.

Piece from 2010 show

Top borosilicate glass artists, including many featured in the film ‘Degenerate Art’ will collaborate throughout the night to create one super piece.  Featured artists include Bob Snodgrass, Dosher, Cameron Tower, J-Red, TRUE and Tree.   

Lace Face

Art collectors and glass enthusiasts will enjoy the gallery show, which will highlight local and renowned artists’ artwork, showcasing innovative designs, unique color applications.  Throughout the evening, guests can vote for their favorites in the gallery show, and the winning artists will be announced at 11pm.  Many of the pieces from the gallery show will be available for purchase.

A silent auction benefiting Smile Train will include unique functional glass art pieces from some of the world's best borosilicate glass artists. Smile Train is a life-changing non-profit that provides free cleft-lip and palate surgery to in-need children worldwide.

The borosilicate community has longstanding ties to Smile Train, which began when the artist known as Fugly suggested proceeds from the Chicago Project (a live charity glassblowing event) go to Smile Train. Seth True, a borosilicate artist, explains "It's hard to imagine changing the world, but it's easy to raise $250 and change a kid's life forever."

Brick House series by TRUE

Throughout the evening, guests can win prizes from a glass-themed raffle including tools, glass color, unique artwork, apparel and more. Each guest will receive a limited number of tickets with admission and additional tickets will be available for purchase at the door.  

The event owes a special thanks to Seth True from TRUE glass for arranging the schedule of the torch show as well as the pre- and post- event glassblowing seminars.

Borosilicate glassblowers can participate in pre- and post conference technical workshops. Friday’s workshop will focus on fuming techniques, and Sunday will be a color workshop sponsored by Glass Alchemy. Workshop fees include admission to the main event. A special VIP package for glassblowers featuring admission to both technical workshops and the main event is available in advance for $420. Contact Cyrena at Hot Glass Color 206-448-1199 to register.

The legendary Bob Snodgrass on the torch (2012)

About Hot Glass Color & Supply:

Hot Glass Color & Supply was established in 2001 to serve the glass art community with glassblowing supplies, tools and the largest inventory of Kugler glass colors in North America. Lampworking supplies including kilns and glass colors for beadmaking are available from a wide array of vendors.  Borosilicate artists will enjoy Seattle’s best selection of tubes, colors and tools.

Contact information: Cyrena Stefano, Hot Glass Color & Supply, (206) 448-1199

--------------Edited for Stoner Living Blog by Heather Hjorth  (c) 2013

The Dab Lounge at the NW Cannabis Market - the Stoner Living Field Trip Report

Artist's Interpretation of a Hash Oil Dab Bar by Hubba Hubba

In the back room of the NW Cannabis Market, the dab lounge makes it possible for patients to sample extracts from the medical marijuana vendors up front. The NW Cannabis Market on Seattle's Rainier Avenue is open 7 day a week. Access is restricted to medical marijuana patients authorized to use medical cannabis in Washington State.

At the dab lounge, a budtender skillfully wields the blow torch, making it possible to relax and do nothing but inhale the vaporized fumes of the many extracts available. Prices range from $3 - $7 suggested donation per vaporized puff, and a wide selection is available. Basic extracts are priced at a recommended $3 donation (and Tuesdays are 'double dab' Tuesday where 2-for-1 pricing applies to selected dabs), CO2 extracts priced at $5, and some special extracts priced at $7 donation.

For $7, I tried a cryo-purged BHO (Butane Honey Oil) product. The budtender took out the small container of extract, and pulled a tiny amount onto the metal dabber stick (I selected the one with the Godzilla head on it). She fired up the blow torch and heated the metal bowl (the "nail") at the end of the glass waterpipe until it was glowing red hot. When I was ready, she 'dropped the dab' onto the side of the 'nail' as I inhaled through the cooling water.

Cinex BHO from Local Roots

She warned me not to hold the smoke in too long as it would expand in my lungs. I took her advice and exhaled the first hit mostly through my nose to enjoy the full aromatic spectrum of the extract. I survived with my lungs in tact but a distinctly peppery burn in my lungs. It was smooth, but I certainly felt the power of the concentrated smoke.

At the end of the exhale, the budtender smiled and handed me a cup of cold water.

Before preparing a dab for my companion, she opened an alcohol wipe and cleaned the mouthpiece of the waterpipe.

We sampled a $3 dab next. The difference between a $7 dab and a $3 dab is primarily smoothness (the $3 dab was a bit rougher on the throat going down) as the potency seemed similar. Most concentrates sold at the market reportedly range from 60-90% THC.

A heavy hand during the extraction procedure can strip all the delicate aroma and flavor rich terpenes from an extract. Likewise, failure to completely remove the solvent can lead to off tastes and outright toxic products. All of the 'dabs' we saw and smelled during our visit to the NW Cannabis Market appeared to be acceptable - and in some cases excellent - products.

The dab lounge at the Galaxy location of the NW Cannabis Market is open 7 days a week. The White Center location also has a dab lounge open on occasion. Because the product is vaporized and there is no smoke involved, it seems that indoor smoking ban legislation does not apply to such operations. Of course, a multitude of other prohibitive legislation will slow the spread of such establishments.

A home set up for enjoying extracts can be purchased from one of the vendors of glass smoking accessories at the market.  There are specialized devices as well as 'nail' attachments which can be attached to a multitude of standard waterpipes. Concentrates may also be mixed with cannabis flowers and rolled, or smoked through a pipe or waterpipe. 

Editor's note - A full Stoner Living report on home options for enjoying BHO or 'dabs' is in the works for April.

Reported by Stoner Living field reporter Greta Kraftt

-------- (c) 2013 Stoner Living