Born in New York in 1972, Joshua Swanson is a Northwest artist who has spent the last eleven years learning to master the art of blowing glass. Through his work and travel experiences, he has been able to work with Italian glass masters, Lino Tagliapietra and Pino Sinoretto, as well as American glass masters, Dale Chihuly and Bryan Rubino. Currently, he is pursuing his passion for making beautiful glass that expresses his love for the material.
"Glass is a material of endless possibility. It can be made into any color or perfectly clear. Its optical qualities allow it to sparkle and shine like diamonds. Its industrial purposes alone are awe-inspiring, from the lens in the Hubble telescope to the windows in our houses and buildings, or the cups and bowls we eat and drink out of collectively. Glass, as a material, is definitely one of the building blocks of our modern world and is worthy of acknowledgment."
"Although the origin of the material is cloudy, at least one thing is perfectly clear. Blowing glass is the means by which the ancients manipulated glass as a material. Blown glass can be made into virtually any size or shape; its limiting factors mainly come from the strength and skill of the glassmaker. The master controls the design sensibility; his breath gives the piece its form and his hand makes the shapes."
"I believe that there is beauty in simplicity. My work combines clean lines and graceful curves with vivid colors to make classical forms. Understanding of the role that light plays in glass is essential. Light brings glass to life and gives it its warmth. I love glass and I try to convey my joy for the material in each piece, so that it can be a treasure for the ages."