WheatonArts Glassblowers
Original Watercolor

"Ann Waldron Award "
2011 NJAAPL Traditional Realism, RRCA, Millville, NJ
Millville, NJ
Triple Matted & Framed -22" x 29"
$4,000
Prints available!

Glassblowers History
In 1984, a group of avid glass collectors with shared interests in glassblowing formed the Wheaton Village Glassblowers, now known as the WheatonArts Glassblowers. This dedicated team of volunteers - Frank Stubbins, Jeff Vanaman, Harry Deemer and Jim Engleman - traveled to fairs and festivals throughout the tri-state area to present demonstrations of traditional glassmaking techniques. The glassblowers, who work together at a portable furnace, are assisted by Marie Stubbins and Matt Schooley who answer questions and handle sales of the pieces produced by the team.
Over 100,000 people each year have enjoyed watching the glassblowers at work. The team was recently awarded the South Jersey Cultural Alliance's Paul Aiken Encore Award for their many years of dedicated volunteer service to Wheaton Village. They have also been recognized by ArtPRIDE New Jersey, Inc., with a certificate of appreciation for the group's efforts to educate the public about glassmaking, while preserving the traditions of the art.
The fragile beauty of a finished piece of hand-blown glass in no way resembles its humble beginnings as a gritty mixture of silica sand, potash, limestone and other minerals.
To begin the transformation, this mixture, known as "batch," is put into a furnace which is heated to 2,500 degrees F. At this temperature, it takes approximately eight to ten hours to melt 60 pounds of glass. After melting, the heat is turned down to 2,100 degrees F, the temperature of glass.
When beginning a piece, the glassblower uses a tool called a "blowpipe." He reaches into the furnace with the blowpipe to collect a "gather" of glass. He then blows into the end of the pipe, forming a small bubble inside the gather. By adding more gathers and repeating the blowing process, he can vary the size of the piece in progress.
When the blowing process is completed, the item is transferred to a "pontil rod" for finishing.
A number of implements, jacks, blocks, files-may be utilized during this phase. Similiar tools and techniques have been used for hundreds of years to shape, smooth and decorate.
The finished piece must be cooled in an "annealing oven" very gradually. The slow cooling process, at approximately 1,000 degrees F. over a period of many hours, relieves any stress in the glass and prevents cracking which would otherwise occur.

This 2008 watercolor painting by artist Alex Alampi Jr., shows (left to right) Jim Engleman, Harry Deemer, Frank Stubbins and Jeff Vanaman, demonstrating their traditional glassmaking techniques in front of a large crowd at the Hay Creek Festival in Joanna Furnace, Morgantown, Pennsylvania.

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