GLASS on Portland's East End

This is Gallery Talk,  WMPG Radio's window into Portland's art world with your host Lars.
A couple weeks back the Society for Eastend Arts  http://www.seaportland.org/ organized a self guided tour of artists studios up on Portland's Eastend.  The tour was not just art galleries, but the studios, the place were art grows, where art is born.  I had the opportunity to meet many artists of the ultimately diverse Monjoy hill neighborhood(s) and was provided access to some fantastic studios.  None was cooler,  I should say hotter than the Glass Studio of Portland Glass Artist Benjamin Combs.  http://www.portlandglassblowing.com/

Have you ever had that feeling when you see something crafty you go "oh I can make that, or cool idea maybe I'll try that.   Ben's blown glass art is so wicked that when I saw it I was shackled.  Firstly in it's stunning beauty, secondly awed by it's pure craftsmanship, and thirdly perplexed by how did such a piece come into being? I've always thought of blowing glass as being a mysterious old world craft, and thought of Portland as a funky retro-cool place, but never really considered it a breeding ground for on the edge glass art.   Almost hidden, tucked in the old boiler room in the back of the Nissen Bakery up on Monjoy Hill is this Studio-gallery space that is quite unique, part display gallery part spartan workshop not a more unique art space is to be found in the city by the sea.  Combs style is unique and he is continually developing his craft.  Perhaps this is as a result of his connection to both coasts,  Combs studied and worked out west at the Pilchuck Glass school http://www.pilchuck.com/ in Stanwood ,Washington State, back east at the Maine Haystack School of Crafts "up ta" Deer Island. http://www.haystack-mtn.org/ 
The Studio/gallery has many pieces on display and the diversity of work, the saturation of colored glass,  the mixing of colored glass, the precision of application and execution is all but beholden. Comb's work has themes revolving around the sea and seafaring to the fine crystalline goblets, or unique artglass lamps.
A young master is in our city waiting to be found.  The Studio/Gallery is open by chance or Appointment 207-409-4527 and is located at  24 Romasco Lane , 1 block up Cumberland ave from Washington Ave on the back side of the old brick bakery building.

Why check out Benjamin Combs Studio or tour his web site? http://www.portlandglassblowing.com/
                
     Do it because your good mind, needs good art! 

The Gallery Talk blog is the text version of the art rant heard every Thursday 7am, 5 & 8:30pm on Portland's WMPG Radio 90.9 & 104.1FM or on web at   http://wmpg.org/  non commercial community radio from the University of Southern Maine.