Noted Seattle Glass Artist at The Hot Shop

Robert Jones, founder of Blockhead Tools and Robert Jones Designs, is experiencing glass blowing southern style. Far from his Seattle home, Robert can be seen blowing glass at The Hot Shop at Orange Beach Art Center with Joe Thompson, Sam Cornman and Joe Hobbs.

We can thank Joe Thompson for this fortuitous incidence. Thompson’s company, Bear Creek Glass and Robert Jones Designs have joined forces and the Gulf Coast community and its visitors are the beneficiaries. Both companies have a reputation with designers for creating inspiring high-end functional glass art including sinks and lightening.

Robert Jones is a third generation glass artist originally from the rough side of Buffalo, N.Y. At age 15, after completing a trade program in carpentry, sheet metal, aviation and automotive, Jones moved out to Seattle to work with the National Park System in the Young American’s Conservation Corps rebuilding stairways and trails.

Taking a break from work Jones traveled for two years from England to India. In Varanasi, the cultural capital of India, Jones encountered a Sadhu, a Hindu ascetic or monk, who performed duties of a holy man in the morning and blew glass in the afternoon. Jones stayed with the Sadhu for three days and then returned home to Seattle and began his glass blowing career.

In 1984, he began work at The Glass Eye. In the beginning, he prepared glass and color, charged furnaces, and maintained equipment. Jones rose to the level of glassblower and later received the Glass Eye Scholarship. From there he continued his training at Pilchuck Glass School where he was part of Martin Blank’s team for Dale Chihuly and Pratt Fine Arts Center where he was a student and teacher’s assistant. For eight years, Jones freelanced as an assistant and gaffer to glass artists such as Lino Tagliapietra, Dale Chihuly, Dante Marioni, Joseph DeCamp, Preston Singletary, Phil O’Reily, Martin Blank, and Cliff Goodman.

Jones founded Blockhead Tools, which manufactures wooden glassblowing tools used in studios and fine art schools throughout the U.S., Europe and Japan. His brothers, Larry and Ronald, joined him in a glassblowing venture, Jones Brothers Glassworks, creating not only architectural designs but also glass counters and glass tablecloths among other items.

Jones decided that for him “glassblowing is about form and function rather than political statements and abstract art.” In 1998, he completed hand building his own glass studio and began Robert Jones Designs, a company that quickly gained a reputation for high quality, inventive functional designs. His passion for the trade is evident in his work.

Now Jones’ designs are made at The Hot Shop at Orange Beach Center along with Bear Creek Glass’ existing glass line. Stop by when you see “live glass blowing” signs at the street. Visitors to The Hot Shop have the rare opportunity to see a Seattle glass artist at work. Robert Jones puts on quite a show, watching him work is both fascinating and entertaining. (Rumor has it he is a chef and banjo player as well.)

Glass classes are available to begin your career or hobby as a glass artist. The Hot Shop is a perfect location for field trips, family outings, team building and birthday parties. Give a hand made Christmas gift: make your own ornament ($20) or paperweight ($35) takes place every Saturday 10 am- 1 pm.

As Robert Jones says, “We are all artists inside, some just develop it more.”

The Hot Shop @ The Orange Beach Art Center is located at 26389 Canal Road, 3/10 mile east of the 161-Canal Road intersection in the former Orange Beach Hotel. For more information call 251.981.2787 or visit www.orangebeachartcenter.com.