Page 23 - the NOISE November 2013

One of Goerge Averbeck’s emblematic glass swirls,
found at Arizona Handmade Gallery. John Rogers’ rustic kaleidoscopes are
featured at the Gallery in Williams.
Mui-Joo tells me, “The process of my work is like an experiment, and I am never sure of the result,” Ms. Wee says. “That’s the exciting part. Hopefully, the best is yet to come. Son- ja said she used one of my crane images as inspiration for her new glass work. But from what I saw, it’s her own creative work. I am happy my cranes pieces gave her ideas to make her glass piece. I am often inspired by others’ art as well. For the November window, I will most likely use my two new lo- tus paintings, if they both fit into one panel.” FlagstaffArtistsGallery.com
A CHANGE OF PACE by Natasha Reeves
“You get in there and you get the heat go- ing, you open the door to the furnace that is two-thousand degrees and it’s just a big puddle then,” says George Averbeck, Flag- staff’s preeminent hand blown glass artist, while describing his inspiration and his expe- rience while creating art. “When you bring the piece out, that’s when the magic starts. I’m always adding a little something to my pieces; I never play the same song twice.” In- deed, his media encapsulates a very rich vari- ety of uses: from goblets to tumblers to orna- mental pumpkins and holiday balls to lamp shades to bowls and vases, Mr. Averbeck’s cornucopia of rich colors and bold curves are an exquisite addition to any home décor.
Mr. Averbeck’s work is vivid and he creates a diversity of pieces. He is able to depict the Southwest environment we live in through his warm colors and designs, waves and coils gently embellishing each piece he summons from the fiery depths of his furnace on Birch.
After creating a special design for some- one he knew who was dying from cancer, he
moved to use its elements in his “Grand Can- yon Series” which had four waves resembling the curves of the river, representing the four cardinal directions.
His work can be found in the Sedona Arts Center, Arizona Handmade, and more recently, Tucson’s Art House Centro. Mr. Averbeck also has a piece in the permanent collection at Lowell Observatory as well as the Visitor’s Center, and was honored with a Viola Award last spring. His wild and woolly persona has been a part of the Flagstaff com- munity since the 1970s when he originally came to attend Northern Arizona University as a metal worker and jeweler.
He gives some insight to the ever-chang- ing art scene in Flagstaff. He describes it as a zoo with the diversity of artists and people who now exist in the community. “The old art scene is seeking new directions in Flag- staff, and I don’t know if I’m going along with it at this point in my life,” says Mr. Averbeck, who laments he will soon be taking a break from entering shows and will concentrate more on the galleries he is involved with and his personal life. “What I want to do now is to take care of my family, my gallery, and my personal ambitions. There are other people that can be in these shows, I’m grateful for the rising masses of young new artists, let the doors open for them. I want to work on my art and I want to stay focused on my glass.”
An artist filled with character, reflected in his work, can be found most days working in his Fire on The Mountain Studio, creating glass tumblers, vases, and many more works of art. AzHandmade.com
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thenoise.us • the NOISE arts & news • NOVEMBER 2013 • 23