We at Zen Glass Studio have something special going on here and want you to know about it.  This is an effort to share some of it with you.

Joe Jeffrey is the Artist in Residence(AIR) @ZenGlassStudio.
Joe and I(josh) sat down and had a little chat about… well, Joe.

JP: Where ya from?

JJ:  I was born in August of 1984, I grew up around Wayne, Pompton Lakes & Paterson, NJ.

JP:  Joe helps with many facets of the studio from demonstrations and workshops to retail sales and set up for shows.  For the last 6 years Joe has been a reliable comrade who has acted as part of team zen. Joe started his path into the glass world in 2004 when he and some friends stopped into our studio(at the time we were in Central Ave. in the Grand Central District)  He then signed up for an independent study course through Eckerd College’s art program.

JJ: After knowing Dave and you (josh) for about a year, and having seen how glassblowing was done quite a few times, Dave asked me a question that changed my life… “So, are you ever gonna ask me if you can try out one of these torches?”.   Another student had just started submitting for an independent study in flameworking for winter term, and Dave suggested I try to make an independent study for the spring semester.    Me and a friend named Starshine helped design the class with Dave to get what we wanted to get out of it, what college students would get out of it, setting up the precedent for the future students.

JP: You were an art student?

JJ: No, I needed to have an art credit to graduate from Eckerd and used the Introduction to flameworking glass to get it.

JP:  How did you hear about zen glass?

JJ:  A friend who knew i liked glass art had stumbled into the studio on Central, and brought me there soon after

JP:  What did you get from the class with Dave? like finished pieces and knowledge?

JJ:  The basic knowledge I needed to start my path on becoming a good flameworker and artist.   And the spark inside that kept me blowing glass since then.

JP:  When you were done with the class you started to work independently?

JJ:  I started making pendents and pieces to sell for myself, as well as doing lots of basic prep work for Zen Glass, like prepping cases with inside out work or frit, pulling stringer and cane, and cutting and polishing receiving tubes.

JP: to spend more time in the studio he signed up for another independent study in glass. “Advanced Flameworking”

JJ: That is where I learned to make really good marbles.

JP: 4 years later studying in England, he received his masters in international relations. Upon completion he headed to St. Pete to continue his glass working in March of 2011   He rented space in the studio, while making and selling his own work, all the while helping zgs at shows, with shop duties and other supportive tasks.”

JJ:  ?

JP: Joe played a huge role breaking down and relocating the studio in August of 2011, to our new space.

JJ: I also helped yall move from the house to the last space(9th Street South) to.

JP: What are you working on currently?

JJ: I am currently learning how to run a studio, taking on responsibilities involved with the daily ins and outs of the glassblowing studio business. I am creating marbles, bracelets, sculpture, body jewelry, vessels and functional art in the studio.

JP: Joe creates his pieces, with special attention to vivid color technique and strives to achieve a new, unique color spectrum.

JP:  Where do you see yourself in 1 year 2013?

JJ: either here or somewhere in Washington state or Oregon.