Alex Brand:»My work involves various ways to combine layers of color and the encalmo technique, which is the hot joining of two or more separate blown parts. I’ve experimented with many variations of this technique and in my latest work I cut the top parts of the vessels into squares before they are reassembled hot. The pieces are then blown further, distorted slightly, and other details are applied. This gives the pieces an oriental effect reminiscent of Japanese pagodas. The color banding on the surface of these pieces reminds me of photos of the planet Jupiter so I have titled this series «Jupiter Pagodas». This is a new direction for me and quite different from my earlier and very brightly colored «Ripening Series», which I still make and take orders on.»
