Hello World of Bongs Community, let us talk with Asa Meyer (Asa Glass) a impressive glassblower from Oregon:
WHAT GOT YOU INTERESTED IN GLASS IN THE FIRST PLACE?
At the very beginning, I had to upgrade from a pop can when I was 15, so I seeked out my first glass pipe. That’s when first noticed the artistic side to functional pieces. Throughout the years, I continuously broke a bunch glass, and continued upgrading what I previously had. Back in 2015, I was at a festival called “What The Festival” with a friend named Ian(nvsglassworks). At the end of it, he gifted me a pendant rig, and while taking off the nail, the joint had snapped off with it. So I hit up a local artist name @StabhandGlass for. Repair. At the time, I was severely depressed, and in between surgeries. Anyways, I had went to his shop, we got to chatting, and he ended up offering me to try out glassblowing with an extra set up that he had had in the shop. The first day I started was the first day I felt relief from the stress and depression I was in. I got hooked, and here we are now.
WHERE DID YOU LEARN YOUR SKILLS?
Stabhand glass had shown me some basics for the first few days, and then allowed me to do whatever I wanted to, with allowing me to ask him for help at times when I needed it. He also gave me demos, and really helped me with getting down the basics of shaping pendants, pipes, and beaker rigs. When I first started, i was in between shoulder surgeries on both shoulders(being a few months out from my first one, and having one coming up in 3 and a half months on the other one), so things were physically and mentally tough, but I spent as many days and hours as I could before going through my next surgery. After recovering from that surgery, 4 months later I was back in the studio getting back on the grind, until a few weeks later when my father took a turn. I moved out with him and took care of him until he passed, and then spent the next year and half not blowing glass. A year and a half later, I built my own studio to blow glass in, and started blowing glass solo. Since then, I have been self taught, with the exceptions of taking a 2 day class with @beerglass and @royalglass, along with seeing a few demos from few other artists, and getting tips and tricks. @Dannyglass has been extremely helpful anytime I’ve needed some advice!
DO YOU CREDIT ANY OTHER GLASS BLOWER WITH HELPING YOU ACHIEVE YOUR SUCCESS?
All though I have been a lone wolf for most of my career, I definitely have to credit @stabhandglass for introducing me to melting glass, and helping me alot with the basics for the few months I was in his studio. @royalglass, @beerglass, @Dannyglass, @abraca_dabba, @stickyybeard, @kmaceglass, and a few others have definitely helped me in some way or another, and I cant thank them enough.
TALK TO ME A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR STYLE.
My style is definitely space themed, along with lots of silver and gold fume work. I love working with precious metals, and the amount of colors you can achieve with fume is unreal. I’m still no where close to where I would like to be, but I’m happy with the direction I’m heading in. I definitely have been inspired by some of the legends in this world like @universegateson, @nathan_miers, @jolexglass, @royalglass and a few others.
WHAT MATERIALS DO YOU MOST LIKE TO WORK WITH?
Definitely silver, and gold!
WHAT’S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PIECE YOU’VE EVER MADE?
Right now in my career, I’ve only made 1 fully worked space themed oil rig.
WHAT WAS YOUR WORST MOMENT ON THE PATH TO “MAKING IT” AS A GLASS ARTIST?
I had an artist randomly attack me verbally over something I didn’t do. He tried to make a public matter, but I blocked him and kept it moving. It was my first time experiencing someone hating on me out of jealously.
AND WHAT WAS YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT?
I think my proudest moment was when I realized I could create art for a living and be able to be financially stable if I really worked for it.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO NEW GLASS ARTISTS?
To put in as many hours as you can put into it a day. Save up a good amount of you decide to drop everything and make it a career. To know you’re going to burn yourself in the beginning, and mess up alot of pieces over the years. Dont stress the small stuff, or big stuff lol. Just continue to push yourself every day. Know if you’re taking it on as a career, know that you’re also taking on running your own small buisness, which requires far more skills then just glass blowing. You will need to get good at photography if you plan on using a social media platform to promote your art. You will need to have customer service skills, and lots more.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE STRAIN/EXTRACT, AND WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE TO DAB IT IN?
My favorite extracts and bud come from my good friend @pnwtreez, and @otw_extracts. My favorite pieces to dab on come from @stickyybeard. His collection is amazing.
IF YOU COULD MAKE YOUR “DREAM” PIECE, WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE?
I really wanna create some type of alien/dragon morph, and eventually get into making space ship rigs, qnd making large planet marbles/sculptures. Theres a game I played called ark, and on that game has tons of dinosaurs. I would love to recreate one that has a “Tek” armour on the outside of it.
WHO WOULD YOU LIKE, MOST OF ALL IN THIS WORLD, TO HIT YOU UP FOR A PIECE, AND WHAT PIECE WOULD YOU MAKE FOR HIM/HER?
I think it would be awesome to have my first grade teacher to hit me up for a headie. I would make them whatever their heart desired!
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR GLASS ARTISTRY IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY?
I’m honestly not sure what’s next because I’m a little out of the loop on what’s all already out there! I dont pay attention as much as I should, but I do my best to keep my brain fresh with my own ideas. I’m definitely excited to see what crazy ideas come to life in the future though! I think the more legalization that happens in the states, the more glass will become and gain more respect as art. When most of the world decriminalizes weed, I think there will be a huge increase in glass designs that we see today!
IF YOU WERE SHIPWRECKED ON A DESERT ISLAND AND YOU COULD ONLY HAVE THREE ESSENTIAL PIECES WITH YOU, WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE, AND WHY?
I’m pretty basic. Give me a oil rig with good air flow, some quality oil, and a torch. I’ll figure out the rest.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC TO WORK TO/DAB TO?
I mostly listen to hip hop, but I get down to numerous genres of music.
THANK YOU, ASA GLASS, FOR THIS NICE INTERVIEW! WE WAIT TO SEE MORE AMAZING ARTWORK MADE BY YOU!
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