Author: gossamer

Gearing up for the 29th Whatcom Artist Studio Tour

Brian was one of the founders of the studio tour over 29 years ago and has been involved with it at various capacities over the years. Currently he is on the board which has seen it through the hard times during COVID. This year marks a big come back with a record breaking 61 artist […]

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Beads From the Beginning.

By: Brian Kerkvliet c1995 Making the bead release, ” The Secret Formula”. My previous article on studio set up and safety laid the ground work for this column about some basics of bead making that are essential to create good pieces De-Art, (with a hole through them). Like the beginning of any good structure, beads […]

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Whatcom Artists Studio Free Tour 2020

I’m excited to be participating in Whatcom Artists Studio Tour’s 26th year! As seasons turn it is a wonderful time to get out to see all the fall colors and visit inspired artists new work at their studios. Pick up some early gifts or a little something for yourself. There is something delightful for everyone […]

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Earth, Wind & Fire

  ‘Glass working is like a choreographed dance’  Reprinted from The Western Front. Photo by Chris Fuller /TheWestern FrontBrian Kerklviet’s glasswork is displayed at his gallery and studio at Gossamer Glass Studio in Bellingham By Alashia Freimuth The Western Front April 18, 2001 Dozens of intricate, multi-colored glass sculptures light up the white walls of […]

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Murrine Madness

By Brian Kerkvliet, copyright 4/1/97 Mosaic cane has a long and rich history that is important to understand if you want to get closer to the mind set of making cane. This comes to you if you spend time researching reading, thinking, and a lot of time in the studio! Many of my biggest insights […]

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Society of Glass Beadmakers, Under the Magnifying Glass

By Brian Kerkvliet, Copyright 1996 The Society of Glass Beadmakers Is going through yet another growth spurt! This is the third year of their existence as an organized group, and already it has grown more than expected. In August SGB will be holding a special conference in Seattle, the annual “Gathering”. I want to take […]

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Marbvelous Marbles

By Brian Kerkvliet, Copyright 1996 Glass marbles have been around for a long time. Your great grandfather probably played with them when he was a kid. Most of the older marbles have ended up in someone’s collection. Most likely these collectors are children at heart, or perhaps they played with marbles as a kid, but […]

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THE BEAD GETS BIGGER

by Brian Kerkvliet copyright 1995 In the last few articles I focused mainly on the development of style and various goings-on in the lampworking world. Now I think it’s time to get back to some of the nuts and bolts of flameworking! In my experience as a teacher and someone who is plugged into the […]

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THE FLAME GREW BRIGHTER

By Brian Kerkvliet, Copyright 1995 At the 25th anniversary of the Glass Art Society conference held in Asheville North Carolina, this past May (13-14 1995), there was a great enthusiasm for flameworking and beads. It is this refreshing energetic enthusiasm that I want to talk about! It seemed to envelop nearly every conversation to some […]

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Magic Kiln Tactics

By Brian Kerkvliet, Copyright 1995 In my last issue I mentioned that I was going to evaluate the types of kilns that are out there for bead workers to use. In addition to the basic issues that I covered in my first column, on kilns, annealing and reducing the health risks that vermiculite pose to […]

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