Feature Artist: Rodney Andrew

Rodney Andrew is from Marietta Georgia. Rodney fought the battle between creativity and disciplined structure choosing to let creativity reign. It was not a pretty battle and the results took him into a world of being lost for some time. When Christianity welcomed him out of that world, his faith and innate creative talents brought him to the place he is now.

By 1997, he had developed enough of an interest in glass to buy his first torch. He produced small intricate pieces and explored glass art to establish himself in the glass artist world. Lampworking was a job that let his creative side earn and provide. In a short time, Rodney developed his gallery with his fine art glass.
Rodney employs glassworking techniques that are thousands of years old as well as most recent technologies and materials. His trial and errors also honed the skills needed to reach his present level of style and quality. His education includes working with master lampworkers Kevin O’Grady and Steven Hitt.

Throughout his lampworking career he has worked with borosilicate glass and countless raw materials: solids as well as clear hollow tubing, colored hollow tubing (very recently produced), colored rods, dichroic glass, and precious metals (.999 pure silver and 24k gold). The capabilities of borosilicate glass are limitless. Rodney has incorporated welding multiple sections together for larger pieces and use other techniques such as: overlay, inside out, cut flip, coil potting, fuming, dichroic overlay and more.

Rodney’s philosophy is simple and straightforward: Create contemporary handcrafted glass art work that is both beautiful and unique. He does sub-contract work for a designer in New York called Colette Malouf, it has been reported in 2 publications (Us Weekly, Atlanta Journal) that Gwyneth Paltow wears his ponytail holders.

An experienced lampworker and contemporary glass artist, Rodney Andrew’s unique handmade jewelery includes: solid cuff bracelets, glass beaded bracelets, lampwork beads, Pyrex/borosilicate glass bracelets, fine art glass necklace pendants, hair barrettes, handcrafted fashion jewelry, and other jewelry related items. Contemporary table lamps, oil lamps, perfume bottles, art glass vases, and wine goblets are all items in Rodney’s custom home furnishings catalog. There is something about his work that draws in the beholder. The beauty, design and color in glass indicates clearly his art forms and vision.

For more information, go to www.randrewglass.com, or visit Mountainique in Highlands N.C., where Rodneys’ work can be seen, touched and acquired.

LAUREL Blurb

September 2006