Located halfway between Munich, Germany, and Prague, Czech Republic, the school known as Bild-Werk Frauenau in Frauenau, Germany is situated on the edge of the Bavarian forest. Since 1988, this has been the site of a Pilchuck-like summer glass program in the woods. While Pilchuck's patron saint has been Dale Chihuly, here it is Erwin Eisch, the founder and force behind this unique institution that blends glass courses with live theater and music performances. Eisch has been named as the 2010 artist in residence.
Harvey Littleton (l) with Erwin Eisch in 1974. photo: herbert wolf. courtesy: smithsonian, archives of american art
Eisch, along with Sybren Valkema and Sam Herman, is widely regarded as the founder of Studio Glass in Europe. A graduate of the Munich Academy of Fine Art, he returned to work in glass at his family’s glass factory but experimented with scupture from this material. The father of Studio Glass, Harvey Littleton encountered Eisch’s work and then Eisch himself on a trip to Europe in 1962, and he went on to credit the meeting as confirmation of his beliefs that glass could be used as a medium for individual sculpture in his 1980 book Glassblowing: A Search for Form.
For summer 2010’s courses, which run from May through September, Bild-Werk has an impressive line-up of instructors from around the world. Among the highlights: kiln-casting with Britain’s Max Jacquard, flameworking with American Shane Fero, roll-ups with Australia’s Scott Chaseling, and engraving with Germany’s Christian Schmidt, to name just four of the 16 artists scheduled to teach this year.
This cup called "Arnold" is part of Petr Novotny's design line for his company Ajeto Glass.
Of special note is a week-long course being offered by Czech glass designer and blower Petr Novotny, whose own glass company Ajeto Glass, located in Novy Bor, Czech Republic, is known for innovative designs and workshop courses. Novotny‘s course will run in August.
To learn more about the summer courses at Bild-Werk Frauenau, visit their website.