Caitlin Burch grew up with glass. A second generation glassblower, she spent time in the studio with her mother and father from infancy. "My mother would work with me in a pack on her back, and my father would let me help him on the bench; starting when I was three or four"
Burch's obsession with glass found her when she was 21, focused on college graduation. "One day I was really stressed out, so I picked up a blow pipe and immediately was at ease with the world. I found myself focused, happy, obsessed in a really healthy way"
"At times I was unable to get into the hotshop, and I missed the glass. A friend, a few years before, had introduced me to lampworking. Using the new technique I was still able to work with molten glass, but on a much smaller scale and I didn;t need the hotshop to do it".
When Burch wasn't blowing glass, she was teaching herself to lampwork. Initially, it was the process of lampworking that fascinated her. Though , as her understanding and mastery of the craft grew; color form and beading began to play a larger role. All this has lead to a traditional , yet dynamic line of jewelry.
Now with three lines of work, handblown glass, lampworked beads and jewelry featuring lampworked items, Burch is practicing mastering all three crafts. "The integration of the three is the really fun part, pulling different tools, skill and techniques from different crafts really gives me a very large pallet to work form and I adore every moment of it."
"Glass is binding. My father has always talked about dancing with the glass and living with it. I believe I finally understand whate he means. It is a part of me now, a part of everything I do. I love it."
Burch's work is available at her studio in Putney, Vermont, in stores and galleries around New England, and at fine craft shows form may to December in the Northeast.
