Simon Pearce
Questions for Hand Blown Glass
Questions contributed by Simon Pearce on November 10, 2008
QFL Interview Question: What are the five to ten primary questions which you ask yourself in the design and creation of each item within the Simon Pearce Classic Collection?
Mr. Pearce's answer:
1) How can I keep my designs as simple as possible? Maintaining SIMPLICITY during the design process can be the most challenging part but I am convinced that simplicity is what gives my designs the most longevity.
2) What is this piece intended for and what will its function be? I like my designs to be FUNCTIONAL. Whatever purpose will be served, the piece needs to work very well for that purpose and endure in that function.
3) Is the design pleasing to my eye? The design, which includes the shape, the weight, and the feel has to be PLEASING to my eye and sensibility regardless of other peoples' opinions.
4) Is each piece a good value? It is important that the pieces I design are of GOOD VALUE. Even if something might seem expensive but offers pleasure for a lifetime or longer, then I consider it good value.
5) Am I respecting the material during the design process? I believe having RESPECT FOR THE MATERIAL is essential because the beauty is as much in the material as it is in how it is shaped.
Simon Pearce can be contacted at:
Simon Pearce
Bio
Simon Pearce was raised in County Cork Ireland, the son of a well-known potter who was credited with spearheading the revival of craft ceramics in Ireland with his Shanagarry pottery. It was here that Simon honed his aesthetic and skills. Simon then followed in the footsteps of his father and older brother, Stephen, by studying pottery New Zealand during his late teens. It was during this time that he began to admire antique glass and chose to pursue glassblowing. Eager to enhance his skills, he attended the Royal College of Art in London and apprenticed with some of the world's best glassmakers at Leerdam glass factory in the Netherlands, at Venini in Italy and at Orrefors and Boda, in Sweden. Simon Pearce started his own glassblowing workshop in Ireland in the early 70s and moved to the town of Quechee in Vermont in 1981 to seek independence from the constraints of European businesses and rising energy costs. Today, Quechee remains the flagship for Simon Pearce's retail, restaurant and production activities. The full range of glass and pottery designs embodies traditional and contemporary styles - all with classic simplicity, elegance and everyday functionality. The line is available at 11 Simon Pearce retail stores, through a nationwide network of signature stores, via mail-order catalogue and online at SimonPearce.com.
Homepage
http://www.SimonPearce.com