Scottsdale glass art graces sites across the Valley

Tag : Metal Glass

It's nearly 7 a.m. and Newt Grover's pink bandanna and gray T-shirtare stained with sweat, as he stands before a 2,000-degree furnaceat his glassblowing studio.
His eyeglasses hang halfway down his nose as he turns a long metalpole holding a glowing-hot, fist-size ball of molten glass insideone of three "glory holes" used to heat the glass.
Pulling it from the bright orange hole, Grover gently places theglowing glass on a cool metal table known as a marver, where herolls the molten glob into a small pile of chipped blue glasscalled frit. The piece is then shoved back into the glory hole.
After another stint inside the furnace, Grover blows into the metaltube and swings the molten, taffylike glass, which takes the shapeof a vase an assistant refers to as a dragon egg. As seconds pass,the vase slowly changes from a glowing hot red to a cooler blue.
By 8 a.m., Grover steps outside his 130-degree Scottsdale Airparkstudio and takes a swig of Gatorade.
"It's one of those spiritual things. Blowing glass is a spiritualart," he says. "You're in the moment and there isn't a care in yourhead." Glass artwork across the Valley
His artwork provides decorative touches for upscale homes,businesses, clubs and restaurants throughout the Valley:

" Plated flowers protrude from the ceiling of Mastro's Steakhouse.

" He made small light covers for Wildflower Bread Company.

" His "Serengeti" chandelier at Suede Nightclub in Scottsdaleresembles a spotted red jellyfish, with about a dozen curved,striped tentacles fanned out toward the ceiling.

" Outside Grover's studio is an 8-foot-tall work-in-progress - achandelier that will be assembled and hung at the home of a LosAngeles Dodger. 'Supposed to be a hobby'
He uses about 30,000 pounds of glass per year.
Browsing Grover's studio and samples of his work, it's hard tocomprehend he began glassblowing as a hobby only 11 years ago, withlittle training other than a video on esteemed glass artist DaleChihuly.
"I thought, 'Man, this is the coolest thing I've ever seen,' "Grover said, recalling the video.
The former jewelry artist was making neon signs for businesses whenhe stumbled onto his new career.
"It took me about 3 years to learn enough to make a little money."
The sudden career change came as a shock for his wife and businessmanager, Lee. The pair worked together at a jewelry store - she insales, he in design.
"This was supposed to be a hobby," Lee said, standing in a roomfully adorned with colorful glass plates, vases and flowers attheir home. More than a lifetime of ideas
Grover has said he won't live long enough to get all the images outof his mind, Lee said. He feels the images inside and knows they'rethere.
"(Newt) just has this ability," she said. "Someone without anytraining would say, 'My God, where do I even start?' He knows thepath in his head he wants to go down."
Grover's favorite question from clients generally starts with "Canyou . . . ?" Lee said.
Her husband's best work develops when a client allows him thefreedom for his artistic vision to flow and change from his mind.
"I listen to (the client) closely and get inside their head a bit,"Grover said. "Then I let that guide me when I'm doing my work." Demanding art: A labor of love
At 51, Grover underwent knee surgery two months ago. He has begunpreparing for when the physical demands of his craft will becometoo great to carry on.
He laboriously lugs around a pole with large pieces of molten glass- some of which can reach more than 4 feet in diameter.
At any one time, at least two of his seven assistants help byhandling or working on the artwork or passing along tools. Insidethe studio, assistants and artist move together in an almostchoreographed fashion.
"I feel a great part of my obligation is to teach them what Iknow," Grover said. "It's a team effort."