Visiting Fritz Glass for art glass in Dennisport

I’m a big fan and a minor (very minor, unfortunately) collector of art glass.  I began looking at it when I was a wee lad growing up in New York and my mother would walk me along Fifth Avenue to view, among the many shops, Steuben Glass.

I told myself I would some day be able to buy Steuben Glass.  Luckily that day came a while back (although not the very expensive pieces).

Art glass is one of the types of art I (1) really like and (2) can afford — at least some of it.  Also, there are a number of art glass shops and glass blowers in Cape Cod.

Fritz Glass

So when my girlfriend suggested to drive to Dennisport, Mass. to see Fritz Glass (see below; poor camera phone photo), I was eager to do so.  It’s a small shop that’s easy to find.

Fritz Lauenstein blows most of the glass in the shop, although a few items are done by other artists.

Sales and commissions

A top selling item is, apparently, the large collections of lovely multi-colored marbles (keep reading).  Also, there’s a selection of vases, bowls and seasonal items.  For example, Valentine’s Day hearts are on display and Lauenstein will be blowing some more this week. 

You may often find him blowing glass, and it’s “up front and personal” so you get a great view of how he does it.

Lauenstein does a fair amount of work on commission, but he prefers to produce modifications of pieces that are based on his own designs rather than copying pieces by other artists. 

So if you like a piece he’s created that’s on display but would prefer, for example, different colors, he probably would be glad to make one just for you.

Web resources

Fritz Glass doesn’t have its own Web site, although I understand there’s one under construction.  However, by searching Google for “Fritz Glass” I found a few sites on the Web that sell his marbles, such as from Block Glass (see below).

A Web site for an artist really is a perfect showcase.  It’s also rather easy to do.  Even establishing a weblog — like this one (and the technology weblogs I write) — is very easy. 

It’s a cinch to post photos of artwork, write about new pieces, discuss one’s artistic philosophy, highlight upcoming exhibitions, post bios of the artists or provide a detailed map with directions (such as the one for Fritz Glass that Google produced in a few seconds; see below), etc.

A more difficult component, though, is developing Web-based sales.  But there are many options and many of the top Web companies offer moderately-priced and easily configurable sites with shopping carts.

Comments

[lisa johnson-briggs]

just breathless!..and his wife..june rita raymonds sculptures are magnifigant!