Visiting Off Square Glass Studio’s new quarters on First Street East, I’m met at the door by wiry Alex Leader, co-owner of the new venture. The last time I happened by the studio he and partner Daniel Reilly were busy – in the throes of buying and building all that is necessary to blow glass on a commercial level. But today, the partners are calm and collected – although not cool given the temperature at which they ply their craft. We sat down for a chat in their new showroom, amid the colorful and delicate pieces of their art.
Both men have been blowing glass for the better part of 20-odd years. Leader first fell in love with the craft while at Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire while Reilly discovered glass blowing at the California College of Arts in Oakland. As glass blowing circles are quite small the two were bound to meet at some point and did so in 2002 at a studio run by Reilly in west Oakland. During the intervening years while Reilly was busy creating, among other things, restoration work for the lighting at Davies Symphony Hall and custom lighting for the de Young Museum cafe, Leader was out and about working for and with glass blowers throughout the Bay Area.
With the accumulated experience, the pair decided to bring their two companies – Daniel Reilly Glass and Leader Glass – together to collaborate in Off Square Glass Studio here in Sonoma. With signed lease in hand, they began amassing equipment and building what they couldn’t readily buy. They lit the furnace in August – a champagne cork popping event – and having been steadily blowing glass ever since.
Both Leader and Reilly are adept at creating unique lighting fixtures in every conceivable shape, size and color. Many of these are created as custom orders for clients and they run the gamut from utilitarian to fanciful. Reilly has perfected creating wine glasses and the studio has plans for a line of tabletop items including wine glasses, tumblers and other functional glassware. When I asked how long it took to create one wine glass Reilly laughed and told me the glass blower’s inside joke of an answer, “15 minutes and 20 years,” referring to not just the amount of time per glass but the level of experience needed as well.
Plans are also in the works to offer glassblowing classes as well as eventually invite other glass artists to use the studio to create their own pieces like jewelry.
“We want this to be an open studio where people are welcome to come and go and see all that we have to offer. In terms of offerings, we will have something for everyone at every prince point,” said Reilly.
Leader seconded that and added, “We’re excited about having our own space. I get to decide what I want to make and for that, I’m doubly excited,” says Leader.
Photos by Melania Mahoney
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