Not a hobby for the weak of heart

In December 2023, I made a post on Facebook looking for Ann Arborites with interesting or compelling hobbies. I received a plethora of responses, ranging from doulas to dancers to doll refurbishers. One hobbyist who stood out to me was Patricia Deldin—a glassblower.

For most of my life, I had assumed that glassblowing was not a craft that could be taken on as a hobby. This was a grueling, strenuous art form that one must spend their life perfecting. In turn, my idea of what a glassblower looked like was comically similar to that of a blacksmith from the 1600s. That perception, however, immediately shattered when I visited Patricia at Acorn Glassworks Studio.

My day with Patricia showed me that, while this craft demands a level of danger and discipline, it is an art accessible to those willing to invest time and effort. Strict rules and techniques may govern the it, yet, contrary to my initial belief, the journey to learning glassblowing is not confined to an exclusive elite. With a dash of gumption, a drive to improve, and just a few hours a week, anyone can embark on the captivating journey of learning this intricate art form.

Getting to know Patricia

Sitting together in the Acorn Glassworks Studio, Patricia recounted a story from her youth. When she was a teenager, her mother accidentally started a grease fire while cooking dinner. In a panic, her mother fled the house. Patricia, on the other hand, swung the door open and charged right into the billowing smoke. She grabbed the pan, marched out the door, set the fire out, and ran back inside to open the windows. Then, she sat down and began preparing an outdoor meal as if it were a regular Tuesday evening. This, Patricia noted, is how she tends to function. While 'low-stakes' situations like presentations tend to make her jittery, high-stakes situations bring out her calm head and easy resolve.

When I asked Patricia why she didn't opt for a more conventional hobby (one that didn't pose a high risk of getting 3rd degree burns), she talked at length about the tantalizing beauty of molten glass-- the heat that burns between 2500 and 2900 degrees Farenheit, the appeal of learning how it moves as it warms and cools. But, the most appealing part of glassblowing was the fact that "you have to focus". The danger, and, more importantly, the full-bodied concentration with which one must practice, seemed to be a common source of interest for all of the students. One of her classmates, for example, was a recently retired surgeon who also remarked that working on a craft that required his full attention was something both familiar and comforting to him.

My impression of Patricia was that of a practical, incredibly intelligent woman with a deep-seated need to use her brain to its fullest capacity. She talked about most of her life accomplishments with a nonchalance similar to her first story, even once referring to herself as an "idiot-savant". As if remarking on the weather, she would share mind-boggling facts about herself: she's a well-decorated professor in psychology and psychiatry; she earned her black belt at the age of 50; she won an Olympic gold medal in volleyball. When I pointed out that her accomplishments were extremely impressive—and contradictory to her self-acclaimed 'idiot-savant' status, she simply shrugged.

"Yeah, I either do it, or I don't."

I spent a couple of hours watching Patricia work in the studio, where she shifted between constructing a vase and explaining the process to me. She moved around the studio with ease and a practiced hand, and she was quick to jump in when other glassblowers needed a 'second'. She shared that she has been glassblowing off and on for 25 years, but emphasizes that she only seriously started 2.5 years ago. Whether or not she identifies as a beginner "depends on the day". To her, glassblowing is an art form that builds upon itself. There is always a new technique, a new form, or a new manner/treatment to master. She summed it up as such: "I know how to do everything conceptually, just not the actual doing."

However, if my time with Patricia has taught me anything, I believe wholeheartedly that she is far on her way to becoming an aficionado.

The process of glassblowing

During my time at Acorn Glassworks Studio, I was given the opportunity to watch both Patricia and the owner/head teacher, Phillip Yamron, demonstrate their work. The photos below depict their demonstrations.

Glassblowing, as defined by Wikipedia, is "a glassforming technique that involves inflating molten glass into a bubble (or parison) with the aid of a blowpipe (or blow tube)". Within the studio, glassblowing is broken down into a highly-regimented process. Every step is heavily monitored by fellow glassblowers, every movement is relegated to specific areas, and every moment is narrated by crisp calls to fellow glassblowers- 'behind!', 'I need a second [glassblower]', etc. All of this regulation is extremely necessary for a craft as dangerous as this one. But its strict structure is counter-weighted by the cheeky terminology and innuendo used for its tools and processes.

Which leads to the introduction of the first step of glassblowing...

So many vases, so little shelf space

Perhaps the most 'dangerous' part of glassblowing is the fact that one person only needs so many vases, so many mugs, so many jars. But, the urge to create doesn't stop when the shelf space runs out. Patricia, and all of her classmates, told me that their friends and family have been inundated with their creations. Which, honestly, doesn't sound like a bad problem to have.

Glassblowing, I've learned, is an insanely impressive and beautiful craft. If you ever feel like doing something a bit hazardous, but very fulfilling, I encourage you to go and try it out.

Thank you again to Patricia Deldin and Acorn Glassworks Studio for allowing me to spend the day with you. I am very grateful for the experience.

On the lookout for hobbyists!

Do you or someone you know have a hobby to document? Reach out to me at meaghan.blanchard.photos@gmail.com!