GSW graduate Arthur Wilson describes performing on Netflix show Blown Away

Arthur Wilson, graduate of Georgia Southwestern, talked about his experience blowing glass on the Netflix show Blown Away. He told how his initial experiences at college sparked his interest. “I got into glass blowing through Georgia Southwestern State University. I was originally a printmaker up until my sophomore year.” The need for an elective led to him taking a glass blowing class. “I actually didn’t even know what it was, what the concept was.”

He soon was hooked. “Once we went into the glassblowing class, I was like ‘yeah this is really cool.’” Despite his enthusiasm, there were challenges. “We were making pieces but a lot of our stuff was dropping on the floor. It was kind of a frustrating process.”

Wilson talked about how he was further inspired by a visiting artist named Howard Risatti. Watching the step-by-step process of the 40-year-old glassblowing veteran inspired Wilson. “That’s when I fell in love with glass, when Howard Risatti came and visited. Made the glass look like candy, is the best way I can describe it.”

Talked about his experience on the Netflix show Blown Away. “It was scary being on the show. Also, it had some anxiety inducing moments.” He told how many of the contestants had been blowing glass for over twenty years. At the time, he had nine years of experience. He talked about what it was like walking onto the set for the first episode, and seeing so many talented glass blowers; “I’m gonna lose!”

Wilson described the environment of the set. “It was hotter than you would imagine. With all that equipment going there, it was extremely hot. I think it was hotter than when I work in Georgia.” He told how even with AC running, it was hotter than the usual studio.

He talked about how for the first episode he attempted a silhouette of a cellphone tower. “I like to talk about how technology gives immediate access and that can be a bad thing to the world.”

Despite remembering anxiety, he also recounted excitement. “I had an amazing time on the show.” While initially intimidating, he found the company of his colleagues delightful; “they were all very, very happy and open with their techniques.”

When asked if any of his techniques were new to his colleagues, he describing creating a glow in the dark project for episode two. “That was the glow in the dark welding helmet.”

Wilson had collaborated with other artists before, but described the group project, where contestants created a whale shark ocean installation, as especially challenging. “That was tough. The thing about the group project is, I guess ultimately when you’re on a TV show and there’s a grand prize of, I think it was $100,000. . . the first thing you are thinking about is this person going to ruin my spot on the show?”

When asked if it was hard leaving after the fourth episode, Wilson replied; “I genuinely thought I was in trouble and I was going to go home every episode.” He contrasted his experience with the other contestants. “Twenty years minimum, and they let me in there, and I’m blowing glass in my back yard.”

Wilson talked about his current work. His studio, Silica Burns Glass, is located at 480 Collett Avenue Mableton Georgia. Wilson talked about the projects he was currently working on. “So right now my favorite thing to make are like wine goblets with different attachments and things like that. Like [there] could be a dragon in the middle of the stem, maybe a ballerina.” He told how his studio also supplied pendant lighting and chandeliers. He has even continued expanding the theme of the group project of episode three. “I’ve actually been making whale sharks more lifelike.”

When asked what he would say to someone considering learning the skill, he replied that it was tough at first, but rewarding. He talked about where glass blowing had taken him. “I’m at year 10 now, and I work with the Cobb County vendors. I do workshops. It’s still not easy.” He talked about how as a Cobb County vendor, art houses, libraries, and even retirement homes could host him for demonstrations. He listed the Sewell Cultural Center and Mable House Arts Center as examples.

He told how he ended up becoming a vendor. “So Chuck Wells, the professor, current professor, does glassblowing for the Depression State Glass Fund. We were doing free demonstrations for them, and then they give the Georgia Southwestern University glass students scholarship. I was one of the recipients of that scholarship.”

Wilson told how during one of the free demonstrations, he was approached with an offer by the County to do workshops.

Wilson tells how the experience has paid off, saying he is past “the small mistake phase, and we’re now just doing workshops, classes and custom work. And it comes through word of mouth naturally, and it pays the bills.”

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