Thomas Spake is fascinated by the medium of glass. The Tennessee-based artisan describes it as “a cruel temptress,” emphasizing that glass is at once “alluring and beautiful . . . but fragile and dangerous.” Fittingly, he recounts his first experience with glassblowing as “a jaw-dropping moment." While completing a college work-study job in the art department, he fell in love with “the creative energy, the improvisation, the dance, the sweat, the teamwork.”
After completing his schooling and a post-grad glassblowing fellowship, Spake opened his own studio in 2002. This innovator sees himself as an “explorer,” one who is “searching for new textures, colors, and forms.” He is primarily inspired by “the subtle yet mysterious beauty of our natural world,” and he describes his finished pieces as “landscapes.”
Spake achieves the “tactile quality” of his work through a two-step process. In the hot shop, he hand-blows each piece over a furnace before fusing a number of surface elements to the finished form. These include glass powders and frits, or specially treated ceramic pieces. Spake also makes use of the murrini technique, an ancient glassblowing practice in which long, thin strips of glass called “cane” are rolled out, stacked, rolled together, and cut to reveal vibrantly colored pieces which are then applied to the glass.
Once the glass cools, Spake transfers his pieces to the cold shop, where he carves, sandblasts, and engraves pieces in order to reveal inner layers of color. Finally, each piece is acid-etched to achieve Spake’s signature soft matte finish. This process, though labor-intensive, allows Spake to “create very complex patterns that imitate natural objects and landscapes.”
Like the natural landscapes that he seeks to emulate, Spake’s pieces are not strictly uniform. He likens himself to a jazz musician, citing the “improvisational” elements of working with molten materials over a hot furnace. He attributes his success to “constant exploration of [glassworking’s] 
boundaries,” which he continues to achieve.
The Museum Store features a number of Spake’s pieces, including bowls, vases, and decorative glass cairns. Each piece, with its rich, pebble-like exterior, speaks to Spake’s fascination with natural forms, as well as his skill at bringing them to life. At home in any room, these pieces are both conversation starters and elegant objects for contemplation. They are particularly at home in sunny spaces, as Spake remarks that the unique surface texture allows light to be “transmitted through the vessel, revealing the true nature of the material.”
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |