He’s Got Marbles!
Today, in America, fewer commercial factories make glass marbles than are made by artists and in hot glass studios. We have posted before about two great marble makers, Dave McCullough and Sammy Hogue, who are transitioning to small batch marble production. Also, all across America, glass artists make singular, beautiful marbles by flameworking or kiln work.
Ask Matt Fenske if he has any marbles, and his answer will be a resounding “yes”. He has owned thousands over his lifetime and proudly shows us a jar of marbles from his childhood. These wait on the shop counter for visitors to spy and start up a conversation. Matt, who is a glass artist, also makes a few marbles occasionally.
Matt is a mechanical engineer who started working with glass in 1999. He opened his own studio, Island Fire Glass, in 2005 in St. Croix, the U.S. Virgin Islands. There he demonstrated glassblowing (flameworking) and sold a variety of art forms, like his own glasswork as well as paintings, ceramics and glass produced by other artists on St. Croix.
Down Home Alabama
In 2016, Matt and his wife, Rachel, moved to Mobile, Alabama, which is Rachel’s home town. They now live in the Fowl River Area and operate Island Fire Glass on the Dauphin Island Parkway, where we recently talked with Matt and shopped at his studio and showroom.
In his Alabama studio, Matt continues to make beautiful art glass items; one of his favorites is the “Puffer Fish”. In honor of the season, Matt flameworks tree ornaments, some of which require making round glass balls and knobs. Some days, he makes marbles to share with kids coming into the studio. During an earlier visit, he promised to make us some marbles, and they are gorgeous.
More Good Stuff
Among the beauties produced by a variety of other artists are glass pumpkins and jewelry. Matt continues to demonstrate glassblowing and hosts workshops in the outdoor hotshop. In another part of the studio there is a not-to-be-missed Expresso Bar. Visit the Island Fire Glass website to learn more.
