Tribute to Benjamin Moore

BENJAMIN MOORE 1952-2021

A friend, a mentor, and a leader of the glass community

"I met Benny when I was 15 years old. I had just started to blow glass. He was my idol, a glass-blowing hero. I loved what he did, different than all the other artists I’d been around growing up. When I was 17, I started working with him as the ‘punty boy’. His artwork and his encouragement inspired me like no one else. His kindness to me, a teenage wannabe, inspires me to this day to be as good of a person to others. He saw something in me and steered me in the right direction. I was able to be around him as I moved forward and he really made all the difference. I was fortunate to be part of the team on King street at ‘BMI’ and he was so good at encouraging all of us youngsters. As the years went by, I continued to be part of the team there and I thrived. Benny and I grew to be great friends. We did all kinds of stuff together outside, hunting birds, fishing, digging coastal razor clams, chewing tobacco, drinking, and just talking shit. He was a good-natured, uberliberal, redneck from Olympia, WA. I really do not think he had any idea about the difference he made to a generation. He was humble and cared about the people he liked, he thought had potential and drive. I have always felt that being a role model must be a big responsibility that you don’t aspire to, it just happens if you are good at something and kind to others. He did not really know that he was, he was just being Benny. I’ve lost one of my absolute best friends. I loved him so much and will miss him forever. One of a kind." - Dante Marioni

"I loved Benny Moore. I first met him at Pilchuck and when he was a student of mine getting his MFA at RISD. He was a great guy and a skilled craftsman who made important work. Benny was an important contributor early on at Pilchuck, and it was he who brought the Italian Masters to the Northwest. He wore many hats at the school, serving as shop supervisor, education coordinator, and providing creative influence over 13 years, and another 30 years as a trustee. His contributions have been critical to Pilchuck’s success. My thoughts and prayers are with Benny’s lovely wife Debora, who also does such beautiful glass work." – Dale Chihuly

"A large part of our education about studio glass in Seattle came from listening to Benjamin Moore; speaking on the phone from the west coast to the east, or when we visited with him and Debora each year. His deep appreciation and knowledge of glass, combined with his ability to share stories about the history and techniques are important to us as gallerists. His great commitment to his own work was to an ideal form created through the excellence of his technique. He said, “For me, the true challenge of creating an object is to give the piece a timeless presence or quality.” Though even more important to us, and what will be always remembered, is the warmth we felt, and the honest open way in which Benny was a friend. We miss him very much....and will remember his graceful nature and easy smile." - Kim Saul and Jim Schantz

Benjamin Moore’s vital and lasting contributions to the development of American studio glass should not be overlooked or underestimated. Benny was a touchstone for the studio glass community, a pivotal personality, and a giant in the world of glass in the Pacific Northwest. His inspired designs, drawing on, developing, and expressing new forms for ideas found in early and mid-20th-century Venetian glass, have impressed generations of American artists. A vastly knowledgeable artist and maker, his Seattle studio was the center of much amazing creativity, with celebrated artists always eager to work with him and his glassblowing team. Benny was especially important to the community of Pilchuck. He was one of the dedicated educators who built Pilchuck into the institution it is today, serving the school for many years (at different times) as its education director, artistic director, and trustee. Benny will be keenly missed far and wide across the international studio glass network that he helped to establish, both for his talent as an artist and for his warm and outgoing personality. —Tina Oldknow

"I knew Ben for almost 50 years. Ben was involved with every aspect of the growth of the Studio Glass movement. And, he was always truly a gentleman." - Paul Marioni

"Over the past two weeks, I've learned more and more with every phone call how many people Benny helped, mentored, welcomed, and encouraged into glassmaking. He had friends all over the world. He facilitated and mentored the beginnings of many careers, both at Pilchuck and in his own studio. Working in his studio with him and his remarkable teams was literally the best place in the world to accomplish work that would otherwise have remained only as drawings on paper or dreams in the air. And they put their hearts into it and into all of us with kindness and generosity. Ben, we're all going to miss you a lot." - Toots

"I met Benjamin Moore in 1983 when I was pulled from the basement of the Glass Eye Studio to bring punties for him and Richard Royal. It was a most terrifying moment because I had very little glass-blowing experience at that time. I later started working for him at his newly founded studio Benjamin Moore Inc. For 20 years we worked together and the experience made me what I am today. Benny was a perfect role model for me in every way as a glassblower, artist, and gentleman. His love of perfection in glassblowing is deeply ingrained in me and all that worked with him. His tenure as artistic director of Pilchuck changed the course of history for us all, bringing an international faculty that showed us new techniques we all benefited from. My love and support goes out to Deborah Moore and her family." - Preston Singletary

"It is very hard to take in that Benny is gone. I would not be where I am today if I had not met him in Orrefors, Sweden in the spring of 1979. He was on his way back to the USA from working at Venini in Venice. He spoke about Pilchuck and it sounded like something I had to try to go to. I managed to make it that summer and signed up for ”hot glass” with Dale Chihuly. It was a magical summer with Lino Tagliapietra there for the first time, assisted by Benny and Michael Scheiner. Wilke Adolfsson from Sweden was also there and many others, and one very special person, Larry Jasse, who I am married to today! Larry went to school with Benny and they had also met in Europe that spring, on Murano! Benny was one of the pillars in my glass life and much of it has circled around Seattle over the years. Even if my base is in Sweden I have returned many times for work periods at BMI or MOG and Pilchuck and it will be so incredibly empty coming to Seattle when he is not there." - Ann Wåhlström

"It’s with a heavy heart to be writing about the passing of such a fine man, artist, craftsman, and eloquent soul and the time comes shockingly too soon. From the first meeting at RISD, throughout his glass career, his international ambassadorship, his dogged loyalty to his kin Pilchuck pioneers Benny held the presence of a ‘legendary’ from ‘the git-go’. Always a steward of the integrity of the art glass arena, especially at Pilchuck; he was impeccable about his own craftsmanship yet open to new ideas of those he generously taught and hosted. As Pilchuck’s program director he paved the way for artists to maintain a voice not only in the programs, the hot shops but on the board where his eloquence reached generations of artists and enthusiasts. He was the hinge-pin for globally sourced glass talents coming to campus yet down to earth enough to cast a few flies off the pond dock. And without his loyal diligence and a well-wrought template at the ‘chuck, and the preening of each next wave of glass blowers at BMI, Pilchuck’s next 25 years may not have happened. It was with awe again to take his call to be the Art Director in ‘93 and through my 14 years and beyond, he remained loyal, the go-to man, the diplomat, a friend, a confidant, soundboard, supporter, mentor, and big brother. His loss is enormous and will be as long-lived as his legendary bighearted influence. My deepest loving sympathies go out to Deborah, the family, and the extended family and the extended families." - Pike Powers