34 DECEMBER 2019
FORGING ART WITH FRIENDS AND FIRE
DEGREES FAHRENHEIT
Text by KATHERINE CHENG and ISHANI RAHA Photos by ZOË WONG-VANHAREN
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ALO ALTO HIGH SCHOOL through the years by Ferrera and Ehrensjunior Andrew Guillet sculpts his vard. glass vision by deftly rolling the “A big part of it was because David molten substance at the end of a Camner was super passionate about it metal, rod-like blowpipe against a metal [glassblowing],” Ferrera says. “So he made table by alternating hands on the blow- it happen through just hard work and sheer pipe at a steady pace: a method known as will and perseverance.” marvering. He diligently keeps the glass in constant movement in pursuit of a perfect- Glass-room teachers ly symmetrical shape, at times inserting the Ferrera currently teaches Ceramics and glass into the forge’s glory hole to reheat it. Sculpture and Advanced Sculpture at Paly, To many, the intense heat is overwhelm- and his influence extends much farther ing, but Guillet is energized by the flames than the classroom. In his own time, Ferrewhich create his spectacular pieces. ra enjoys working on his own personal piecOutside room 105, he is surround- es which he displays to his 40,000 followers ed by other Palo Alto on Instagram and High School students sells on his eponyand staff making their You have to invest a mous online store. own pieces. Periodicalhe curlot into glass pieces, rentlyThough ly, his Advanced Cefocuses on ramics and Sculpture both physically and silicone and resin art classmates will help pieces, Ferrera shares emotionally. ” him with his piece, a love for glassblowtorching sections of it ing as he works to keep them warm or alongside many of — STEVE FERRERA, ceramics teacher adding pieces of glass. his students. By the end of the period, a two-foot-deep “It’s very relaxing while you’re heating black vase — the result of an hour of fo- something up,” Ferrera says. “It’s also realcused marvering, heating and torching — ly cool to see the students work and make emerges from a burning furnace. pieces. You have to invest a lot into glass Behind it all is Martin Ehrensvard, pieces, both physically and emotionally.” Paly’s resident glass master, who runs the With 30 students in each of his art glass studio. Ehrensvard acts as a mentor to classes, it is almost impossible for Ferrera students like Guillet, and is a constant pres- to work with all of them at once, in both ence in the studio. From guiding beginner the classroom and outside with the glassglassblowers to providing technical point- blowing equipment. This is Martin Ehrensers to more advanced students, Ehrensvard vard’s territory as manager and overseer of dedicates his hours to mentoring and as- the glass studio. sisting them. His mentorship instills inspiEhrensvard, who graduated from Paly ration in his most passionate glassblowers, in 2014, discovered the school’s glassblowwho may go to purse the craft later in life. ing program during his sophomore year Guillet is one of a handful of stu- and dedicated his time to perfecting his dents who was inspired by Ehrensvard and glass-working techniques, staying late on jumped at the chance to partake in Paly’s school nights and coming in on weekends coveted glassblowing program. Paly is to work. After graduating, he spent the one of only five high schools in the Unit- next few years traveling around Europe and ed States to have glassblowing equipment apprenticing in some of the world’s most and a developed program. Steve Ferrera, successful glassblowing studios, including the current ceramics and sculpture teacher, Mohl & Drivsholm Glass in Denmark and credits former art teacher David Camner Berengo Studio in Italy. for introducing glassblowing to Paly twenty “I saw the whole process from start to years ago, which was also made possible by finish, including how they built the boxes support from the community. The depart- … [and] how they ship them away,” Ehment has since grown into a community of rensvard says. “As long as you’re in the presover 100 students per year. ence of someone who is successful and you Camner’s influence has not left Paly pay attention, you can learn a lot.” completely. His passion has been carried After working for professional glass-
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