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See Casting Of Life-Size Figure At Phoenix Glass Studio

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 26, 2008

Each of the past 10 years, local glass artist Susan Gott has celebrated the holiday season by offering a free glimpse of the inner workings of her atelier, "Phoenix Glass Studio & Gallery," in Seminole Heights.

The three-day studio event will run from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Part of Friday's opening, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., will be dedicated to a wine and cheese reception which includes a "magical display of fire, light and sound," Gott said.

"We like doing a casting demo Friday night, because it's not something people normally get to see," she said. "We will be casting a life-size figure, and that takes a team of four to six people; three on ladles, two on torches, and I'm coordinating everything."
Glass artist Owen Pach, a Tampa native who recently returned to the area, will demonstrate making a combined blown and cast functional bowl.

"Owen and I started blowing glass about the same time, 25 years ago," Gott said. "And we worked in Penland a national school for craft education in North Carolina and in Ybor City.

Gott is also adding another creative flavor to the mix: metal artist Rick Sgrillo, who owns "Renaissance Iron" in Lakeland.

"I've actually been working with him as a blacksmith for quite some time," Gott said. "And we happen to have a couple of his pieces, some of which incorporate glass and some that don't."

Sgrillo normally creates hand-wrought custom gates, but for the past 15 years he also has provided the framework for some of Gott's larger cast pieces, including "Cat-bird," a 44-inch cast piece that can be seen at the studio.

Gift-giving pieces on display include blown and cast glass, as well as pieces by Sgrillo.

The studio provides seating and is accessible to disabled people. Children are welcome to attend, said Gott.

"It's really fun for kids to get to see this, and it's the only time of the year we're open and free to the public."

The studio is at 811 Knollwood St. For details, call the studio at (813) 237-3473 or visit www.gottglass.com

Correspondent Esther Hammer can be reached at (813) 259-7662 or ehammer@tampatrib.com.

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