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Some people sweat, bleed, and exude art out of their soul. For a select few, there are no blurred lines when it comes to reality, things are quite simple, life is art and art is life. Danny White is one of those people.
Residing in America’s glass blowing mecca, Seattle, he is at the forefront of glass art. With a wildly imaginative and experimental spirit, Danny is creating colorful works of art that capture a style that is quintessentially his own.
GroundSounds recently had the pleasure of catching up with Danny for an exclusive interview on his work, creative background, and more, check it out below.
For those just discovering your talent and works of art, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and background?
I am an Artist based out of Seattle, WA. My primary medium is glass, but I have a fine arts degree in 2-Dimesional studies from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. I like to think that I have a sense of humor and heightened awareness for composition. I travel all over creating work and teaching others about the special world of glassblowing and being an artist in general.
Painting and drawing use to be your primary focus, what was it about working with glass that changed your focus?
Glass is just inherently captivating. It takes you in and demands attention. Working with glass as a material becomes instantly gratifying. It’s hot, it’s quick, and you have to multi-task like crazy. I guess it just suited my personality a little better. I will always paint though; I find it equally as appealing just in different, more therapeutic ways.
Can you tell us about the energy and imagination that you thrive on while creating your work?
That’s all me. When you are working in the studio it is generally with a team of others, as the leader, known as the gaffer, there is an unspoken responsibility to keep the flow of energy on the positive amongst the team. A great deal of emotion goes into making these pieces and every one involved gets into it…There becomes game time decision, I thrive on that, it reminds me of sports.
How does art make you feel?
Art gives me hope in people.
Many of the pieces you create are of playful, imaginative characters, from clowns to people in costumes….what is it about these colorful characters that makes you want to create them?
I enjoy being a storyteller. I find somewhat of a responsibility to make work that lends itself to a third party perspective. I really think of glass as an “anything goes” type of material, as an artist you can take it a number of ways. For me I enjoy utilizing the stigma of glass. Since the beginning of the Studio Glass Movement, (about 50 years ago in Toledo, OH), glass has brought with it an automatic iconographic presence. Really just about anything made this day and age is considered contemporary and therefore interesting. I like to take this advantage that glass has and make work that exploits it. Be it series of glass hobos, a burger flipping grease clown, or a boy in a skunk suit, I intend to compel the audience and set a foundation for a story using humor and childhood references.
How do you start creating your works of art? Do you sketch out every piece? Can you tell us a little bit about the beginning stages of your work?
I do for the most part. I have found it easiest to work as efficiently as possible without holding yourself back from taking chances. I generally will come up with an idea and will make it in several different components. With glass it is a start to finish medium, you can’t just put it down and go have a coffee. This was always a little tricky for me because of my painting background. We were always trained to walk away, walk around, just about everything but paint to really soak in what it was you were doing and how you could view it differently. I eventually found through a great deal of trial and error that the best thing for my personality was to make glass in parts and components. It got to the point where I could step back from a head or torso I’d made, think about what I would do next or what it might need when the piece would eventually come together. It was a good resolution in my opinion. A lot of the time I can think I have the worlds best idea and try to force a rendition of something in my head or on paper. What I have realized over time is that you have to leave a certain amount of responsibility to the glass. I know its crazy Zen talk but glass really is alive, its molecules are always moving, ive seen a piece completely change in a matter of one move or one heat. I keep my expectations high, but stay humble and open. Now I find myself making just heads and faces to pieces with no ideas in mind, eventually they’ll tell me what they want to be.
Can you tell us about one of your most memorable activities and/or honors regarding your work? What has been one of your greatest artistic successes?
The main joy is that I am able to do this for a living. Really everyday that I sit down at the workbench and do not have to worry about a clock face, I consider to be successful. Working with your friends, doing crazy shit with a crazy material, 4000 degree torches, it’s all good. With the bigger picture, I get a great deal of affirmation when I do a lot of travelling and teaching. I enjoy when I get an opportunity to share my passion with others and possibly get them into glass, it’s a life-changing endeavor.
You have been apart of many live demonstrations, what is it about working in front of people that you enjoy most?
I think if you ask anyone who has seen glassblowing will tell you it is just as much a performance as it is a process. I make no attempt at hiding this during one of my demonstrations. Energy is high and the pressure is on! The teams I work with are always down for showmanship. Sometimes we dress in character. The audience joins in on the energy and everyone is in it to win it. Glass artists are such characters, we put on shows and people get behind us on it, even if what were making is crap.
What people, places and books have inspired you most?
Oh wow, everything, it’s all universal to me. Every time I travel and experience I am adding to my repertoire. I view it as field research; I see things for a living. The only way I would be able to make things that make me happy is if I actually was. Travelling and meeting others is key, if you only look within you will just repeat yourself.
What is it about the city of Seattle that attracted it to you most?
Growing up in the Midwest the sights were set on the horizon pretty since birth, I had always wanted to go west. First off, Seattle is absolutely beautiful what it lacks in its “grey winter”, it more than makes up for the rest of the year. Seattle is notoriously the glass city and when the time came to make a decision I just did. I am always jet setting around the country for one thing or another but I like to think of myself as based out of Seattle. I was always open for moving else where, but something always keeps me sticking around Seattle. Access to glass is everywhere out here, there is a solid community of up and coming young glass artists that I am proud to say are my friends. There will be books written about it someday.
Can you give some words of advice to aspiring glass blowers and sculptors?
Just have confidence, factor in experimentation into everyday living. Glass is a tricky field to earn a living in. I think as long as you are open with a good attitude, willing to learn, and not an asshole you will be fine. At the very least try to remember you are an artist first, and the rest should come natural.
What are you currently working on, what is next for Danny White?
I have been painting a lot recently, getting ready for a couple shows. But you know, basic shit, re-cultivating the American Dream and creating a non traditional standard of living for myself. I don’t always know what’s down each road, but I know if I’m paving the way it definitely won’t suck. Right now I am just enjoying the adventure.
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