Artist Statement

Glass has held my attention for 50 years now, which is amazing because I have interests that scatter me in many directions.

I am moved by the beauty of the night sky and other astronomical phenomena. Physics and cosmology fascinate me, as do high temperature chemistry, powered flight, and all things mechanical. I am mesmerized by color, form, contrast, iridescence, tessellating patterns, and complexity.

My studio is located in the rural hills of Western Massachusetts, in a converted dairy barn beside my home. Every night, the last thing I do is walk from the house to my studio to check the furnaces. Sometimes seeing an aurora borealis, watching a storm develop down the valley, or looking at the sky on a perfect summer night, compels me to translate some of the wonder of the universe into my glass. This process doesn’t happen in any planned way, but gradually and unpredictably. I never try to replicate what I see around me and in fact often don't recognize the source of inspiration until someone points it out to me later. 

Molten glass consists of sand and metallic oxides combined with extraordinary, blinding heat. The result is a material that flows like honey. When it's hot, glass is alive! It moves gracefully and inexorably in response to gravity and centripetal force. It possesses an inner light and transcendent radiant heat that make it simultaneously one of the most rewarding and one of the most frustrating materials for an artist to work with. Most of my work reflects a compromise between the molten material and me; each finished piece is a solidified moment when we both agree.”

- Josh Simpson