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Hans Godo Fräbel is recognized globally as pioneer of flamework
glass artistry. In 1968 he founded Fräbel Studios based in
Atlanta, Georgia, to give expression to his novel concept of
flamework glass art.
In the 1960's, glass was not considered a serious art medium and
artists were not utilizing the beauty and diversity that the
techniques of flameworked glass offers to create unique art
pieces. Harvey Littleton and Hans Godo Fräbel
were among the
first artists who chose glass as their art medium.
Traditionally, glass art (known as furnace glass), is made by
taking a small piece of molten glass out of a furnace with a
metal blowpipe and working it into shape. Furnace glass allows
for large pieces to be created, but does not offer the level of
detail Fräbel was looking to achieve. Fräbel wanted to utilize
the detail capabilities of flamework to add a new and more
exquisite dimension to the world of glass art. Until that time,
glass designers had always given their designs to factory glass
workers, who would then try to create their own design in glass.
From its inception in 1968 until the mid 1990's,
the Frabel Studio created art
pieces almost exclusively in clear borosilicate
- a strong,
brilliant crystal that is resistant to scratches and which, if
broken can usually be restored without a trace of damage.
Eventually, Fräbel Studio artists began exploring the use of
color, ultimately forming an increasingly important component of
the Fräbel repertoire. Other techniques the
studio employs are
sandblasting and painting. Sandblasting produces very fine
indentations in the glass which create an optical illusion to
the human eye so that the finished piece appears to have a
frosted, whitish tint.
Each studio sculpture receives the trademarked FS, which
stands for Fräbel Studio. The Fräbel name and the initials of
the artist who executed the design are engraved into the
mounting peg, which holds the sculpture steady in its base. Each
one-of-a-kind or limited edition Fräbel sculpture receives the
GF mark, which stands for the name of the principal artist,
Hans Godo Fräbel. The mounting peg bears the year of its
creation.
The Fräbel Studio is open weekdays for visitors and tours. |
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| Exhibition photography
courtesy of Atlanta Botanical Garden. |
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