Glass Artists of Keystone, South Dakota

Art can come in many forms, using as many different mediums as the mind can imagine. While staying in Keystone, South Dakota we came across some incredible artists who generously shared their time with us.

The first artists we met were Gail Damin and Pete Hopkins who own and operate Black Hills Glass Blowers. Their spectacular creations showcase the fantastic talent they both share. We visited the studio and were fortunate to see them working on some projects. They have been glass-blowing for approximately 40 years, and you can tell at first glance that they are incredibly dedicated to their craft. They graciously took some time and explained the process of what they do and demonstrated their glass-blowing techniques.

Pete showed us how to make a vase using the traditional glass-blowing technique. At first it looked like a blob of lava as he took the molten glass out of the furnace using a long metal pole called a blowpipe. At 2000 degrees, this glass is incredibly hot! First he smoothed it on the table, then used a wet wooden form to help shape it. Then he blew an air bubble into the glass. You can tell he was very skilled as he rolled and reheated the glass to get the perfect shape he wanted. Then he rolled it in clear colored chips to add the color. As he gently rolled the blowpipe back and forth, Pete used soaked newspapers and other hand tools to shape the glass. It was fascinating to watch him work!

When he swung the pipe with the forming vase on it, I was literally holding my breath! It was so cool to see, but I was terrified it was going to break. You can tell Pete and Gail have worked together for quite a while. She knew exactly when he would need her to help with additional tools and to help transfer the vase from the blowpipe to the pontil to work on the other end. The finished vase was so beautiful with the spirals and swirls. Then it went into the annealer (kind of like a kiln for those who do ceramics) to go through the annealing process to prevent the vase from breaking as it cools.

The whole process for the vase took him around 20 minutes, although I think a beginner would take a considerably longer time. It may sound easy from my description, but I assure you, it took a lot of talent. It was perfectly balanced, and basically flawless. He repeated the processes over and over to achieve the exact look he wanted to create. How he could make it look exactly the way he did was mind-blowing and a lot of hard work.

Now it was our turn to watch Gail. She showed us how to create gorgeous pieces using the lampworking technique. Instead of using molten glass from the furnace, she used glass rods and heated them using a propane blowtorch. First she adjusted the blowtorch to just the right temperature (2200 degrees). Then she took the borosilicate glass rods, and using her bare hands twisted and turned them until they were ready for shaping. While she was working the glass, she explained that this requires a certain type of glass lens to protect her eyes. It was fascinating to watch the rods turn a bright shade of orange as they were heating and forming the body of the hummingbird she was making. Gail tilted and turned the rods just so to create the perfect shape.

As it became a glowing molten ball on one rod, she used another rod to make the shape. Then she added some color by using a blue borosilicate glass rod and melted and formed a tail. This detail work was so intricate. It’s hard to believe you can take glass sticks and create something so tiny and perfect. It was amazing to see her melt and weld the different colors together. Blue, green, orange, and clear rods were turned into a tiny work of art. My favorite part was watching her make the hummingbird beak and remove the bird from the rods. How she could shape the wings and that tiny beak showed just how talented she really is. She quickly put her mini-masterpiece into the annealer to cool and cure.

Watching Gail and Pete make these gorgeous creations was captivating! All of us were speechless. Juliana is now fascinated with glass-blowing and wants to take lessons!

These two items are just a small portion of what they have on display. You can see their wonderful work at the studio located at 909 Old Hill City Rd, Keystone, SD, and their masterpieces are available for purchase. You can visit their website here: www.blackhillsglassblowers.com

To see Gail and Pete in the process of glass-blowing, check out our full YouTube vlog by either clicking the photo below or the link here: From Molten Glass to Masterpiece: Glass-Blowing Studio Tour

We hope you enjoyed traveling along with us! Our next adventure will take us into the heart of Keystone, SD where we explore, have fun, and meet some chainsaw artists!

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We’ve also shared videos on our YouTube channel to complement this post and bring the experience to life.

Thanks so much for traveling with us, and stay tuned for more adventures with Traveling with the Trapps.

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