Paneful Truth: Most Folks Blind to Artistry in Glass

To most people, glass is something you drink from, put flowers in or see through.

But glass-blowing instructor Paul A. Counts, 29, of Fullerton, would like those people to start thinking of glass as an art form in addition to its utilitarian functions.

And he wouldn’t mind if those people would also offer some financial help to equip the Orange Coast College glass-blowing studio, which he said is “operating on a nickel-and-dime basis.” Classes start there Monday.

“There’s magic in the hot liquid medium and shaping it into art,” said Counts, who said glass art created in pre-Grecian times and the Roman era are still being uncovered. “That’s the beauty of glass. It holds its form for centuries.”

Despite its rich history, Counts said, “Not many people appreciate glass art, so one of the first things we have to do is educate people by getting out and speaking to clubs, making slide presentations and providing live glass demonstrations.”

Most of all, “we have to educate our students about the mystique of glass to appreciate its aesthetic value as a true art form,” said Counts, adding he believes there is a genuine movement afoot to change the public’s attitude toward glass.

“For instance, those of us who know about glass feel glass blowing should be considered an art, not a craft, even though the basic techniques have not changed over the years,” said Counts, who expects 30 students in his class.

As an incentive to those learning about glass, he notes that many glass blowers make $100,000 a year when they’re working, and top sculpture glass blowers cash in more than $1 million a year.

“Some artists get up to $30,000 for a single sculpture,” said Counts, a graduate of Cal State Fullerton.

Counts said his technical ability matches that of anyone in Southern California, and he plans on becoming one of the top sculptors in the world someday.

“My dream is to have a California glass workshop at Orange Coast College, and it’s time to get on the map as an international glass facility where we can show castings, glass blowing, stained glass and mixed media utilizing glass,” he said.

Counts said people who use the facility “will learn the power of creation.” But he warns that glass blowing is not an easy medium to learn. “In fact, it’s very hard. But once you learn to harness the energy, you’ve mastered something and it’s yours forever.”

Now there’s joggling. Professional juggler Owen Morse, a Tustin resident and UC Irvine student, just set a world’s record by juggling three balls while running a 100-meter course at the International Jugglers Assn. convention in Akron, Ohio.

Then he set another world record while juggling five balls.

His times were 12.12 and 15.25 seconds, respectively, which he plans to enter in the Guiness Book of World Records. He joggled against 27 others.

In addition, Morse’s joggling will be shown on television in September.

After the Fountain Valley High School 11-member varsity squad won the Miss Drill Team title at an international festival in Tokyo, they also checked out the Japanese food.

So what did they enjoy the most?

Well, Jayne Barnard, Kim Cookston, Suzi Ellis, Trisha Foster, Jacqueline Lehrer, Ericka Lucero, Elizabeth McMillian, Diane Trostle, Leslie Webster, Traci Welbourne and Jill Wettingel thought the food was “very interesting.”

But, they added: “We went to McDonald’s a lot.”

Acknowledgments--Newport High School senior Jeffrey Glueck’s essay on “The Psychological Benefits of Plastic Surgery for Teen-Agers and Young Adults” was selected over those of seven other finalists in a contest. He won a $5,000 scholarship from the Newport Beach-based Foundation for Facial Plastic Surgery.