Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Tate.
Aaron, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Marrs Art is a glass studio built and owned by father and son architects. A love of glass prompted them to build the extensive equipment it takes to make a glass shop. They tend to blow glass on Saturdays since forever, working during the week at their architectural firm. I, however, am here all during the week as glass is my sole profession.
My passion for glass began the first moment I saw it when I was 18 years old in Tucson Arizona. Since that time, I have never left the glass shop. Learning constantly, as I worked in factories and for artists, during a long career in Seattle Washington. I make all types of glass, being a craftsman, artisan, sculptor, and teacher…
Sharing the process of glass making with people is very fulfilling. I have a handful of regular students that are learning the art form long term. And then, a couple of days a week, I have people who may never have seen glass making before, coming in to make a piece with my team and I called a Workshop.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Glass is a constant struggle of technique and design… Glass breaks! It is very fragile throughout the process of creating it and then beyond as most everyone knows. The fragility is part of its allure…
The best things I have ever made have smashed on the ground in an instant of poor technique… one needs to learn, modify methods and try again. Perpetual, constant struggle.
Marrs Art – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I do many things from this glass hop; I take commissions for companies or peoples homes, whether it be lighting, sculpture or installations of any sort. I have a handful of committed students learning through lessons and apprenticeship. I make my own unique sculptures which can be blown or solid, figurative, or abstract…
I offer a glassmaking workshop wherein we make a piece together from the clear molten glass. You get to add color and melt it in, holding and heating the pipe. You get to inflate the bubble while I shape the piece. There are well over ten different shapes to chose from. You can choose to make a bowl, garden ball, Christmas ornament, marble, paperweight, vases of many shapes, or pumpkin to name a few.
There is an option of upgrading the piece we make to some expanded choices for 10-$60 extra. It takes about 30 minutes per person to make something; one person is finishing a piece with me while the next person is starting theirs, overlapping. Everyone to date has had a wonderful time!
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success to me is feeling joy and fulfillment in what you do…that coupled with paying the bills.
Pricing:
- Workshops $95/ person
Contact Info:
- Address: 11126 Shady Trail #103
Dallas, Tx 75229 - Website: Aarontate.com
- Phone: 940)300-7971
- Email: aaron@aarontate.com
- Instagram: thanetateglass
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
