Roger and Genevieve Vines operate Vines Art Glass studio and gallery on the southern Oregon coast near Bandon, OR.

All of the pieces produced by Roger Vines begin with a gather of molten glass from the white hot crucible (left). The glob of glass taken from the crucible is the consistency of taffy when it is decorated with small shards or chips of colored glass which are melted onto the surface, then manipulated with small hand tools (below). On some items, Roger applies an iridescent coating while the piece is still at1300 degrees.

Each year Roger introduces new pieces to his line to keep the work fresh, contemporary, and collectable. All of the pieces in this line are hand crafted using small hand tools and years of skill. When each item is finished, it is inspected for quality and only the finest examples are signed "Vines" and dated.

In this era of imported and manufactured goods, this line is a refreshing addition for the collector who values handcrafted work from the American studio glass movement.

"After 36 years, I still look into the annealing oven the next day with the
excitement of a small boy on
Christmas morning."
-Roger Vines

Roger Vines

"I discovered glass quite by accident in 1968 when I met Mike Whitley. He was setting up a glass studio at Highline College near Seattle Washington. He got me started and my life has never been the same.

I became fascinated with the grace inherent in molten glass and the relationship that develops between the artist and the material. Since that first day in the hot shop I have been swepped up in a beautiful dance with this unique material.

Before "Pilchuck" and before G.A.S. and before the many commercial tools, kilns, and supplies were available, I forged steel pipe into blow irons and used sheep shears for jacks and discovered that Chinese checker marbles fit bottle glass. Sometimes!

After 33 years, I still look into the annealing oven the next day with the excitement of a small boy on Christmas morning. As long as the music plays, I will continue this dance."

BORN Aberdeen Washington, 1942

EDUCATION

1972 University Of Washington... B.A.

1974 University Of Washington...M.A.T.

SELECTED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

1970 Co-founded Arts and Crafts Co-op, a glassblowing studio/school in Seattle, WA

1971 Built portable glass studio which could be transported while hot in a cargo van to sites in the northwest to demonstrate glassblowing.

1976 Piece included in permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution. Collection titled "Craft Multiples"

1978 Set up glassblowing studio and taught at Lower Columbia college, Longview, Washington.

1980 Moved back to Seattle and set up studio.

1982 Started Vines Art Glass. Introduced a line of glass pieces which were exhibited at trade shows in the hand made crafts section.

1998 Moved studio to beautiful Bandon by the sea, Oregon.