I’ve always been interested in glass art and sculpture. It’s fascinating the way an artist can mold a small cylinder of hot glass and shape it to any dream the artist can weave. It has always reminds me of somehow taking water and making it into a solid form that can never be melted back to it’s liquid state.

This past weekend, I met Bernard Katz, a glass artist who works in his shop at Sharp Street, Manayunk. His work spans from literal pieces like his “Tree and Root series,” to much more free form collections like his sculptural “Hozhoni” series.

Most of his tree and root pieces stem (no pun intended) from his earlier years. Most likely, this was a time when he was trying to find his hand at glass. He was getting used to the shapes and scales, still trying to prove himself as a skilled glass blower.

Today however, Katz is creating glass with more meaning. Pieces like “the Shidoni in Scarlet” involve more than one glass object. The idea is to look at both objects and recognize how they come together with both their shape and the space between them.

Shidoni in Scarlet involves two glass objects in the shape of upside-down commas. The scene is supposed to portray the image of a mother and her child. Both objects face each other but one, the mother, is largest. The object symbolizing the child has what would be its head, somewhat pointed down, while the mother’s head hangs over top in a comforting position.

It’s like they are hugging without arms.

Both pieces glow a vibrant orange in the light of Katz’s gallery, which is kept in a small corner of the workshop. It’s important to take notice of how light will affect a glass piece. In most cases, the way the glass can bend the light to the shape of the piece’s form, is the trait that makes the glass most beautiful.

One thing that made me relate to Katz is when he told me of the constant struggle he endures when it comes to thinking up a new piece. He said that in order to create a truly original glass piece, the mind must be free and completely forgetful of what the eye has seen as beautiful. This is an extremely difficult state of mind to achieve.

I find it uncommon for an artist to reveal the real struggles he must go through in order to create. However, because of this, I believe Katz is more real and relatable than most artists I have met. His arrogance and his ego were conquered and batted off long ago. I can tell all from this small confession.

When he creates a piece, Katz will work with a group of two or three. What could be better! To create art with your friends, it has to be one of the most empowering and fulfilling jobs to know that your friends are behind your creations, that they have the same feelings that you have toward a piece. It’s like everyone is involved in some sort of art mission or movement.

I recommend a visit to Katz’s workshop to experience the process of blowing glass first-hand.