Steven Anderson

Shortly after starting his training for Scientific Glassblowing at Salem Community College in Carneys Point, NJ, Steven began to realize the unlimited possibilities that awaited him in glass.  While concentrating on the scientific aspects of his craft he could not help but start creating both technical and artistic glass pieces.

Steven is employed at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and is recognized with the distinction as the third glassblower in the organization’s history, dating back to the late 1920’s. He also is a longstanding member of the American Scientific Glassblowers Society.  With skilled handwork, Steven creates unique, scientific apparatus and plays an important role in the advancement of research and medicine.  Steven soon realized that many of the techniques used to create scientific apparatus would lend themselves to the creation of unique and one of a kind

Steven is a lampworker. He starts out by applying colored glass rods and frit to clear tubing.  When the desired colors have been applied, the entire piece is heated in the flame until the colored and clear glasses have become one piece.  Once this has been accomplished, selective heating and blowing helps to shape the piece.  Upon completion, the piece is annealed at 1050 degree Fahrenheit for 20 minutes and then slowly cooled to room temperature.  One of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of the glassblower’s techniques is the skill required to work a fluid affected by temperature and gravity, which in an instant becomes one of the most fragile of objects.

Steven incessantly and passionately embraces the ancient, technical and magical elements of scientific and artistic glassblowing.