‘Child Dragon’ roars to life at Toledo Museum of Artwork

July 2nd – The Toledo Museum of Art has acquired a baby dragon.

Or rather, a portable glassblower warming chamber combi oven that, when it comes to life, symbolically resembles a little dragon spewing orange flames.

The new oven will provide new opportunities for hot glass demonstrations and courses across the community, said Mike Deetsch, the museum’s executive director of learning and interpretation.

The mobile studio enables glassblowing workshops and outdoor design experiences not only in the museum, but also everywhere in Toledo, where an occasion calls for the “baby dragon”.

“Basically, it’s a way of bringing a 2,000-degree oven outside of the site,” said Deetsch.

The furnace runs on propane or natural gas and is mounted on a robust base with castors. It weighs about 550 pounds and costs just under $ 10,000.

“We can load it onto a truck and drive it around town. We only need minimal power to connect it. We’ll provide our own propane tank and then the magic happens from there, ”said Deetsch. The museum is currently in the process of acquiring a permanent vehicle to transport the stove.

As the museum only recently completed construction of the furnace – parts of it are made by its maker, Mobile Glassblowing Studios – community locations where the furnace will appear will be announced later this summer. However, Mr Deetsch noted that the museum is hoping to focus a number of its demonstrations in the Junction Neighborhood during the weekly youth arts programs.

“Our intention is to bring the baby kite to the Junction neighborhood on a very regular basis,” said Mr Deetsch.

On Thursday, the baby dragon made its public debut at the regular glass blowing demonstration in the glass pavilion at 2 p.m. More than 30 visitors attended the demonstration, which was led by glass studio artists Moira Holbrook and Misha Nalepa, with Ms. Holbrook as moderator and Mr. Nalepa making a small orange vase.

The story goes on

“It’s completely different from what I normally use,” Nalepa-san said of the baby kite.

Compared to the Glass Pavilion’s stationary ovens, the portable alternative heats up much faster. It has a maximum working temperature of 2375 degrees Fahrenheit.

The furnace’s heat source comes from above and pushes the heat directly onto the glass tubes that carry the work in progress. A typical oven has a heat source that is pushed out from the left or right side. The change in direction changes the technique that studio artists must use when rolling glass pipes.

“It’s like switching from a tricycle to a bicycle. It’s the same premise, you know what to do, but it just changes everything a little, ”said Mr Nalepa, adding that after a day or two he got used to the new machine.

When the baby dragon hits the streets, project sizes vary from small to large. Mr Nalepa said he and other artists are limited only by the dimensions of the oven entrance, which is 20 square inches on the front and 16 inches deep.

There are opportunities for both beginners and advanced students to learn from the baby kite. The aim of the museum is to have the furnace ready for use by the end of July, says Deetsch.

“Our team will all work together to go from place to place, conduct demonstrations or possible workshops. We are really excited. It’s really great to be able to take what we’re doing here and take to the streets. ”Mr. Nalepa said.

The baby dragon was bought with a donation from Majida M. Mourad. The sponsor chose to donate the funds in honor of her mother Elham Ellie Mourad. Additional assistance was provided by OI Glass, Inc.