For this week’s segment of Made in Arkansas, AY About You talks with professional glassblower James Hayes.
Hayes grew up in Pine Bluff, where his home and studio are located now. He graduated from Hendrix College with a degree in art in 1988. Later that year, he began to take glass blowing classes at the Arkansas Arts Center.
“I knew that I wanted this to be my career,” Hayes says.
A stroke of luck would change Hayes’s future forever.
“I hit a hole-in-one during a golf tournament and won a new car. Well, I already had a fairly new car, so I sold this one and used the money to start the James Hayes Art Glass Company. I’ve been doing it for 32 years now,” Hayes says.
In addition to art, Hayes also studied business and marketing at Hendrix, as encouraged by his father.
“My dad told me that doing something that you love will make you happy for the rest of your life, and that’s true.”
Hayes has traveled the world studying art, from Hong Kong, to Istanbul, to Paris, and says that he has developed a “real zest for life.”
Hayes explains how he knew that glass blowing was for him.
“What drew me to glass is that you’re playing with fire and you get an adrenaline rush from playing with fire. You put it in an oven and you open it up and it’s like Christmas.”
Additionally, compared to other art forms, glass has a quick production time.
“Glass is ready to sell within 12 hours,” Hayes says. “Unlike pottery where you have to check it, and heat it up some more, and check it again.”
In addition to partnering with funeral homes to make glass art with cremated human remains, Hayes has also created several chandeliers.
“The biggest is in Hope, Arkansas– it’s 15 feet long and took four days to assemble,” Hayes says. “Another major chandelier is at the Arts and Science Center in Pine Bluff.”
Additionally, on October 10 and October 17, Hayes will be having a glass pumpkin patch.
“I’m bringing a food truck, hula hoopers, and guest artists. It’s going to be outdoors, following health and safety regulations,” Hayes says. “We’ll be demonstrating live glass blowing.”
The location for that will be at his shop, at 2900 Ridgway Road in Pine Bluff.
“My showroom is small, but it is open. Social distancing and wearing a mask is required,” Hayes says. “We’re the mask police and we’re very careful.”
If you’re interested in seeing more of Hayes’ glass art, check out his website or his Facebook page for more information.
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