A Glass Above the Rest
Photography: Courtesy of Sundance
If you were to follow the life of a glass bottle that had the good fortune of being delivered to Sundance Resort, you would discover that the bottle doesn’t have just one life. In fact, bottles at Sundance have a myriad of choices for their future, including a second existence as stemware, vases, juice glasses, plates or even delicate figurines.
Instead of shipping hundreds of pounds of used glass from Sundance’s restaurants and overnight cabins to an offsite recycling center, Sundance smashes the glass in preparation for three world-renowned glassblowers to mold the material into works of art.
Gustav Calderon, Octavio Flores, and Vicente Martin Del Campo are from Tlaquepaque in Guadalajara, Mexico, a town known for its high quality and innovative glass artwork. The talented trio can be seen in the glass studio at Sundance doing what they do best.
“These gifted artists-in-residence epitomize Sundance’s commitment to the creation of art and the preservation of the environment,” says Raymond T. Grant, Sundance executive director.
The glass blowers take the molten glass in its fluid form out of a furnace and then spin the fiery substance, blow into it, shape it, and cut it. Celeste Dennis is the manager of Sundance’s Art Shack and is wowed each time she watches the process. “It is very special to see a group like this work together to produce one piece. It’s almost like watching a dance,” says Dennis.
This cycle of turning glass into art has been happening at Sundance for the past six years. Guests at the diverse mountain haven will see, and most likely use, some of the recycled pieces during their stay. Glassware pieces, including stemware, vases and plates, can be found at the Tree Room and Foundry Grill restaurants. Additional glassware and art is available for purchase in the Sundance Art Shack.
“The opportunity Sundance has given us, so that our artwork can be seen out of our country, makes me very happy,” says master artisan, Gustav Calderon.
Calderon isn’t the only one smiling about the process. Guests repeatedly comment on the innovative program Sundance has created—and most are happy to take a piece of it home.
Where to Watch:
The Art Center at Sundance
9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Thursdays through Mondays.
More Information:
801.225.4107, ext 4535
www.sundanceresort.com
Your comments may be edited for brevity and foul language.