Week 17: Corpse Flower

Upon my visit to the Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, PA I noticed the largest flower in the world, known as the Corpse Flower (Amorphophallus titanum). I was awe inspiring to see and learn about something that I have never heard of before. This flower comes from western Sumatra, which is an island located in south east Asia. The flower receives its name because during pollination the Corpse flower emits a smell of a dead carcass for 24 hours. This will attract carrion eating beetles and flesh flies which in turn are used as pollinators to other flowers. It was an honor to get see something like this found in nature.

Week 16 Day 6:Pittsburgh Glass Center

On our final day we visited the Pittsburgh Glass Center, which dealt with artistic pieces rather than stock. We were once able to blow glass again, but this time making a Christmas ornament. All of us were able to choose the design and color that we wanted for our ornament, which was awesome. One thing that caught my eye is the way the glassblowers trap that air within the blowpipe and molten glass expands. Why do you think this happens?

Properties of Air (Atmosphere) from Brian McNeel on Vimeo.

Week 16 Day 5: Vicksburg in the Pittsburgh

Tower of Learning

Today we visited well known attractions of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Natural History Museum/Art Gallery and the Phipps Conservatory. As I was walking through the Natural History Museum I decided that I would try to have my students to make a temporary museum in the hallway. This museum will give students more detail about a topic, but not so much detail that it answers all questions. I would also want to incorporate all the senses in the display. It also made me think about extinct species and the article from National Geographic on de-extinction, in how researchers are looking to use genetic technology to bring back extinct species.

The Phipps Conservatory was interesting to see all the different plants located throughout the grounds. Below are pictures of glass sculptures and plants that I found.

Week 16 Day 4: Mosser Glass

Mosser Glass is probably one of the most unique places that we have visited thus far. The colors were the most unique of any glass place, such as cobalt blue, rose, jade, and other unique colors. All of the glass made at Mosser is pressed glass. Upon our visit they were making two glass pieces, a vase and a headlight for a old model Ford. Mosser glass supplies many items to local business throughout the United States. Why would business prefer to purchase glass from Mosser and not from China, which is cheaper? I asked this question and the answer is not surprising, but what do you think the answer would be.

1. Heat the raw materials in a kiln

2. Shaping the molten glass with a die and press

Die up close

3. Annealing process to harden the glass

Week 16 Day 3: Homer Laughlin

Homer Laughlin

Pyrometric Cones

Upon our visit to Homer Laughlin in Newell, WV which is the largest manufacture of the ceramic dinnerware within the United States, I noticed many great lessons just on the production of ceramics. The walk and the heat were immense with the temperature reaching almost 100 degrees and a walk within one building that is nearly a mile long.

Vitrifying is the process of gradually changing materials into a glass like substance. The ultimate goal of this process is to increase the harness and to make the product less porous. As the clay product goes through the kiln it is being vitrified to produce the qualities that are noticed in the dinnerware around the table. Homer Laughlin is wanting the product to have less than 5% of water before it actually enters the kiln. Upon our visit to the Museum of Glass in East Liverpool, OH I noticed this neat instrument known as pyrometric cones. These cones are used for determining the temperature within a kiln.

As you read through the articles that are listed answer the questions that go along with the post.

Websites

• Traditional Ceramics
• How Temperature Changes Clay

Questions

1. How does temperature effect the process of making pottery?
2. What type of kiln is used from the picture in Homer Laughlin's facility?
3. What is the purpose of sending the clay pottery through the kiln?
4. How does the kiln produce a product that is hard and also porous to water?

Another aspect that I noticed was the efficiency of the production line. As one piece of dinnerware was finished inspection from the kiln, another type of dinnerware was being prepared to be placed within a kiln. This would save the company many man hours by having multiple things go on at once.

Week 16 Day 2: Paul Wissmach and Marble King

Paul Wissmach Glass Company

Wissmach Glass is a manufacture of flat art glass that is used for many applications, but the most notable are stained glass windows. They also made the flat glass with the chicken wire that was found in many schools in the 20th century. As we discussed as a group about this company, we all came to an impression that this company reaches globally, which is great for West Virginia. Many students think WV is not a contender on the global stage, but WV has a lot to offer to the world than just coal. Even tough coal is the top export, one can see the diversity of WV and the products that are made within.

Websites

• 2009 Top Employers in WV
• News Article: 2013 WV Exports
• News Article 2: 2012 WV Exports

Marble King

Paden City, WV

Beri Fox

Marble King was are second glass company to visit, and unfortunately the machines were down for maintenance. During our time there we learned about the history of Marble King and the drive of the owner to keep the company alive and to educate children about marbles and business. Beri Fox is a great ambassador for local WV businesses and a passionate individual for keeping glass making alive in WV.

One reason Marble King was able to survive the ups and downs of the economy is due to the collaboration with West Virginia University. With this collaboration allowed Marble King to reduce natural gas prices by 31%, due to the more efficient furnaces that WVU helped to design. Before the advent of these furnaces, Marble King would run 32 furnaces to make all the marbles for the supply.

  

Week 16 Day 1: Oglebay Glass Museum

Sweeney Vase

Oglebay was a great place to visit, and I would suggest to anyone to come to the area (Wheeling, WV) and interact with the knowledgeable staff. During our time at the museum we were able to learn about the history of Wheeling and how they played not only a key role in glass, but also things like coal, steel, ans such forth. The reason for this being is that Wheeling was central route by the railroad and the national highway. Because of this great location there many thriving glass factories within the limits of Wheeling ans the surrounding area. It was in Wheeling where a chemist from Hobbs Glass designed a new batch of glass that can withstand pressing by machinery, the key ingredient being bicarbonate of soda. We also came across a five foot 200lbs blown glass vase that was created by glassblowers of Sweeney as a showcase. There were a total of three made, but only one survived today and is located in the museum.

The exciting part of the trip was to be able to watch a professional glass blower make a vase from molten glass. There will hopefully be a video posted up shortly once it has been edited.

We also visited Gabbert Cullet in Wiliamstown, WV where they collect glass that will be sorted and shipped to glass blowers across the united states. It's a small operation, but they are still thriving by selling to small glass blowers and larger businesses. The most expensive cullet that is collected is the ruby and the orange colors. Review my last post about cullet and its use within glassblowing.