Sunday 2/19/23
On Sundays I reflect.
I had a few beers at my show last Saturday, and other than that have not been drinking alcohol. I use this blog as a way to keep myself accountable.
The last few weeks I’ve been able to spend more time blowing glass than my schedule typically allows. Eric and Marta kept everything moving while I made collaborations and a solo pint glass for the Vail Cup Collectors Club Pint Party. Their support is allowing Drinking Vessels to operate at a much greater level and serve all of you, artists and collectors better.
I have so many thank you mentions but first I want to shoutout my friends Ian “Holdin Golden” and Geoff “GD” from Austin Texas for coming up early the week of the show to help with cup crush 2023! I told them ahead of time that they had a responsibility to make sure I finished a solo cup for the show even if they had to hold me upright and pry my eyes open. It didn’t get to that, but they definitely both helped in more ways than I can mention.
Our sponsors are amazing. I drink Yerba Star almost every day and it’s great having a non-alcoholic drink at the parties. Speaking of not drinking booze, Dialed In syrup is always our favorite substitute for booze and they came through with all the flavors this time! Soiku Bano got everyone stoned all day, and of course when the munchies set in we had Rocky Mountain Taco and Kirby Cosmo’s local grub. Vail Mountain Cirque (our favorite soon to be new neighbors) brought the lollipop Lyra and performed aerial acrobatics for the crowd which is always one of my favorite elements to our shows. Taglia Tools took care of the artists who attended and ABR hooked us up super fat with some new color tubing from Boro Batch. I am beyond grateful for all of these partners that have been supporting my vision for so many years.
Teamwork makes the dream work!
Shoutout my dudes Jensen and Chris for helping with logistics at the event - y’all made things way easier for Eric and Marta.
I’m sure I’m missing people here, and if I forgot you it’s not because I’m not appreciative. It’s taken me a full week to recover from this show, after all the work we put in as a team. I’m still getting back to my normal routine. Thanks for understanding.
Having so many incredible artists at the studio and getting to ride Vail as a group is always one of the highlights of my year. This year was a real privilege and I’m so thankful to everyone who attended and made the weekend so special.
Now I’m planning a popup in Denver for next Sunday February 26 at Purple Haze and simultaneously I have been working with Zac and Charlie from Stoked to plan the first Connecticut Cup Collectors Club happening May 6.
As I write this week’s reflection, I am sitting in a client’s home awaiting the delivery of a painting for them. As I sit in the living room and look up from my phones eyes are met with a 3-4 foot square Keith Haring original (which looks to be painted on wood). On rare occasions I am privileged to be able to enjoy private art collections and I cherish these moments heavily.
In unrelated good news, The Flow Magazine is publishing an issue entirely on Borosilicate Drinkware. They have an open call for submissions and I plan to write an essay about the current cup community and culture that has developed in the last decade. Sometimes it is hard for me to believe what we have accomplished as a community, but events like last weekend remind me just how far it’s come.
I’ve written before about how hard it can be for me to separate Ben the Artist from Business Ben. I have a few trips coming up to see friends and family, which will of course have work sprinkled in. Now that my big show is over I am excited to make more time for snowboarding, blowing glass, and finally maybe some Ben time. Most of the time my life feels to be pretty non-stop and it doesn’t feel like that will change any time soon. Knowing that, I’m trying to take more time to breathe and be here now.
Currently the art is being delivered among other distractions pulling me away from this blog. I think that’s as much as I’m able to share today. I’ll be heading to the studio this afternoon to share some Sunday Specials on Instagram live along with some of the cups remaining from last weeks show.
Thanks as always for tuning in!
Enjoy your Sunday
BB
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