Molly Stone in the Cohn-Stone pumpkin patch

A guest post from Artful Home CEO Lisa Bayne

It has been interesting and exciting to watch the “Slow Food” movement growing within the United States. The desire for consumers to know the source of their food – where it was grown, and who produced it – is gaining ground. With this awareness in mind, I think it is exciting to get to know the origin of the artwork I am attracted to – who are the artists, where do they live, what inspires them. For the next two weekends, there is an event in Richmond, CA which offers an interesting blend of what I like to think of as “Slow Design,” that is, the chance to meet glass artists who are engaging in the creation of their work and inviting the public in to share their enthusiasm, learn about the work, and have a good time. Specifically, Artful Home artists Michael Cohn and Molly Stone, who were the first artists to create art glass pumpkins, have turned the garden outside their studio into a “pumpkin patch” setting out hundreds of blown-glass pumpkins, squash, fruits, leaves, and other works of glass art in all shapes and sizes for visitors to come and “pick.” Their family-friendly event also features glass-blowing demonstrations, hot apple cider and cookies. If you can’t make it to the West Coast, Molly and Michael also have an installation at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA, through Nov. 23. You can also meet the artists through a virtual “Studio Visit” on the Artful Home website where Molly gives the details about how the glass pumpkin patch tradition began.

Sinuous Shelf
Richard Judd

In these turbulent times when the traditional rules no longer apply, perhaps the most important tools we need to survive are common sense and creativity. Common sense and good judgment help us as we are faced with situations that we have never faced before. (I was born after the Great Depression, therefore have no foundation of knowledge for how I should respond when the financial markets are falling apart around me.)

Creative thinking is the ability to see a connection between elements that are not usually associated. Creativity usually starts by asking the right question, or asking a question in the right way.

Artists are generally blessed with an abundance of both creativity and common sense, and we often see these qualities revealed in the objects they produce. A good example is Richard Judd’s “Sinuous Shelf.” This artist, one of my all-time favorite furniture makers, begins a journey to create a simple, functional shelf. Common sense. Somewhere along the way, he shapes a piece of wood into a graceful line that supports the glass shelf in a new and different way and delights the eye.

These days, we all need common sense and creativity to navigate the currents of our daily lives. We should care for these qualities as we would favorite pets – feed them well and exercise them daily. And perhaps, pay attention to the work of artists for the lessons they provide.