Mosaic Vase by Rene Culler

For glass artist Rene Culler, “moving toward green” means establishing an efficient studio environment where little is wasted. As a result, her practices and equipment conserve energy and resources while keeping costs under control—so important for an independent artist working in a small studio.

Culler has chosen to set up shop in a building that supports working green. “The heating system was recently restructured,” she says. “The heat that is generated by glassblowing equipment warns the entire studio in winter.” With an eye to reducing waste, Culler has designed her own equipment using materials recycled from industry. “I am proud to say that much of my studio equipment, including my large fusing kiln, was composed from recycled steel that was retrieved from the dumpster and had a previous life in an old glass testing lab of a major lighting corporation. All I had to do was ask, fetch, and them weld!” The key to working efficiently is having the correct size of kiln for the job. “It is terribly wasteful to fire small objects in large kiln. While the initial investment may be high, the savings in energy can pay for materials or the kiln itself over time,” Culler explains.

Turquoise Spring Green Smoke Bowl by Rene Culler

Environmental concerns, as well as quality consideration, drive Culler’s selection of materials. “I choose to use Bullseye Glass as my mail supply because, in addition to its fine quality, its manufacturing process is environmentally sensitive. Some of their glass is recycled into other products, and the factory has employed the use of liquid oxygen that requires less natural gas for the furnaces to burn hotter while keeping emissions cleaner. A new cooling system reduces water consumption.” By sourcing raw materials that display a broad yet consistent color palette, Culler can reuse glass with ease, “All scraps are saved, and the smallest colors are sometimes melted in the furnace to create colored slabs of glass to be used for future glass castings and sculptures.” Having a small furnace for glassblowing also helps, because it prevents the problem of letting large amounts of hot glass linger too long in the furnace crucible, where it will eventually become unworkable and go to waste. “Many little actions in my business are attempts to go green,” says Culler. “I think that if artists as a group also tried various methods to reduce waste, the savings could be significant for them and for the environment.”