Robert “Spooner” Marcus
Black and White Vessel
19" T x 5" W.
Incised black vessel with white translucent edge.
price: $750 each
About the Artist
expandSpooner was born in Espanola and raised in Ohkay Owingeh. His mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother all have worked with clay so it was a natural transition to learn the art of off-hand glass blowing. Coming from a mixed European and Native American background has offered a unique prospective on his approach to creating art. His great-grandmother was Regina Cata whose work in reviving ceramic techniques has been a source of inspiration. With creativity in his blood and a passion for working with his hands, Spooner set out to achieve his dreams
In 1993 his first job out of high school was at a production glass works in downtown Espanola. There he spent three years making juice cups, becoming more and more fascinated with the properties of this super cool liquid and absorbing the basic knowledge it takes to create a blown glass vessel. The glass works closed its doors in 1996 and he took a job in a wood working factory eventually owning that business but he knew he would always come back to hot glass. In 2000 Spooner learned of a glass studio in Taos which would become the center of his experience with glass for the next five years. During this time he honed his skills and kept them sharp by teaching glass art to troubled youth. He was also able to collaborate with other pueblo craftsmen who shared the same interest in glass.
Presently Spooner lives with his family in Ohkay Owingeh and works at a hot shop in Santa Fe as a free lance glass blower and production artist. He participates in annual art fairs such as Santa Fe Indian Market, The Heard Museum Market, Native Treasures and others. His main goals are to keep pushing new techniques in glass and to spread the knowledge he has accumulated to the next generation.
Artist Statement
expandWorking with hot glass is like mixing martial arts with ballet. It requires dicipline, finesse, respect, patience and an intimate understanding of the movement it takes to use gravity and heat as tools. This medium takes a lifetime to master and I expect I will never cease to learn something new. In time, I hope to have the resources to teach kids how to work with glass so this craft can be further incorporated into Native American artworks.
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