Artist Profile - Brett Tam
Brett Alan Tam
Glass has always intrigued Brett Alan Tam. Some of his earliest memories are of watching a Southwestern jeweler making glass beads on the banks of the Colorado River. Thirty-years later, he’s living his dream: he’s a glass artist.
Growing up, Tam had no idea he’d become an artist. With mostly athletes in his family rather than artists, he began working for a cabinet company. In 2003, while out on a kitchen design job at the home of stain glass artist Angelika Traylor, she invited him to see her studio. He knew instantly that he wanted to work with glass. Traylor told Tam that Robert Mickelson was presenting a flameworking class the following weekend. Tam signed up, took the workshop, and a career was born.
That class led to others. Now, Tam is a glass artist producing beautiful, delicate works of his own. Through developing his skills in glass art, Tam not only learned artists’ techniques, but
he learned to see the world differently. As Tam describes it, “With glass, I can both freeze time and show the illusion of motion. Moods and feelings, dark and humorous, can be captured in the forms of spontaneous sculptures.”
The medium Tam has chosen, like life, is fragile. The torch he uses he thinks of as a big brush to manipulate the glass. “The trick is to heat it up just enough,” he said. “If you heat it too much, the glass will slump and you can’t control it.” Tam is always striving for that perfect temperature. He said he enjoys “…the challenging, technical aspects of creating three-dimensional artwork. I view myself as a keeper of a flame; part artist, part historian. I learn from glass every day.”
Tam is a believer in continuing education. He participates in classes and workshops whenever he can. In addition to the Mickelson workshop, he has attended one given by Thomas Muller-Litz, glassblower from generations of flameworkers. Tam has also attended lectures and classes given by Paul Stankard, who is famous for his delicate designs within paperweights, and Nancy Dillen, local artist and
teacher who Tam credits with helping him understand the business end of his career in art. Tam also indicated that Micah Evans, a glass artist from Miami, has had an influence on his work.
Tam describes his work as having “…a genuine organic quality. Growing up in the Southwestern desert and on the edge of a Florida marsh, I’ve come to understand that beauty is abundant if you only know how to look.” He says that his love for gardening has set the tone as a creative starting point.
Tam has shown his art at galleries, museums, and in the BCC/UCF Solar Research Library lobby. He has given demonstrations and hopes to do more of that as well as teach. Dedicated to his craft, he seems to be doing all he can to perfect his skills and help others in the field. He serves the community of artists by belonging to the Strawbridge Art League and the Glass Art Society. Also, Tam has donated pieces to charity
golf tournaments.
Tam participated in ArtWorks in 2006. Last July, he participated in a show with Angel Orlando at the Liquid Lounge at Cocoa Beach and he entered the Strawbridge Art League Vision exhibit in 2006 and Mini-Vision in 2007. He also did a demonstration at the Strawbridge Art League and regularly teaches bead making at the Brevard Art Museum.
Tam will be in the Small Works Show at the Harris Gallery in the King Center for the Performing Arts in March. Watch for more information about that show.
He is currently participating in the Fifth Avenue Gallery’s Designer Holiday Craft Show through December 31st, 2006. He will demonstrate his flamework outside the Fifth Avenue Art Gallery on December 5, 2008 during their First Friday reception from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. During the demonstration, he’ll probably be working on Christmas ornaments.
Tam attributes the attitude that he can accomplish anything to his supportive parents and siblings. It is lucky for all of us that his small obsession has turned into a passion that will continue for a lifetime.
Tam also teaches 1:1 in his studio. To contact Tam for more information, call (321) 724-9699 or email him at HavasuGlassworks@sunnyfla.net.
To see more of his art, visit: http://www.myspace.com/havasuglassworks
Glass has always intrigued Brett Alan Tam. Some of his earliest memories are of watching a Southwestern jeweler making glass beads on the banks of the Colorado River. Thirty-years later, he’s living his dream: he’s a glass artist.Growing up, Tam had no idea he’d become an artist. With mostly athletes in his family rather than artists, he began working for a cabinet company. In 2003, while out on a kitchen design job at the home of stain glass artist Angelika Traylor, she invited him to see her studio. He knew instantly that he wanted to work with glass. Traylor told Tam that Robert Mickelson was presenting a flameworking class the following weekend. Tam signed up, took the workshop, and a career was born.
That class led to others. Now, Tam is a glass artist producing beautiful, delicate works of his own. Through developing his skills in glass art, Tam not only learned artists’ techniques, but
he learned to see the world differently. As Tam describes it, “With glass, I can both freeze time and show the illusion of motion. Moods and feelings, dark and humorous, can be captured in the forms of spontaneous sculptures.”The medium Tam has chosen, like life, is fragile. The torch he uses he thinks of as a big brush to manipulate the glass. “The trick is to heat it up just enough,” he said. “If you heat it too much, the glass will slump and you can’t control it.” Tam is always striving for that perfect temperature. He said he enjoys “…the challenging, technical aspects of creating three-dimensional artwork. I view myself as a keeper of a flame; part artist, part historian. I learn from glass every day.”
Tam is a believer in continuing education. He participates in classes and workshops whenever he can. In addition to the Mickelson workshop, he has attended one given by Thomas Muller-Litz, glassblower from generations of flameworkers. Tam has also attended lectures and classes given by Paul Stankard, who is famous for his delicate designs within paperweights, and Nancy Dillen, local artist and
teacher who Tam credits with helping him understand the business end of his career in art. Tam also indicated that Micah Evans, a glass artist from Miami, has had an influence on his work.Tam describes his work as having “…a genuine organic quality. Growing up in the Southwestern desert and on the edge of a Florida marsh, I’ve come to understand that beauty is abundant if you only know how to look.” He says that his love for gardening has set the tone as a creative starting point.
Tam has shown his art at galleries, museums, and in the BCC/UCF Solar Research Library lobby. He has given demonstrations and hopes to do more of that as well as teach. Dedicated to his craft, he seems to be doing all he can to perfect his skills and help others in the field. He serves the community of artists by belonging to the Strawbridge Art League and the Glass Art Society. Also, Tam has donated pieces to charity
golf tournaments.Tam participated in ArtWorks in 2006. Last July, he participated in a show with Angel Orlando at the Liquid Lounge at Cocoa Beach and he entered the Strawbridge Art League Vision exhibit in 2006 and Mini-Vision in 2007. He also did a demonstration at the Strawbridge Art League and regularly teaches bead making at the Brevard Art Museum.
Tam will be in the Small Works Show at the Harris Gallery in the King Center for the Performing Arts in March. Watch for more information about that show.
He is currently participating in the Fifth Avenue Gallery’s Designer Holiday Craft Show through December 31st, 2006. He will demonstrate his flamework outside the Fifth Avenue Art Gallery on December 5, 2008 during their First Friday reception from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. During the demonstration, he’ll probably be working on Christmas ornaments.Tam attributes the attitude that he can accomplish anything to his supportive parents and siblings. It is lucky for all of us that his small obsession has turned into a passion that will continue for a lifetime.
Tam also teaches 1:1 in his studio. To contact Tam for more information, call (321) 724-9699 or email him at HavasuGlassworks@sunnyfla.net.
To see more of his art, visit: http://www.myspace.com/havasuglassworks
Labels: art, Brett Alan Tam, flameworker, glass
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