(Redlands, CA) – Hand blown contemporary glass by Upland glass artist Charles J. Keeling is featured at Redlands Historical Glass Museum. The unique museum of American glass houses one of the nation’s largest collection of glassware by American artists and glass factories.
In high school, Charles became interested in traditional Japanese Raku pottery, contemporary sculpture, Impressionist painting, and many of the design movements, especially Art Nouveau and the American Crafts movement. Continuing his education at Cypress College he retained his focus on ceramics while exploring many different mediums and processes. During this time period, the artist taught ceramics and 3-d crafts at Girls & Boys Clubs in the Garden Grove area.
After attaining an Associate Arts Degree Charles transferred to Cal State University Fullerton. Charles became obsessed with glass blowing while at C.S.U.F. where, in 1995, he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree. During this time period he was compelled to set aside his academic study of ceramics to pursue glass casting, Pate de Vere, as well as doing Glass Blowing demonstrations at Knott’s Berry Farm. In 1998 he received a Master of Arts Degree with honors.
One of the artist’s greatest joys in life is to demonstrate the glass blowing process to people of all different ages and backgrounds. Charles has demonstrated at Knotts’ Berry Farm, Los Angeles County Fair and the Orange County Fair. Charles worked for Bruce Fruend and Gavin Heath at the Laguna Art Festival. Keeling is presently on the Historical Glass Museum Foundation’s Board of Directors.
The Historical Glass Museum, four blocks north of the I-10 at 1157 N. Orange St., Redlands, is open to the public Saturdays and Sundays 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m. Admission $3.00, members and students are free. 909-793-3333.
Submitted by Frank Herendeen