Our People: Glassblower Heather Kremen

Heather Kremen. Photo/Stephen Parker

There's a new girl in town and she's arrived with talent by the container load.

It's not just any bog-standard talent but the unique art of glassblowing that Heather Kremen's brought from Minnesota, in the Great Lakes region of her native USA.

By one of those strange quirks of fate that shape lives, Heather had been pondering a Kiwi lifestyle when she met leading Auckland glass artist, Evelyn Dunstan.

"I mentioned I was interested in settling here, she had a friend with a glass studio for sale in Rotorua."

That friend was Ron van der Vlugt who, last June, featured in this newspaper when it reported his De Flute Glass business was to close because his umpteen years of twisting and turning his intricate work had taken its toll; repetitive strain injury was crippling his hands.

Ron told then of "desperately hoping" a fellow glassblower would take over his workshop cum retail space but wasn't holding his breath. His is an art form in which practitioners are rare specimens, especially New Zealand ones.

Then, with kismet-like timing, Heather entered the equation.

"I called, asked if his studio was still for sale, he said as long as the house [neighbouring it] is part of the deal. That was three weeks off his auction date, it seemed I'd miss out because banks weren't interested in financing me then my parents stepped up. Thanks to them I made an offer, he accepted. I guess it was one of those things that was just meant to be."

Ron met Heather at Rotorua Airport in late November, she blew her first piece of glass in the gallery on December 31.

"It was a small blue bird, I called it the bluebird of happiness."

Mammoth as the move was, Rotorua wasn't entirely foreign territory. Heather had childhood memories of the place 20 years previously, admitting recalling it as being "a bit rundown".

That changed in a flash, she was instantly captivated.

"I immediately knew this was now a good, progressive place to live."

The obvious question: how was it a girl from the USA came to have childhood memories of a small city so far from home?

The answer's straightforward. Her psychiatrist father and psychologist mother spent five years in Dunedin during Heather's primary and intermediate years so there's a good dollop of Kiwi in her education – but not a trace of it in her very American accent.

"Dad was in charge of a private psychiatric hospital, we had a cottage in the grounds, I like to say I grew up in a mental hospital, my mum was teaching at Otago University."

Heather has her dad to thank, and she does, for her glassblowing career.

Back in the States and Nebraska-based, he visited a studio specialising in the craft, it fascinated him, he enrolled his daughter for a school vacation course.

"He signed me up because he didn't want me wasting time, sleeping in late all summer, I still like to sleep in."

Being a typical teen Heather turned up on day one under sufferance, her heart wasn't in this glass blowing business.

"The first time I tried picking up a ball of molten glass from the furnace, it was love at first sight, I had the instant feeling that this was what I was meant to do, I've worked with glass ever since."

Qualification has compounded upon qualification, her study's included two Japanese universities, while her University of Minnesota BA came via a major in fine arts and international relations, with Asian languages and politics on the side.

"Originally I had my mind fixed on being a diplomat or doctor but once I'd tried glass work I was totally hooked.

"While at university I did a mentorship in it, falling more and more in love with it, in Tokyo I signed up for glassblowing night classes where I was introduced to other types of glass work including brilliant cut glass like Waterford crystal."

Heather began to immerse herself in glass' background, techniques and history.

"It just blew my mind discovering the historical detail, the culture, learning there is so much more to the subject than making glass objects."

Returning to Minnesota she entered an apprenticeship, moving on to teach classes in cast glass and cold work. For we uninitiated types she defines this as cutting, grinding, curving and polishing blown works.

"It's something glassblowers hate with a passion because it's not instant gratification, it doesn't have the adrenalin rush that blowing glass gives you."

As her skill's developed Heather's opened her own gallery, criss-crossed the States, honing her skills under the direction of master craftsmen.

"This is where I learnt how to develop images within my mind of what I want to make."

She's showcased her work at some of the biggest international SOFA (Sculptural Objects and Fine Arts) events, has demonstrated her skills in France and blown glass in Turkey.

"It's wonderful visiting places around the world collecting inspiration from their myths and legends. My dad likes to loom weave, from that I've drawn different textile techniques together, incorporating them into my glass work."

The country she's adopted is already beginning to feature in the works she's crafting.

Tui and pukeko followed that initial bluebird of happiness. Birds are her favourite blow.

"For me they symbolise the longing for freedom, flight . . . a chance for freedom and escape yet a way to return home."

She's rebranded the business Amokura Glass, not only as a tribute to the bird native to her new homeland but coincidentally her gallery fronts the street that carries the same name.

Bird's apart, her shop's well stocked – she brought container loads of her work with her.

Our mind boggles at the thought of packing up so many delicate pieces, how ever did she manage it?

"Very carefully, 10 rolls of bubble wrap and air freight."

Although she's adamant glass now rules her life she's concerned not to be portrayed as a one trick pony.

"To be honest I've always been a bit of a jock without the negative connotations. I think I've tried every sport out there . . . it's what's built my muscles up to be strong enough to work glass and taught me determination and strength of will to go after what I want."

HEATHER KREMEN
Born: Cincinnati, USA; 1989.
Family: Parents Mark Kremen and Constance Logan (US), sister Ann (London).
Education: Half Way Bush Primary, Columbia College Dunedin; Nebraska High School, Minnesota Twin Cities University; Sofia, Kanda Universities Tokyo.
Interests: Glass, sport, travel, baking. "I stress-bake, boozy brownies a speciality." Audio books "I listen while I work." Hiking, visiting the lakes. "It's wonderful getting out in nature with no snow on the ground for months on end."
On herself: "A workaholic, glassaholic, travelholic."
On Rotorua: "A welcoming place that has everything to live happily."
Personal philosophy: "We have the skills to do it."