SN7 - Ep274 - Saul Alca

What this episode covers

Out very special guest today is Master Craftsman Santa Barbara Glass Blowing Studio - Owner, Saul AlcarazSaul has been blowing glass for over 30 years, the traditional way.Ticked away in Santa Barbara's east Side e is a little shop practicing the ancient art of glass-blowing, a magical tradition passed on from generation to generation. Each piece is blown, shaped or cut-out by hand and assembled into a form that ensures no two finished pieces are the same.Glassblowing is a glass forming technique invented by the Syrian craftsman in the 1st century BC somewhere along the Syro-Palestinian coast. The establishment of the Roman Empire provided motivation and dominance of glass production by this method, the use of blown glass for everyday tasks spread.The earliest recorded use of glass was by the Egyptians who used it to glaze tiles, make figures and create the earliest beads. Excavations place its first known use to be about 1500 BC (despite the claims of the philosopher Pliny), who stated in his journals that the Phoenicians discovered a glassy substance oozing from under their campfires in the first century AD. The Phoenicians used blocks of soda to support their cooking vessels and the combination of heat, sand and soda is reported as evidence that they first discovered this magic material.To purchase an authentic piece of glass art from Saul, visit his website, stop in or sign up for a class!www.sbartglass.com

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