we are all in this together…

As our original goals of Summer dissolve, somehow so do our fears of that happening. We know this is a hard time for everyone, as great sacrifices are being made to keep our communities safe. We understand this time as opportunity to pause while the world still turns, a luxury we just don’t get in the normal hustle and bustle of life we have grown so accustomed to. Knowing that we are all in this together is an odd sort of comfort.

During this time at home, we are turning our creative energy towards working on our land, planting the garden, homeschooling our 9 year old, and yes, baking! We are also still able to continue small construction jobs in our new glass studio, which is very close to being finished.   

The other night the 3 of us walked past our family’s homes, who happen to be neighbors. We stayed outside, but greeted them with juggling (Raven), recited a limerick * (Wren), and delivering fresh croissants. We are feeling grateful for our home, our family and friends across the planet, and for each other. This time of Isolation won’t last forever, what an incredible challenge, and a gift to overcome it with the rest of you.   

love from our family to yours, 

Kelly, Raven, and Wren 

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In this June 2018 video produced by Schantz Galleries, Kelly O'Dell and Raven Skyriver work on a Cephalopod at the hotshop Hoogs and Crawford near the gallery. It was an amazing experience for all, filmed and edited by Jeff Masotti!

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KELLY O’DELL

Captivated long ago by her father’s glassblowing, Kelly O’Dell was involved with glass at a young age.  Kelly’s family lived in Kealakekua, Hawai’i, where her father built himself a glass studio at their home.  It was 1979, at 6 years old, when she remembers her father dribbling hot glass on the concrete floor, spelling words and names for the crowd surrounding him.

Twenty years later she graduated from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa in Honolulu with a BFA degree in Studio Art, with a focus in Glass.  With Rick Mills as her instructor, Kelly’s experience at the University provided her the tools and
knowledge to leave the islands for a much bigger world.  Eager to immerse herself in the glass movement, Kelly moved to Seattle, where she assisted various artists in their studios.  Here she worked and studied at Pilchuck Glass School and Pratt Fine Arts Center, and began to exhibit her work actively.  She took the opportunity to work at Caleb Siemon’s glassblowing production studio for two years in Orange County, California, where she developed an appreciation for color and design. In 2003, the William Morris team welcomed Kelly aboard.  She enjoyed assisting Morris during his last few years of glassmaking, and continues to work at Pilchuck Glass School during the summer and winter seasons.  She currently lives on on Lopez Island with her partner Raven Skyriver and their son Wren.

RAVEN SKYRIVER

Raven Skyriver started blowing glass in high school at the age of 16. Raven’s mentor Lark Dalton taught him how to build glass blowing equipment, and trained him in venetian technique enabling Raven to set up his own small shop to work in. Soon thereafter, Raven joined the William Morris team, by Karen Willenbrink-Johnsen’s request in 2003. He worked assisting on the team until Bill’s early retirement, in 2007 and continued assisting Karen through 2010 at the Pilchuck glass school in the off season.

Raven still resides near Pilchuck and is producing work in and around the greater Seattle area.  Raven’s focus in sculpture, and his depiction of marine life, is inspired by his island upbringing, and informed by the creatures that inhabit this fragile ecosystem.

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* A limerick from Wren, titled “Sushi,” who is our family dog. 

There once was a dog named Sushi. 
He was a little bit goofy.
He ignored other dogs,
but he LOVED giant logs, 
that’s why he’s a little less toothy.