Tom Kreager

From an early age the creative processes were discouraged in my home unless it was music. Once it was apparent that I had no musical ability, I was relegated to the position of an audience of one. To save my sanity from the combination of the clarinet, piano, guitar and my families’ singing, I drifted into my imagination. This deep dark secret was hidden until I enrolled in a ceramics course at the Ohio State University. It was at that time I felt as though a tree had fallen on my head, and the world became very clear. In art making there were no rules! Following some aimless creative wanderings I landed in a glass studio. This is the place where my life journey was forever transformed.  The change brought about the quick dismissal from a position as family holiday audience, thank god, followed by the silent treatment from my family.

This change to the glass art world satisfied needs of mine, the idea of a process that would forever challenge me technically and conceptually. An area that was open to new ideas and experimentation and an activity that gave me an excuse to never be alone. This came from my days as the family audience of one.

I never imagined that art would offer me opportunities for travel. I was happy to find out I was able to travel around the world, from Japan to Australia. The people I worked for were as diverse as Dale Chihuly and William Morris, to assisting Dennis Oppenheim and Judy Pfaff, to working in small production studios.

I am now a professor at Hastings College where I get to share my love of art making with students from all disciplines at the college.