He became interested in glass in the late 1960’s and picked it up as his medium.  Glass holds a fascination for Tim. ”Glass is a good material if you are interested in color and light. The element of light brings an intensity to color that is unique to glass art.  Experience and a good sense of design are important to handling these properties because they can easily be overused.”

The physical properties of glass are another aspect of the medium that are important to him as an artist.  “Most people think of glass in a utilitarian way. We feel glass is brittle, unyielding and can be dangerous. However when it is heated it becomes soft and malleable.  It is subject to gravity and flows very gently.  The viscosity of molten glass is an important element in processing my pieces.  Glass resists heating and cooling and can be a very frustrating material, but I keep coming back to it because the successes show the effort.”

The craft movement of the 20^th century forced a redefinition of fine art.  New technologies and materials coupled with ancient processing techniques allowed for more personal expression. Glass has a historical perspective that is intriguing to Tim.  “Considering how long it has been around it was gratifying to see it being recognized as an art form in the late 20^th century.  I think it is important to understand the history of your medium.  I use a traditional process to produce contemporary craft and I feel that provides some continuity to our lives because it gives us a link to our past.”

Glass is a material that provides many challenges to an artist.  It also provides many opportunities.  The studio glass movement in America is exploring these opportunities and Tim Harlan is excited to be a participant in that process.