"Most glassblowers aren't born artists," says Caleb Siemon. "They're born pyromaniacs." Son of a jeweler, he grew up making things with his hands, got hooked on glass in high school, and honed his craft at the Rhode Island School of Design. He then set out for Murano, Italy, with a backpack, a few words of Italian, and the hope of an apprenticeship with renowned master glass sculptor Pino Signoretto. The maestro ignored him for a month, while Caleb attentively sketched his work and tried not to get in the way. Eventually an apprenticeship evolved. Caleb spent two years in the Muranese studio with the glassmaker versatile enough to produce both enormous sculptures and delicate goblets. Here, he was encouraged to "steal with his eyes." Caleb's style shows the influence of his early tutor, and an unabashed passion for the medium. " The transparency and fluidity of the material makes it unique," he says. "I always start with an idea, but have learned to remain flexible to allow for the natural qualities of the glass".
