Purple Sage Gallery
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Ed Alexander Collections & Bio
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Ed Alexander Bio
Ed Alexander started his career in 1979 when he first joined Orient & Flume. A naturalist, Ed came to his trade while researching the Indian culture and how glass trade beads were made. While he explored his own Native American heritage, his cultural interest drew him toward the craft of glass blowing.
Ed is a Master in torch work. He is an accomplished artisan using glass canes to create birds, wild flowers and reptiles in his unique designs. Ed studied art and anthropology at California State University Chico, California State University Sonoma, Santa Rosa Junior College and Oakland’s Merrit College.
Having grown up in the area, Ed spent many hours roaming the marches and foothills at the edge of San Francisco Bay. The shell mounds and prehistoric Indian village sites were studied in conjunction with archaeologists from San Jose State College and Stanford University. Ed became tour guide of Indian sites and led nature walks when a portion of that area became part of the East Bay Regional Park. The last native-speaking member of the Wappo Indians taught Ed to weave the coarse willow shoot carrying baskets and fish traps. The Wappo Tribe of Sonoma are among the most noted basket weavers in the world. Through these studies his interests shifted toward a more creative outlet, he began painting wildlife and experimented with woodcarvings of hawks and eagles.
“I joined Orient & Flume in 1979, really appreciative of the creative atmosphere. I mostly work from memory, but I often refer to sketches when first executing a new design setup. Torch work is a combination of drawing, sculpturing, building up a design in layers. This results in a three-dimensional look. I also like to create images of trout, turtles, lizards and seals. My experience with painting, carving and sculpture all come into play within the glass. It is a very gratifying art form.”
Alexander has an endless list of beautiful designs. Among them are: Acorn, Cherokee Rose, Fuchsia, Poppy Bouquet, Violets, Iris, Asiatic Lily, Easter Lily, Rose of Sharon, Tiger Lily, Wood Rose, Coral Reef, Sea Turtle, Trout, Harbor Seal, Dragon, Owl & Crescent Moon, Snow Owl and Red Headed Woodpecker. Ed and fellow glass blower, Dave Smallhouse, often worked together in creating larger vases; their collaborative Iris vase can be seen in the Smithsonian Catalogue.