“We believe that the long history of the functional glass scene in the US and the experience that follows, will propel the development of the European glassblowing.”
At the end of September, 28th-30th in London, a group of talented and imaginative artists will share their passion for the craft of glassblowing and transform molten glass into beautiful and functional pieces. The European Functional Flame Off is the annual and only live glassblowing competition in Europe which gathers ten European glassblowers who, having the same amount of time and same quantity of glass material, compete to create the best functional glass piece.
The event was created by Lars and Valeria from Smokinggear. After the trip to the Treating Yourself Expo in Toronto, where they had a chance to see the glassblowers from Team Japan, Team USA and Team Canada in an insane glassblowing competition, they decided to beef up the European glass scene by creating the EFFO. They used the Smokinggear’s big facility to create a glassblowing studio inside their headshop and launched an event that would popularize the artistic and scientific properties of the glassblowing in Europe. Smokinggear is currently preparing the 5th edition of the Flame Off.
“We believe that the long history of the functional glass scene in the US and the experience that follows, will propel the development of the European glassblowing.”
This year, EFFO is going to be held in the United Kingdom in a private members club in London, Club 33. However, the European Functional Flame Off is a nomadic event and changes the location in order to reach new audiences. It all started in Denmark, the 1st EFFO welcomed four competitors, judged by Doshworld and BE Glassworks. Quite modest beginnings only strengthened the passion for glass and happened to be a life-changing experience not only for Lars and Valeria. The winner of the event, Dok, decided to leave his job as a scientific glassblower to become a fulltime pipe maker! In 2015 the EFFO was held in a 200m2 tent at the Irun Expo Grow which had a turnout of about 17.000 visitors over the weekend.
„We were thrilled to offer the amazing visual and esthetic qualities of glass to such a big audience of like-minded people.”
From that year on the competition has been opened to ten glassblowers who were judged by four prominent artists – Doshworld, Slinger, JAG, and JD Maplesden. In 2016 they chose the NPK Social Club, a favourite chill out spot in Barcelona, to host the 3rd EFFO. Ten competitors gathered again to heat, swirl and blow the molten glass into graceful forms and shapes. Last year they organized their first independent solo show! They rented a big venue in Barcelona and hosted over 400 people during the weekend. It’s time now to put a new stamp in the passport.
There are two categories in which the EFFO artists have chances to win many valuable prizes, Judges’ Choice & People’s Choice. Each year a group of acclaimed American glassblowers judge the pipes based on the criteria like functionality, complexity and aesthetics. However, as long as the beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, the organizers also wanted to engage the visitors and give them a chance to share their impressions. As a result, the People’s Choice category has been creted. What’s more, this year the voting will be introduced on IG so the representation of the People’s category may be bigger than ever.
Visit the EFFO’s IG account to find out more about the event and this year’s edition.