Art Chowder September | October, Issue 23 | Page 21

A
nyone who has attended a
potluck or rummaged through their
grandmother’s kitchen knows what
Pyrex is. Those sturdy mixing bowls
and casserole dishes were always
on hand. The same material is used
widely by scientists for a variety
of items due to its strength and
high melting point, (i.e. the Hubble
telescope and the glass on your cell
phone). Nowadays though, Pyrex,
also known as borosilicate glass, is
being used to create art thanks to the
experimentation and determination
of local artist, Chris Chorvat.
Our interview took place in
Chorvat’s studio in the Tsuga
Gallery located in the Perry District
of lower South Hill. A strong
ventilation fan pumped air out and
away from the workbench and Chris
informed me that it must remain on
as borosilicate glass art demands use
of some poisonous materials — a
great way to start a conversation,
huh?  Still, we spent an amiable
and educational (for me) hour or so
chatting. Part experimentalist, part
philosopher, and all artist, Chris’
persistence and insistence that the
improbable is possible has changed
the glass art world forever.
Art Chowder:  Chris, where are
you from and how did you get to
Spokane?
Chorvat:  I am originally from
Denver, Colorado. My family
adopted me in Arvada, and we
traveled to several states and
foreign countries throughout my
childhood, using Spokane as a
lily pad. As a child raised in the
Strategic Air Command, I was
very fortunate that our family was
stationed here.
September | October 2019
21