Glass Sculptor Pushes Recycling Message
Bill Hess is a sculptor, designer, and teacher in Central Virginia. He is also committed to spreading the gospel of glass recycling. Hess uses found materials, including recycled glass bottles, to create sculptures, house wares, and fine art.
He contacted GPI after hearing about the 50% recycled content goal and wanted to help. “Glass is a beautiful material, and it’s a shame to put it in a landfill,” he says. “Glass is also natural and inert, and that is really important to know when people are concerned about potential chemicals and other health issues.”
When he lived in Seattle, where there is a large glass art community, Hess began creating glass sculpture. After moving to Virginia, he acquired a kiln and began experimenting with recycled glass bottles. “I’ve always been interested in working with found materials,” says Hess. “About 20 years ago I would dumpster dive to see what was out there—and free—to use in my art.”
Hess spent many years creating sculpture by welding together steel parts rescued from junkyards, and now glass has become a major focus of his work. Over time, he has also connected more of his art to ecology. See this actualized in the glass sculpture (left), “Garden of Sprouting Parts".
Most of the recycled glass bottles Hess uses are gathered from friends and his own family. For larger art pieces he goes to the recycling center in Charlottesville, VA and picks bottles out of the glass bins.“People are dropping off and I’m picking up,” says Hess.
Hess uses a kiln about the size of a dishwasher with a computer on it to precisely control the temperature, as cooling is important to prevent cracking. He also layers glass into molds for both flat and textured surfaces. “The first time people see my work, they always want me to tell them more,” says Hess. “I am always teaching people about the value of recycled materials around them, so the things we throw away aren’t taken for granted.”
Hess creates high-visibility designs through sculpture, house wares (lamps, bowls, tiles and more), installations, and displays made out of recycled glass that will help people understand the value of reuse and recycling. “In choosing to work with recycled glass, it automatically gets people thinking about recycling. They take a second look at a bottle. It’s not just a container.” View more of Hess’s recycled glass designs at www.ideasonlegs.com
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About the institute
The Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) is the trade association representing the North American glass container industry. Through GPI, glass container manufacturers speak with one voice to advocate industry standards, promote sound environmental policies and educate packaging professionals. GPI member companies manufacture glass containers for food, beverage, cosmetic and many other products. GPI also has associate members that represent a broad range of suppliers and closure manufacturers.
