FAQ's
Here are a few questions I am asked, or that I can imagine people asking me, and how I would respond.
Q: How long have you been doing this?
A: About 3 years.
Q: That's a lot of bottles. Did you drink all those yourself? (This question is often followed with a hearty chuckle and some knowing looks.)
A(In the form of more questions): Do I look like an alcoholic? Do you think I could drink all that and still be alive? Seriously, what kind of person do you think I am?
Q: How long does it take you to wrap a bottle?
A: About 2 minutes.
Q: So where do you get all the bottles?
A: Well, like I hinted earlier, I'm not an alcoholic. Fortunately for me, all my friends are. Just kidding. No, seriously, I get most of my bottles from local restaurants (Thank you, Crepe Place!!!), the Bargain Barn, and thrift stores. Sometimes I get them from parties. Sometimes people give them to me. Some I will even admit to drinking myself.
Q: Where can I see and/or buy some of your fabulous and creative pieces?
A: That is an excellent question. You obviously have a very refined sense of taste and style. My pieces (I hope that doesn't sound too pretentious, it's not meant to be) are available at several locations:
Buy:
Hive and Hum - River Street - Eclectic home design with a nature theme. My pieces are ocean, tree and animal themed
Pottery Planet - Soquel Avenue. Mostly wire tree pieces on rustic wood, and framed bottle pieces.
Art of Santa Cruz - Capitola Mall - Regional Artist's Association flagship store, featuring dozens of local artists.
Skatter - On Mission Street - Super fun, funky, vintage stuff.
Sol Treasures - Broadway Street, King City, CA. Different local artists rotate through a series of different themes, inventory changes frequently.
The Mercantile - Capitola Village - A rotating display of pieces, often seasonally themed.
Loot - funky, vintage, home decorations. Soquel village
Lupulo Craft Beer House - A ongoing, rotating display of new pieces, often ocean themed
View:
The Crepe Place. On Soquel Drive across from the Rio Theater. The Triple Bypass is to die for.
Q: What if I don't live in Santa Cruz? Can I order stuff online?
A: Some pieces are available at www.ventanasupplies.com. Look for the "Featured Artist" section. Because the creation and installation process is such a personal one (as in, all the pieces are tailored to or approved by you, and the location and installation requires a certain amount of consultation, l prefer working in person with people. Were someone desperate, I would be willing to work something out over the phone.
Q: Are you working on any other projects? Do you make other things?
A: I have expanded from bottle curtains to working with all kinds of recycled materials including wire, plywood, electronic parts, bike parts, fence wood, driftwood, and all kinds of things I find here, there, and everywhere.
Q: DO you use the Facebook, or other social media?
A: After a long personal protest against it, I have (somewhat) embraced social media. I have a business page called Bottleworks451 Recycled Art. I also have an Instagram at Bottleworks451.
Q: Why is there a picture of a giant rose on the home page of your website? I thought you made recycled glass art?
A: Well, since I suck at technology, I can't figure out how to change the default picture on the template I chose. Also, my middle name is Rose, so it seemed appropriate.
Q: What are you listening to right now?
A: Aronchupa station on Pandora
Q: What are you wearing right now?
A: Wow, that's a little personal, but shorts and a Xanax for Daddy t-shirt, if you must know.
Q: Are you always this funny/weird/clever/verbose/pleasant/Choose your own adjective?
A: Yes
Q: Is there a special someone in your life? Surely someone who works everyday to produce such epic and awesome art must have someone at his side, supporting and encouraging him, as he enters the unsteady and often fickle world of the art scene in Santa Cruz.
A: Well, I'm not sure how he will feel about me saying this on something that only 6 people in the history of the internet will actually read, but yes, there very definitely is a special someone in my life. Steve, my partner of 9 years, has always been there to support me with his generosity and encourage me with his ideas that stimulate my creativity. I also have amazing friends who have encouraged and supported me at every turn of this crazy adventure: Sinda, Labris, Kyrsten, Heather, Arthur, Luke, Rick, everyone else I'm forgetting...
Oh my god, I just turned my FAQ page into a goddamned Academy Award speech, enough about that. Are there any other questions?
Q: How do I donate cool glass objects for you to use in your art?
A: You would email me at [email protected]
Q: How do I -
A: No, we're done now.
Q: How long have you been doing this?
A: About 3 years.
Q: That's a lot of bottles. Did you drink all those yourself? (This question is often followed with a hearty chuckle and some knowing looks.)
A(In the form of more questions): Do I look like an alcoholic? Do you think I could drink all that and still be alive? Seriously, what kind of person do you think I am?
Q: How long does it take you to wrap a bottle?
A: About 2 minutes.
Q: So where do you get all the bottles?
A: Well, like I hinted earlier, I'm not an alcoholic. Fortunately for me, all my friends are. Just kidding. No, seriously, I get most of my bottles from local restaurants (Thank you, Crepe Place!!!), the Bargain Barn, and thrift stores. Sometimes I get them from parties. Sometimes people give them to me. Some I will even admit to drinking myself.
Q: Where can I see and/or buy some of your fabulous and creative pieces?
A: That is an excellent question. You obviously have a very refined sense of taste and style. My pieces (I hope that doesn't sound too pretentious, it's not meant to be) are available at several locations:
Buy:
Hive and Hum - River Street - Eclectic home design with a nature theme. My pieces are ocean, tree and animal themed
Pottery Planet - Soquel Avenue. Mostly wire tree pieces on rustic wood, and framed bottle pieces.
Art of Santa Cruz - Capitola Mall - Regional Artist's Association flagship store, featuring dozens of local artists.
Skatter - On Mission Street - Super fun, funky, vintage stuff.
Sol Treasures - Broadway Street, King City, CA. Different local artists rotate through a series of different themes, inventory changes frequently.
The Mercantile - Capitola Village - A rotating display of pieces, often seasonally themed.
Loot - funky, vintage, home decorations. Soquel village
Lupulo Craft Beer House - A ongoing, rotating display of new pieces, often ocean themed
View:
The Crepe Place. On Soquel Drive across from the Rio Theater. The Triple Bypass is to die for.
Q: What if I don't live in Santa Cruz? Can I order stuff online?
A: Some pieces are available at www.ventanasupplies.com. Look for the "Featured Artist" section. Because the creation and installation process is such a personal one (as in, all the pieces are tailored to or approved by you, and the location and installation requires a certain amount of consultation, l prefer working in person with people. Were someone desperate, I would be willing to work something out over the phone.
Q: Are you working on any other projects? Do you make other things?
A: I have expanded from bottle curtains to working with all kinds of recycled materials including wire, plywood, electronic parts, bike parts, fence wood, driftwood, and all kinds of things I find here, there, and everywhere.
Q: DO you use the Facebook, or other social media?
A: After a long personal protest against it, I have (somewhat) embraced social media. I have a business page called Bottleworks451 Recycled Art. I also have an Instagram at Bottleworks451.
Q: Why is there a picture of a giant rose on the home page of your website? I thought you made recycled glass art?
A: Well, since I suck at technology, I can't figure out how to change the default picture on the template I chose. Also, my middle name is Rose, so it seemed appropriate.
Q: What are you listening to right now?
A: Aronchupa station on Pandora
Q: What are you wearing right now?
A: Wow, that's a little personal, but shorts and a Xanax for Daddy t-shirt, if you must know.
Q: Are you always this funny/weird/clever/verbose/pleasant/Choose your own adjective?
A: Yes
Q: Is there a special someone in your life? Surely someone who works everyday to produce such epic and awesome art must have someone at his side, supporting and encouraging him, as he enters the unsteady and often fickle world of the art scene in Santa Cruz.
A: Well, I'm not sure how he will feel about me saying this on something that only 6 people in the history of the internet will actually read, but yes, there very definitely is a special someone in my life. Steve, my partner of 9 years, has always been there to support me with his generosity and encourage me with his ideas that stimulate my creativity. I also have amazing friends who have encouraged and supported me at every turn of this crazy adventure: Sinda, Labris, Kyrsten, Heather, Arthur, Luke, Rick, everyone else I'm forgetting...
Oh my god, I just turned my FAQ page into a goddamned Academy Award speech, enough about that. Are there any other questions?
Q: How do I donate cool glass objects for you to use in your art?
A: You would email me at [email protected]
Q: How do I -
A: No, we're done now.