As a trauma psychologist supporting survivors of some of the world’s worst tragedies for 25 years, Kevin Becker tapped into glassblowing a decade ago as a creative escape from his counseling work.
At 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 31, via Zoom, attendees of Becker’s “Meet the Artist” talk hosted by the Zullo Gallery, can learn how he discovered the magic of glassblowing and simultaneously experienced the therapeutic power of the creative process. A Westwood resident, Becker will be participating from his Providence studio.
The talk with Becker is free but pre-registration is required. Online event and registration details can be found via Eventbrite at www.eventbrite.com/d/online/zullo/ or through Zullogallery.org.
Glass pieces blown by Becker often incorporate unusual components from nature embedded into the final work, resulting in a variety of textures and one-of-a-kind designs. Whether blowing glass into tree stumps to capture their unique impressions or using beach sand to create wavelike vases, he has found endless ways to combine molten glass with natural materials.
"The beauty that results becomes a permanent record of the collaboration between the natural element, the glass, and myself. Glassblowing for me serves as a therapeutic respite which is extremely restorative. The focus needed to create objects from molten glass in the heat of the hot shop takes me out of myself. When a useful or attractive object results, it’s even more exciting and rewarding," said Becker.
The program is supported in part by a grant from Medfield Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
