What drives my work:
As a student at the Massachusetts College of Art, I became interested in glassblowing because it struck me as a medium that was both beautiful and functional; the idea of being able to control such a fragile substance with heat and tools appealed to me. I could make ornate glass objects for use, and I changed my focus from industrial design to glass.
My experiences at MassArt shaped the way I viewed art. Going to museums and being able to look at all this amazing work, but not being able to touch it, is something that I wanted to change with my glass art. As a musician and singer, I began to think of ways to incorporate my glassblowing into my music, and I started creating instruments out of glass for performances.
In addition to making glass instruments, I am a member of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Glass Band. I lend my expertise and help students design and improve their musical instruments. We have performed at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams, Mass., and Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, Mass.
CV/Bio
Shaun Conroy
Professional glass blower Shaun Conroy uses glass in unexpected ways, blending his love of glassmaking and performance to create an auditory and visual experience.
Conroy’s glass creations are instruments in disguise – evoking hauntingly beautiful sounds that mesmerize those in his audience.
“Fragile objects emitting unpredictable sonic waves can be amazing and that thought process drives my inspiration,” Conroy said.
A longtime singer with several local rock bands in Central Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Conroy draws upon his years on stage to enhance his current projects.
Most recently, he has been part of the MIT Glass Band, where he is known as the “utility player” of the group. He does a little of everything, from recording and performing to utilizing his advanced fabrication expertise and knowledge of various glass types to design and fabricate novel musical instruments.
Conroy has been a member of the band since its inception.
An accomplished glass blower, Conroy trained at Massachusetts College of Art, graduating with a BFA degree in sculpture with a focus on industrial design.
Conroy builds and repairs glass harmonicas for Finkenbeiner Glass in Waltham, Ma. which is the only manufacturer of the Benjamin Franklin invented Glass Harmonica. He is one of the few glassblowers in the world to make and work on the instrument. He made glass harmonicas for French composer Thomas Bloch, former MET Opera glass harmonica player Cecilia Brauer, and numerous musicians around the world.
His most recent honors include an asset for artist grant from the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. Conroy received best in show for his sculpture Clyde-Stew1 during the 2017 Glass Art Society Member Juried Exhibition “Reflections From The Edge: Glass Art and Performance.” Glass Art Magazine recently highlighted Conroy for his innovative work in glass and more recently Conroy has been featured in the 40th anniversary of New Glass Review which showcases glass artists pushing the boundaries of the material.
Currently, Conroy is a professional scientific glass blower with an international
instrument company based in Rhode Island, focusing on R&D projects and prototyping.
His studio is in North Kingstown, R.I.