John Moran

Tell us about yourself.

Hey guys, my name is John Moran, or as still many people refer to me: Sleepy. I am originally from Philadelphia, but am currently living in Ghent, Belgium where I started a public studio: Gent Glas – check it out. Right now, I am a PhD candidate at The Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art and Design in Wrocław, Poland and splitting my time between the two cities.

What draws you to the material you work with?

Initially what interested me in glass was the teamwork aspect of the material and the community around it. As my work mainly deals with people, it seemed like the perfect material to work with. It took me a while to figure out how to start making realistic-ish people; when I first began working with glass, it seemed like something completely impossible. The fact that we are a part of movement that is still developing and evolving is exciting and challenging.

What themes do you pursue in your work, and why have you chosen the processes that you use in your work?

As a Libra, my work deals with social injustice and the current political environment, with a nice little critique of Religion and Capitalism mixed into the fold.

If you weren’t working in this field, what career would you choose?

I think I would make a good bartender. Gent Glas is a fully functioning glass studio with an attached bar. As a way to introduce glass making to the local community, the bar is a great way to get people to hangout and watch a five hour sculpture being made. I pretty much do as many of the jobs as possible in the studio or at least have done them, the one I am most fond of after making glass is bartending. I am not a good salesman, but I can sure convince drunk people to drink another beer.

What is your dream project?

A collaboration with Chuck D.

Why are you a member of GAS?

The community.