-

"Glass translates light, using color, form and texture, into a language that can tell a tale and move us emotionally. My goal is to create sacred images and mythical symbols in glass that evoke our connection with the world around, above, and within us."

Josef Bear was born on March 2, 1969 in Poughkeepsie, New York. He was raised in various East Coast suburbs before moving to Santa Cruz in 1986 to attend the University of California. The following year Josef met Joel Magen, co-owner of Santa Cruz Pottery. "Joel took me on as an apprentice and showed me what it takes to make your living as a craftperson."

In 1989 Josef had the opportunity to work at Annieglass where he applied his experience in making ceramic forms and firing kilns to the art of melting glass. "Back then Annie let us sell our own projects at her infamous Seconds Sales and people bought everything I made." This inspired Josef to establish AUMWARE in May 1993.

Melting colored glass into hand-thrown ceramic molds, Josef created a line of kiln-fired functional glassware. "Out of large sheets of glass, I cut different shapes which are placed on ceramic molds and loaded into an electric kiln. As the kiln heats up, the glass 'slumps' into the shape of the mold and is then annealed (cooled) very slowly in order to ensure that no stress has built up in the glass."

More recently, Josef designed a line of fused glass dinnerware that involves melting two layers of glass together and then in a second firing, slumping the fused blank into a mold. This new fused dinnerware comes in an endless combination of colors, and is extremely durable. With years of experience Josef is learning the skills he needs to bring to life the designs that are brewing inside of him.

All AUMWARE is food-safe and can be placed in a dishwasher