lillian boutin

During my study abroad, my courses were primarily religion courses, focusing on the progression of western culture and how religious institutions can reinforce social, political, and economic structures. The other side to this story, however, is the sectors of culture that reveal and challenge the structures in place. I was inspired by the study of alchemy, and the use of the four natural elements in the alchemical practice. Glassblowing is an artistic representation of earth, air, fire, and water, as each are used in the process. For this project, I learned how to make objects through glassblowing, concluding with three different items: a paper weight, an ornament, and a bowl.