Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Janke.
Upon arriving in Atlanta in 1986, Matt discovered there were no glassblowers and therefore no studios to work out of in the entire metro Atlanta area. He decided then and there that he was going to blow glass in Atlanta even if he had to build a shop himself. Having a bit of a one track mind, Matt talked about this idea from 1986-90 through getting married, his first child and successfully building a jewelry career.
In 1990, Matt moved his family back to his native Ohio and his alma mater Kent State University to attend graduate school on a teaching assistantship where he received his Masters in Glassblowing. In his journey towards obtaining a shop, Matt believed that one of the most likely ways to get a studio would be with a university affiliation, and a Masters degree would help. Returning to Atlanta in 1992 armed with a new credential, Matt tested the waters contacting different galleries and universities to test interest in the medium and discovered that glassblowing was not well understood in this area.
Without saying much, Matt began stockpiling his basement with steel, barrels and other random pieces of wood and metal. Kim (his wife) yelled at him to get rid of the junk from about 1992-1995, until one day when she went into Matt’s world and realized that he had built an entire glass studio by himself. It was clear to her at that point that Matt was driven to be a glassblower and have his own studio. Janke Glass Studio was founded the summer of 1996 and are permanently located in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward in Studioplex on historic Auburn Ave.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has been both a smooth and rocky road.
Glassblowing is a highly skilled, very expensive artistic profession. Staffing can be a challenge, in the 1996 our beginning we moved glassblowers to Atlanta from Ohio. They’d live with us until they got on their feet. Today we have Glassbowers coming to apply with degrees from various universities it makes lifo so much easier,
Secondly, you never get over the monthly sticker shock of running a natural gas furnace 24/7 and the other costs of running a glass studio. It’s been worth it when we look up and see the glass community the has emerged in the city.
Janke Glass Studio – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Janke Studios is Atlanta’s first glassblowing studio and the birthplace of the glassblowing movement in Atlanta. The studio located at Studioplex a 100 year warehouse loft community in the beautiful Old Fourth Ward. Once on the Studioplex property our hot shop is tucked in the corner of the beautiful green space. We sit on a little slice of the country in the middle of the city.
Matt loves to design and create custom lighting and chandeliers and he’s great at it. Matt’s work is all over the city. A few pieces many people have seen are the Sweetwater Brewery, Cirque Daquiri Bar and Block Lofts Chandeliers. Also, corporations are investing in beautiful upscale lights. Matt’s lights are in Popeyes in Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and Decatur Kroger. Many local restaurants too.
My personal favorite thing is organizing “Date Nights” and special events like collaborations with the Carlos Museum at Emory, Montgomery Museum of Art and others. I also continue to be in awe when I think of the over 1000+ lives we’ve touched with our glassblowing classes and parties since 1996.
We are the example that a person’s passion can evolve into something transformative to a community. Our studio launched a glassblowing movement, helped trail blaze the gentrification of the historic Old Fourth Ward while sharing the love of the medium to neighborhood kids and the city at large. We are an art studio but we are also intentional about contributing to our community. In my experience that has set us aside.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Our goal was to expose and promote the art of glassmaking throughout the southeast. Driving though the city identifying Matt’s work all over the palce is gratifying. Mostly though, we define success by seeing a glassblowing community in the city, having adults come visit that took classes as teenagers and knowing that in many ways all the glassblowers in Atlanta are all 6 degrees of separation from Janke Studios in one form or another. Who would have thought? It’s good to know that glass in Atlanta is rooted and here to stay.
Pricing:
- Date Nights $155 for 2 people with wine snacks and a $5 certificate towards food at Serpas restaurant.
- 1-Day Glassblowing classes from $155 for a 3 hour class with a total of 8 people
- 5-week Glassblowing for $450 with a total of 8 people
- Matt’s Tumblers for $12.50 each which are owned by literally over 1000 people
- Pendant lights starting at $135 and chandeliers custom priced
Contact Info:
- Address: Stop in 659 Auburn Ave. NE
- Website: jankestudios.com
- Phone: 404-584-0305
- Email: jankeglass@gmail.com
