Tony Smith is a Mechanical
Engineer with a love for the arts.
In high school he would spend his free time taking photographs or
working in the graphic arts department, running printing presses,
working in the darkroom, or helping students with silkscreening
or blockprinting projects. He also sang in the chorus, sang with
a small group of chamber singers and played tuba in the band. He
also set up lights in the auditorium for theatrical productions.
It was clear that he had an affinity for the technical aspects
of art... it also explains that he never knew how to relax and
do nothing in his free time.
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After high school, Tony studied Mechanical Engineering
while working for a startup medical laser firm. This was followed by
fifteen years at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory as a Mechanical
Design Engineer. In 2000, he joined a startup pharmaceutical firm
to develop a new, light-activated treatment for cancer and has
just returned to a research and development position at MIT.
During this time, Tony practiced photography by photographing
weddings on the weekends. He also became an instrument rated pilot,
attended graduate school and built two additions on his home. |
Several years ago, Tony met Dave Zaltzberg of MetroWest Stained
Glass in Framingham, Massachusetts. After taking several stained
glass classes with Dave, he was introduced to sandblasting in a
basic fusing class. After taking basic and advanced sandblasting
with Dave, Tony puchased the equipment and started experimenting
on his own. Having become proficient in sandblasting, Tony progressed quickly into fusing
and became involved with the
Warmglass.com Internet Bulletin board. Through Warmglass.com
he has connected with many wonderful and talented kilnformed glass
artists... among them, Avery
Anderson and Patty
Gray who have influenced his work significantly. |
Most recently, Tony has taught basic and
advanced classes in sandblasting, photoresist sandblasting and fused
glass bracelet making. He also co-taught a 4 day advanced fusing
tools and techniques class with Patty Gray in Arizona. His presentations from
WarmGlass Weekend 2003 in Washington DC can be found under
Sandblasting Information
on this website |
And this
is where the story begins...
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