Kale Haschak

Kale was born and raised in the mountains of northern California, an environment that can’t help but bestow awe and respect for the natural world. From the turbulent power of the sea to the tranquility of the redwood groves, Kale bent to the awesome influence of his home. From his mother, a green-thumbed naturalist, he gained a respect for life in all forms. From his father, a true dedicate to the art of falconry, Kale found his love for the underlying structure of the world.

At age 17 Kale found another passion in the vast possibilities of glass as an art form. Leaving his home to take the pilgrimage of the aspiring American glassblower, Kale arrived in Seattle, Washington. For seven years Kale worked for everyone and anyone from whom he could learn. Finding close friendship in a small group of like-minded glass artists, Kale’s skills moved forward quickly assisted and inspired by the great work of his fellows. Working with such great artists as Martin Blank, Dale Chihuly, Aaron Thane Tate, Mikey Cozza, Dante Marioni, and David Bennet, gave Kale an in-depth yet varied experience. After acquiring a degree of skill and confidence Kale was able to secure himself as a leader of a production team of glassblowers as well as a senior member of the Martin Blank glass sculpting team. Blank, renowned for his world-class glass sculpture, employed Kale as his dedicated metal fabrication artist where he created large scale, sculptural metal armatures to hold and mount his glassworks. With this addition of blacksmithing-fabrication techniques, Kale gained a new appreciation for the flow of molten glass. Kale’s art began to incorporate preformed geometric shapes into his organic work and the result was a vast explosion of new patterns and textures that redefined and defied his conventional glass thought. He now works to combine the lure and complexity of traditional glass pattern with the raw power and chaos of the natural world.

In 2012 kale returned to Willits bringing with him a vast knowledge of the glass craft, also bringing the desire to share his passion with his home community. Kale creates his art locally and has displayed in numerous local venues, recently contributing to the amazing art at the new Howard Memorial Hospital.