History
Douglas and Renee met in 1993 and began blowing glass together shortly
thereafter in Minneapolis at a community college. In 1995, the couple
transferred to the University of Wisconsin at River Falls, where they
completed their training in glass. In 1996, the couple married and discovered
their unique heritage while travelling to Venice for their honeymoon.
During a very short layover in Chicago, a ticket agent recognized the
couple's last name and began to tell them about a Sigwarth Glass Factory
in Hergiswil, Switzerland, where three members of her family worked. This
came as a huge surprise to the couple who later discovered that glassblowing
had been a Sigwarth tradition as far back as being named for their trade,
"maker of light." When Douglas' great-great-grandfather Ludwig
brought his family to the United States in 1850 from Germany, glassblowing
left this line of Sigwarth's but only for a short time. Douglas and Renee
revived a tradition of beauty with vitality and passion. In 2001, the
Sigwarth's opened their own glass studio in rural River Falls, Wisconsin;
in the St. Croix Valley. The Chicago Tribune labelled the Sigwarth's
as "The New Wave; Tomorrow's 'it' Artisans." (Nov. 30, 2003).
The Sigwarth's work combine elegant forms with vivid, rich color. The
beauty of their glass is timeless and will add life to any decor.
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Artist's Statement
"Our art is born from our partnership. Together we are the creators of all that surrounds us. Early on in our relationship we identified our inspiration which has lead us on our spiritual journey. Glass is one outlet that represents who we are; it is the perfect medium for our expression. We start with the fiery, molten mass of ideas that quickly begin to take form. It is through careful skill and breath that allow our creation to grow. We pass the piece off to the other and give over trust; as partners we depend on each other. We allow our intuition to guide this fluid medium to it's final state. From here, new ideas arise and new directions emerge."
Douglas and Renee Sigwarth
