05/22/2026
The cobalt blue bottle had a hang tag that said, “signed.” Despite being unable to see the faint signature, I was instantly drawn to the stunning beauty and originality of the piece and had to take it home.
A quick image search revealed it was quite the local artisan find! PNW glass artist Roger Vines is known for incorporating Mount St. Helens volcanic ash into his artwork. Turning destruction into a luminous legacy.
Vines discovered that the ash could be used as a flux in his glass mixtures, creating a distinctive texture and luminous quality.
Although I can’t confirm if my particular piece is made from the volcano’s eruption, it’s very possible the iridescent “oil spot” finish you see is derived from the smoke, minerals, and ash. His signature technique layered glass shards that were melted into the surface and worked by hand to create an iridescent, almost otherworldly shimmer.
It’s the perfect little treasure for my studio, and a fitting commemorative piece as Washington remembers one of the most impactful natural disasters that happened in the PNW 46 years ago this week.
