Seattle glass blower on leaving South Lake Union

A downtown Seattle glass blower who recently had to close his shop told KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson that small businesses are getting pushed out of the rapidly-changing South Lake Union.

“We’re getting pushed out with the intensity of downtown and all the construction,” said Martin Blank, owner of Martin Blank Studios. He called his shop “the last little hideout.”

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Martin Blank has worked in the art industry since 1984, and his creations have been shown at exhibitions across the United States, and as far away as China, Sweden, and Australia.

Dori remembered years ago spending an evening at the hot shop with several of his friends taking a glass blowing class. He called the experience “one of the most fun events of [his] life.”

“That just makes me feel great, after all these years, that you still remember that,” Blank said, adding, “I’m glad I got to share that with you.”

The glass artist said that he had some warning. He’s known for a while that he would have to move out of South Lake Union in the near future.

“We knew this was coming — you know, you could see it, you could smell it,” he said. “You’d have to be a fool to not see it happening around you.”

Driving through the “Mercer mess” was far too stressful, according to Blank.

“What used to be five minutes just to get out of town was 20 … It’s a big relief to just get out of that area,” he said.

He pointed out that there are still locally “lots of great places to blow glass,” referencing the Pratt Fine Arts Center in the Central District and the Schack Art Center in Everett.

Blank had originally intended to open a new hot shop in a different location, but his wife asked him if he realistically wanted to go through the hardships of a small business again.

“I sat down and I really thought about it, and I said, ‘You know, it’s the perfect time to make a big change here,'” he said. “After 20 years and having freedom to make whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted … that came at a very heavy cost. As soon as the economy tanked, the rentals tanked, I still had huge bills every month to pay to keep this shop open. So I’m looking forward to that freedom.”

Glass blowing will still play a huge part in Blank’s life; he still plans to create art at his studio in Fremont, hold events, and participate in art shows. He looks forward to a future that is a little freer of worries, but still full of art.

“That’s not changing — it’s just where am I making it and how much am I spending to make it, being creative,” he said. “So it’s pretty exciting actually.”

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