Skagit Valley-based artist Dan Friday currently holds an exhibition displaying his glass works on the second floor of the Erb Memorial Union.
Friday’s exhibition at the University of Oregon was sparked by his connection with Samuel Decker, the glass and fabrication coordinator at the University Craft Center. According to Decker, he and Friday have known each other since the late 90s, when they began working together in Seattle.
“I’ve been friends with him for 30 years … then when I moved away, down here to Eugene, we stayed in contact and would watch each other’s progress… and when I finally got a position where I was able to invite a visiting artist, he was one of the first ones I chose,” Decker said.
Friday’s love for art started long before working with Decker. Friday said his passion came from growing up in an artistic family.
“I was raised as an artist in an artistic family, went to alternative schooling and grew up without a TV, and that really forced us to sort of be creative people,” Friday said.
It wasn’t until the age of 20 that Friday found his passion for glass blowing while working as a mechanic.
“I was in my tow truck and stopped by a glass studio and saw glass blowing up close for the first time… when I saw it a light bulb went off in my head and I just realized it was a way to work with my hands and be creative, counter to working on cars where you’re just working on people’s problems on the worst day of their week,” Friday said.
Over the years, Friday’s work has been displayed in various places, such as Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium and even on the Netflix show “Blown Away.” While glass is the primary medium Friday works with, he has also been known to work with other forms, such as bronze.
“I’ve been working in new mediums and trying new things (and) trying new subject matter, and sometimes you really have to let go and let inspiration sort of find you,” Friday said. “It’s one of those things that you don’t always choose when it’s gonna happen, but I just think keeping your eyes peeled for winds that might come along like a thread that you need to pull on a little more.”
A lot of Friday’s work has been inspired by his Lummi background, the third-largest Indigenous tribe in the state of Washington and a part of the Coast Salish nations. Friday’s connection to the Lummi tribe can be seen in the various totems displayed throughout his exhibit.
“Telling that narrative of Coast Salish people through the artifacts and history and stories, that brings me a lot of pleasure, like an introspective journey,” Friday said.
Friday’s exhibition will be displayed through the end of March.
“I just want him to be able to explain how and where he came from and his upbringing, and I want students and people of hard places to know that the sky is the limit,” Decker said.
