My work combines lampworked glass and individually-machined metal parts into clockwork mechanisms depicting the movement of stars, planets, and other celestial objects, traditionally called an orrery. These orreries intertwine art, mechanics and science fiction; mixing the fluidity of glass with the precision of engineered metal.
I began my artistic journey with the goal of becoming a glassblower. Marbles always held a special place in my heart, and while a glassblower's training tends to lead to bigger and bigger objects, I was always drawn back to the endless possibilities that could be contained in a small space.
A curiosity-driven detour along the way led me down the fascinating history of orreries, tellurions, and other miniature planetariums. Before I knew it I was on a path to build an orrery of my own. After mulitple prototypes and false starts, I had the beginnings of a working orrery. As I progressed, ideas formed: Why be limited by our own solar system? Why not have an orrery with two suns, or more? My intention is that each new system brings with its own past, present, and future.
If you would like an exoplanetartium orrery of your own, please feel free to DM me through my Instagram page, @hudakglass.
-Joshua Hudak