The Making of a Star
Jake Pfeifer first appeared on my radar in 2016 when he was named a “Rising Star” by American Craft Week. He was one of 30 artists under the age of 30 whose talent earmarked him as a future star in the handcrafted galaxy.
Jake is a glassblower, a businessman, and the owner of Hot Glass Alley, a large and energetic studio, in Charlotte, North Carolina.
His story does not have an auspicious start. At the age of 5, he was diagnosed with a rare cancer and an inoperable tumor behind his left eye penetrating into his brain. He was given a 5% chance of living three years. Jake’s treatment was aggressive. It included a lifetime dose of radiation, three types of chemotherapy, and months in the hospital. It wasn’t until he turned 10 that the doctors declared him cured.
On a family vacation in Bermuda, Jake sat enthralled watching glassblowers at an outdoor, waterfront, hot shop at the Royal Navy Dock Yard. He began to seriously study glassblowing in high school and in 2010, he graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in the glass program. He began his studio career at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Four years ago, Jake began a search for the perfect location for his own permanent glass shop. He examined nine cities along the East Coast. The winner turned out to be Charlotte, where he has built an impressive studio with four furnaces, a demonstration space, workrooms, and a spacious exhibit and sales space. Jake also made a commitment to be a vital part of the Charlotte community.
He employs a team of 10 men and women who ensure that Hot Glass Alley is a booming place. They create a colorful rainbow of both decorative and functional glass, from small ornaments to lighting and large glass installations. You can see it all at hotglassalley.com.
Jake also invites adults and children 9 and older to “Make Your Own” glass on weekends, and those sessions are sold out months in advance. There are “Date Nights” on Friday and Saturday evenings with an even longer wait list. Once a month he does a free, family friendly “Open Demo” with either himself or a visiting artist making a remarkable piece of glass. Folks wanting a truly special event can even schedule their own private parties at Hot Glass Alley.
Jake is currently making plans to double the size of his already impressive Hot Glass Alley. He is looking to add two more glassblowers to his team for all the commissions and wholesale orders waiting to be made. His most successful wholesale show is American Handcrafted in Philadelphia. Jake also loves meeting art glass lovers at retail events. In particular, he enjoys the annual St. James Court Show in Kentucky, the American Craft Council shows, and local fairs in North Carolina.
Most of all he loves making glass, demonstrating how it’s done, and showing his work to eager customers. He loves manipulating molten glass in his shop, and he loves working with fire. Much of this pleasure comes from his unique perspective of being a very sick child. Jake feels he is very much like the glass that comes out of the fire — born as a new piece. His parents planned funeral services for him two times. And now, having come through his own fire, he is a strong creative force. His energy, vision, and stunning glass combine to make him a sparkling star in the art world.
About the Author
Diane Sulg
Diane Sulg is executive director of CRAFT and founder and co-chair of American Craft Week (ACW). She is a handmade advocate who provides valuable information in her one-day seminars titled “All About Wholesale” at wholesale shows throughout the United States. Diane is the former owner of Maddi’s Gallery, in Charlotte and Huntersville, North Carolina.