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A Ghanaian man who once made jewelry from glass beads is now using old glass to make new art.
He hopes to reduce glass waste and help the environment in his country.
If glass artist Michael Tetteh can earn some money doing it, he will be happy, too.
Tetteh learned the art of glass blowing during a visit to Europe in 2012. He went to see people who knew about glass blowing in the Netherlands and France and learned to make many-colored, artistic flower holders or water carriers.
Many years later, Tetteh has his own workplace where he melts broken glass from waste centers in Accra and turns it into art.
He looks for broken glass from old televisions or bottles and melts it down in a large round container known as a kiln. The kiln gets very hot, nearly 1,500 degrees Celsius, and turns the old glass into hot liquid.
A Ghanaian man who once made jewelry from glass beads is now using old glass to make new art.
He hopes to reduce glass waste and help the environment in his country.
If glass artist Michael Tetteh can earn some money doing it, he will be happy, too.
Tetteh learned the art of glass blowing during a visit to Europe in 2012. He went to see people who knew about glass blowing in the Netherlands and France and learned to make many-colored, artistic flower holders or water carriers.
Many years later, Tetteh has his own workplace where he melts broken glass from waste centers in Accra and turns it into art.
He looks for broken glass from old televisions or bottles and melts it down in a large round container known as a kiln. The kiln gets very hot, nearly 1,500 degrees Celsius, and turns the old glass into hot liquid.
Tetteh works in the area called Odumase-Krobo and trains other glass blowers in his shop. He learned how to make his equipment by watching videos on a computer. He said he is trying to follow the designs of well-known American glass artist Dale Chihuly.
“My heart wants to train young Ghanaians, both men and women, so they can learn this job,” he said. “We will not have to go to other countries like China to buy what we want for Ghana.”
Over the years, he has gotten better at the work. Now Tetteh’s pieces are sold in shops in Ghana and Ivory Coast. Some of his work is also sold in art stores in Europe and the U.S.
Words in This Story
bead – n. a small usually round, piece of glass, wood, stone or other material with a hole through the center that can be used to make jewelry
pole – n. a long piece of wood or metal that can be used to lengthen reach or hold something such as a sign if it is placed in the ground
item – n. a single thing in a list, account, or series
pottery – n. the manufacture of clay objects
passion – n. a feeling of excitement about doing something
journey – n. an act of travel; trip
*This article has been edited and reprinted from VOA Learning English with permission from Voice of America (VOA) for use in English language materials.
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