Trevor 'Strawberry' Hay is a Florida born, contemporary american artist. Working in glass as a Borosilicate Lampworker since 2013.
Born and raised on the south side of, Apopka, FL as a first generation American, on his British father's side, Trevor was raised with a unique perspective.
As an eagle scout, Trevor spent years in scouting exploring the outdoors and learning about leadership and teamwork, charity and cheerful service.
Working as a counselor at a sumer camp for 8 years, teaching has been a long standing passion.
Participating in Powwows with friends met through scouting, Trevor fell in love with the culture and practices of native American peoples on display and being celebrated.
Through this passion a greater appreciation of art, and understanding arose.
A vibrant and outstanding culture with tens of thousands of participants Nation wide, still completely out of view to so many. Renowned, successful artists, who were house hold names in certain communities, yet completely missed by the art appreciating world.
Over time the mind for finer details and craftsmanship found appreciation in many things including glass. An avid collector, 'Berry found a familiar community in the hand blown glass community and culture surounding it.
Starting at a retail head shop where the nickname Strawberry would be mintied. a sales position allowed for an outlet to talk about glass and convince customers of the merits of local work. Through time and teaching, Berry developed an intimate understanding of the wholesale to retail process, while having the oppertunity to meet many of the local artists in the Orlando community.
Poshy glass a local vendor and friend of the shop, invited Berry to watch the process of glassblowing, and as a birthday present even try it out.
After completing a pendant with help from Poshy, it was clear this was something he was interested in. After a few classes Poshy offered 'Berry an apprenticeship, to which he happily accepted.
For the next 6 months 'Berry worked his way through the 90's traditional pipe maker progression, like Poshy did years before. Leraning the fundementals of lampworking as well as pipemaking, 'Berry worked through a variety of shaping and patternwork, specializing in fumework.
After studying with Poshy 'Berry moved into a group studio, with RobGeorge (legal spelling believe it or not) to begin the journey of solo work.
Later a new studio opened in Orlando known as "the Squirrels Nest" which 'Berry would be invited to, move into, accepting, This marked the beggining of his tutelage with the late great, Eric "BoneLord" Swartz,
a friend and mentor Eric would become the biggest impact on 'Berry's career.
Bonelord would go on to teach based on his own experience and pass the insight of his teacher Daniel Ottone, with the wealth of information he had gathered from his years in the industry as well.
After the squirrles nest disipation, 'Berry would work in a home studio briefly, before building a new studio with a partner, Old Kinderhook.
a 1,200 sq ft ac studio in Winter Park, Fl where he would begin teaching lessons to the tune of just under 400 in the first year. After spending the year managing the studio and planning monthly events, 'Berry seperated with the OK, and moved into RobGeorge's new studio.
months later 'Berry met and began working for Diesel Glass, and learning under the man the legend Andy Booth.
a production lathe shop, this was the first exposure and work with lathes. It was an oppertunity to learn another aspect of the buisness and provided a wealth of knowledge and experience. 2 years working uder Andy, helped dial 'Berry in and create buisness opppertunities. at this time the Orlando GLass Union had been formed between RobGeorge and Diesel combining their shops into one big colletive.
Eventually Diessl would hand the reigns over to FLorida Boro owner, Cam', who employed 'Berry for a time as the shop manager, while he blew the top off the space. quickly adding benches and teaching spaces, the studio now known as the Orlando Glass Union, would become a hub fro glass in Fl and soon after the southeast, eventually having a comnbination studio, gallery, and supply store! Bringing in top name teachers, for classes 'berry was presented with the oppertunity to study with many of the industries biggest names, without having to travle, saving money through OGU and trades and anything that could be leveradged, ' Berry did whatever he could to learn as much as he could!
Trade shows and events all over the country became a focus as Strawbery sought to expand and grow, stepping onto the national scene to join his mentors BoneLord, and Taffy.
For the next 6 months 'Berry worked his way through the 90's traditional pipe maker progression, like Poshy did years before. Leraning the fundementals of lampworking as well as pipemaking, 'Berry worked through a variety of shaping and patternwork, specializing in fumework.
After studying with Poshy 'Berry moved into a group studio, with RobGeorge (legal spelling believe it or not) to begin the journey of solo work.
Later a new studio opened in Orlando known as "the Squirrels Nest" which 'Berry would be invited to, move into, accepting, This marked the beggining of his tutelage with the late great, Eric "BoneLord" Swartz,
a friend and mentor Eric would become the biggest impact on 'Berry's career.
Bonelord would go on to teach based on his own experience and pass the insight of his teacher Daniel Ottone, with the wealth of information he had gathered from his years in the industry as well.
After the squirrles nest disipation, 'Berry would work in a home studio briefly, before building a new studio with a partner, Old Kinderhook.
a 1,200 sq ft ac studio in Winter Park, Fl where he would begin teaching lessons to the tune of just under 400 in the first year. After spending the year managing the studio and planning monthly events, 'Berry seperated with the OK, and moved into RobGeorge's new studio.
months later 'Berry met and began working for Diesel Glass, and learning under the man the legend Andy Booth.
a production lathe shop, this was the first exposure and work with lathes. It was an oppertunity to learn another aspect of the buisness and provided a wealth of knowledge and experience. 2 years working uder Andy, helped dial 'Berry in and create buisness opppertunities. at this time the Orlando GLass Union had been formed between RobGeorge and Diesel combining their shops into one big colletive.
Eventually Diessl would hand the reigns over to FLorida Boro owner, Cam', who employed 'Berry for a time as the shop manager, while he blew the top off the space. quickly adding benches and teaching spaces, the studio now known as the Orlando Glass Union, would become a hub fro glass in Fl and soon after the southeast, eventually having a comnbination studio, gallery, and supply store! Bringing in top name teachers, for classes 'berry was presented with the oppertunity to study with many of the industries biggest names, without having to travle, saving money through OGU and trades and anything that could be leveradged, ' Berry did whatever he could to learn as much as he could!
Trade shows and events all over the country became a focus as Strawbery sought to expand and grow, stepping onto the national scene to join his mentors BoneLord, and Taffy.