We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrew Clark and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrew, how do you think about risk?
When I begin to feel comfortable, like things in my life are easy or familiar I know it’s time to challenge myself and take a risk. Not taking a risk is a more risky decision than the risks we decide to take. For me, it feels stagnant to stay comfortable and stay familiar. When I started my business I knew I would be the one who had to create financial security for myself. Not having a bi-weekly steady paycheck was daunting to me and it still is. However, accepting the struggle of working for myself is more realistic than accepting the reality of working for somebody else who does not value my thoughts or time. Taking risks has fueled my life and my career. It’s like a game where I dream of something, then make a bet with myself that I can achieve what I dream. When I get there, it begins to feel familiar and I take the next risk and so on. I see risk as a form of stimulation and I desperately need stimulation.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Growing up in Philadelphia, being surrounded by Victorian architecture by people like Frank Furness and amazing ironwork by Samuel Yellin, I started realizing that when you start making things with your hands you start to notice more and more around you. You notice small concrete details on buildings, details on iron fencing or gates or light posts. I started looking up at roofs and windows, church steeples, buttresses, stained glass windows, instead of just in front of me. Hours and years of meticulous craftsmanship and design is everywhere. A time when artists, architects and engineers used to work closely together. You can feel the passion, the planning, the collaboration and the love by just looking at these buildings and structures. I find that detail becomes a conversation between the artist and the people who notice it.

In college I studied Craft & Material Studies with a concentration in Glass. I learned glass blowing and glass casting using the lost wax technique. I took a welding class one semester because I wanted to make steel bases for my glass work. The material made sense to me and I wanted to practice more so I became a monitor for the metal shop, which meant I would supervise students and help anyone who needed it. This also meant I closed up the shop at night. I became friendly with the overnight security guards so they would let me stay in the shop after closing time. I would lock the door and work all night, trying things out, messing around and learning the tools. To answer the question of how I got to where I am today professionally, I’d say a lot of wanting something, putting every single bit of energy I have toward it and figuring out how to get access to what I need at all costs. Also, I found that surrounding myself with people who I look up to or people in my craft who intimidate me by the amount of knowledge or skills they have, gives me a sense of perspective and keeps me pushing to always be better and always learn things out of my comfort zone.

After graduating, I worked in a production glass studio where we made lighting fixtures and elements for furniture. The first month at that job I learned more about glass blowing and technique than I did in the 4 years I studied at a University. Although, college introduced me to a lot of mediums, I learned that the best way to learn a craft is not always in an Academic setting. After getting laid off from my glass job because of the pandemic, I realized I needed to work for myself. I asked the company for a raise but they declined and said they didn’t have the money after they had just bought a huge warehouse and expanded the entire operation. I won’t go into detail about that job and the other reasons it pushed me to start my own business but it got me to where I am today.

In the future I would like to have the opportunity to grow as a business and pay people a good wage. Especially in this field of work, whether it be glass blowing or metal working or construction I’d like to be able to create an environment that’s inclusive, non-toxic and an enjoyable place to be. I’ve been teaching public glass blowing classes for the past 10 years and I love teaching. I would love to create a space where I could also teach welding and glass casting to people who are interested and also make the classes free for people who can’t afford it.

I’m very excited to soon have a working kiln so I can begin to make decorative cast glass and incorporate it into my metalwork. My goal is to bring back the love, thought and appreciation for craft and architecture in our everyday. Especially in Philadelphia, a city that’s running rampant with cheap, new condos and houses that hurt to look at next to beautiful Victorians and 100 year old churches.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout to Karisa Gregorio, Josh Cole and Wes Valdez!

Website: ccgmworks.com

Instagram: @ccgmworks

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