Four Inane Questions with local glassmaker Kari Heybrock
Photo Courtesy of Kari Heybrock
With the 2024 Plaza Art Fair only hours away, glassmaker Kari Heybrock is gearing up for a lucrative—and hectic—few days. She’s one of around 25 metro artists showing off their wares at the prestigious annual event. (You’ll spy her in booth #106.)
To hear her tell the tale, it seems her career field was predestined. “I believe that glass found me,” she says. “I signed up for the only art class available to me in college—furnace glassblowing. Then, I found myself on the island of Saba, home to one of the best glass beadmakers in this hemisphere. So yes, glass found me.”
Heybrock has been a staple at the Plaza Art Fair for the last few years and says the artistry of manipulating molten ideas into solid art keeps her coming back day after day. “I have focused on beads and jewelry design for the last 24 years, making conversation-starting wearable art for all ages and all occasions,” she adds.
The mom of four “creative and messy children” says her life is frenetic and zany—But she wouldn’t want it any other way. “Our life is controlled chaos on a good day, just like making glass beads,” she says.
We caught up with Heybrock as she ramps up the last bit of inventory before this weekend’s art extravaganza to ping her with our ridiculous questionnaire. Mercifully, we managed to break nothing whilst in her studio. We deserve a medal. Bless.
The Pitch: In theory, what’s the max you would absolutely pay for a concert ticket—and who are you seeing?
Photo Courtesy of Kari Heybrock
Kari Heybrock: In the past, I’d say $100 was my absolute limit, but that’s like saying I want gas to be less than $1.25 a gallon. Yes, I remember the days when concerts were affordable. Now, anything under $300 makes me think I have scored the deal of the century.
But my ceiling? It would be $600. (That used to be my rent back in the day!) I have never seen Dolly Parton in person, and I think that is a crime. So, to celebrate all she has accomplished and to see an American icon, she’d be top on my list.
What one specific piece of jewelry do you covet the most in life?
Big one-carat diamond studs for my second hole. Now, I make my own earrings, but when you combine artsy glass earrings with diamonds, the look is fun meets classy.
Diamonds alone are great, safe, and timeless. Add them to glass earrings, and you have a conversation.
If you were an air freshener, what scent would you be?
My father-in-law has always kept a bar of Irish Spring soap in his car as an air freshener, and he always has a spring in his step. ZUM makes a coffee almond bar of soap, so that’s what I use. In fact, I would totally encourage them to start making air fresheners, as many people ask why there is a bar of soap in my car.
Which album is perfect from start to finish? No skipping songs!
Flutterby by Butterfly Boucher. We saw her in London and bought the CD directly from her at the merch table.
Photo Courtesy of Kari Heybrock
When I’m playing this at full volume, my family knows not to bother me as I am creating in a prefect manic state, ideas are flowing, and I’m finally getting to quality work that is buried in the deepest part of my brain.
Bonus 5th Question: Are you a popcorn purist? Or do you like toppings?
Toppings make everything better! Cheese, caramel, dark chocolate! Even a good popcorn ball is amazing. A favorite fall treat is a mix of popcorn, a few candy corn, peanuts, and M&M’s all mixed together. Pack that for your next fall pumpkin patch outing and everyone will love you.
