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Spiral Arts
Relentlessly pursuing excellence in the design and creation of glassblowing tools and equipment since 1994.
An Introduction to the Spiral Arts Team
Fred Metz
Founder / Design and Engineering
Innovation in the glass world is synonymous with Fred Metz. Although 'retired' from full-time Spiral operations, he is still active in the glass blowing community and continues to improve our products and create ways to give the glass world what it wants and needs. Fred is the genius behind Spiral Arts and numerous patents of glassblowing equipment.
Joe Miller
Operations Manager
Great unions require synergy. Joe Miller and Fred Metz are the synergistic energy behind the manufacturing that propels Spiral Arts to its continued growth and success. Many of the original designs are Joe's creations and he was building Spiral Arts equipment before we were Spiral Arts. You can find Joe's original ideas under the name M Space.
KT Hancock
Machinist / Pipe, Punty, & Hand Tool Maker
One would be hard-pressed to find someone who has greater knowledge about pipes and punties than KT. She has been at her craft for over a decade and is now passing her knowledge to the next generation of P&P makers, along with building her own artistic empire. KT is an established artist in Seattle and has had countless commissions from local organizations - large or small, from glass to steel to wood; KT can create whatever is thrown her way or she dreams of next.
Alex Morrison
Refractory Specialist & Shop Manager
Look inside any Spiral Arts product and you will see Alex's incredible work. He has a gift for detail and organization, knowing how different materials interact with and benefit each other, and understanding how to blend the manufacturing and invention processes. There is no better glassblowing refractory professional in the land, nor possibly a more patient teacher; as shop manager, Alex is a pro at managing not only the daily operations and people involved but ensuring that everyone truly understands the 'why' and the 'how' to what we do. Alex spends his free time honing his craft, appreciating all things artistically inclined (both visually and by creating), and leading brave adventurers in the world of Pathfinder.
Aaron Green
Machinist
We all think we can multitask, but very few can. Aaron Green, a machinist with 15+ years' experience, moves effortlessly and efficiently between machines, often running multiple programs at a time. As a machinist, he ranks near the top in the entire Puget Sound area; however, as a purist hip hop artist, he is an incredible beat maker and passionate writer who transcribes the human experience of living in 'the grind' into music that has the ability to connect everyone around him.
Melissa Jean Golberg
Assembly
MJ Golberg brings a variety of skills to the Spiral Arts team, and she has evolved to become the lead in Assembly. Her eye for detail and her wide history of experience, from glassblowing, woodworking, refractory, and more, enables her to understand the interconnectedness of each of our departments and how they need to interact in order to create a beautiful, finished product. MJ is a University of Washington graduate, has attended Pilchuck Glass School and assisted/taught at Pratt, and is an incredibly talented local artist with a passion for the human behind and within every piece of art.
Jim Joblin
Fabrication
Spiral Arts is lucky to have Jim Joblin as our lead fabricator. He brings countless metal and heat working skills and an incredible knack for invention and creative ideas & solutions, no matter the piece of equipment or question at hand. Originally from Nashville, Jim's talents and passions reflect the incredible blacksmithing culture found there; when not at Spiral, he loves to work in his own shop, forging, fabricating, or teaching any of the above.
Aaron Eigenhuis
Project Liaison / Office Manager
Aaron brings a diverse set of skills to our team all the way from Georgia. A fabricator himself, he started his time at Spiral in assembly/fab and learning the ins & outs of glassblowing equipment. His talents are now used in supporting and managing the communications between Spiral and our customers, internal team, and outside vendors; and in ensuring that each team member of the Spiral Arts team has what they need to create the tools and equipment that so many artists utilize to perfect their craft. You can find him hanging out with his cats, running a local 5K with KT, or hanging out on the water.
Kyle Suits Owner/Customer Service
Valuing and appreciating art brought Kyle to Spiral Arts as a second career. His priority is building the best and most nimble team possible in order to continue to push the upper boundaries of quality of glassblowing equipment.