By Ali Ikram
The molten glass in Peter Viesnik’s crucible is as hot as volcanic lava.
It has to be, so the Auckland glassblower can shape layer after layer into objects of beauty.
“It’s a wonderful medium to work with because you can do so many things with it,” he says.
But it is a special ingredient that makes his work a little different; a tablespoon of human ash recently arrived from a funeral director, to make this one of Viesnik’s remembrance spheres.
He has made around 40 since crafting his first late last year.
Viesnik crafted one for Danielle Watson, whose father died just two weeks after being diagnosed with leukaemia.
“It’s really good for the healing process,” she says.
“Because he’s front and centre in our home, I get to look at him all the time and we have our conversations.”
“I ask them about the person and what colours they like, it’s important to know that,” Viesnik says.
He began working with ash when a friend of a friend had an internal organ removed and burnt it, but still wanted to keep it close in the form of a pair of earrings.
So began a series of interesting experiments.
“When I started working out the design I didn’t have any human ash, so I incinerated some lamb chops,” Viesnik says.
Now that the process is perfected, Viesnik only needs a small amount of ask to make a lasting memorial that can be used as an ornament, or a paperweight.
“People’s ashes have got bone, it’s not all fine particles, so I have to sieve it out,” he says.
While each sphere will set you back $290, they do solve the problem of being able to take the ashes with you when you move towns or countries.
They’re also far more discreet than the traditional urn.
3 News