Doação protegida
My dear friend Louanne DiBella conceived and set this campaign in motion. I am forever grateful for her caring and kind support during this difficult time.
About me:
I’m Owen Pach. I’ve been a studio artist my entire adult life. I’m a glassblower, blacksmith, sculptor. About two years ago I began a spiritual journey toward celebrating life in good health, with a strong heart and an abundance of blessings, and as a result my life is amazing on numerous levels. 4 months ago I was diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, staged at 4 because of it’s aggressive nature and the spread throughout my entire lymph system. I see this as a bump in the road, regardless of what I’m told, and my spiritual journey has only gotten stronger.
About the treatment:
I am blessed so far in this process; Until 3 weeks ago, side effects were minimal. At that point, however, chronic fatigue set in. Still I continue to be as active as possible, and have only spent a handful of days in bed since beginning treatment. To date I have been through 11 chemo treatments. At the beginning my cancer marker, normally 5 for most cancer patients, was 267. After 5 treatments it went down to 163, after 8 to 65.5. Initially, after being marked and charted for
radiation, my Radiation Oncologist decided not to pursue radiation lest my lungs be damaged. However, since the cancer in my neck and some behind the esophagus is gone I am now going through an aggressive radiation program to reduce the tumor and kill all cancer in my body. I started on 22 April, after having a feeding tube surgically implanted in my stomach on 21 April, and am scheduled for 28 radiation treatments, 5 days a week, my last treatment on 1 June. I continue to go to Chemo, concomitant with the radiation, each Wednesday but am only getting Carboplatin.
The next two months will be difficult, of course, but my Doctors, all, have assured me at least 5 years. But, in my heart, I’m going for 15. I still have much to contribute to my profession and helping others through this process.
About the funds:
I’ve done a lot of research on radiation treatment, it’s effects and recovery times. Of course, everyone is different. Again, I began this process with exceptional health and a very positive attitude. These are the foundation blocks to build strength and success through this process.
Until a couple weeks ago I have been able to pay all bills on time, both personal and medical, on time. And continue to do so. But, at this rate, Im only have a couple weeks funds left. Additionally, I’ve been told to expect not to work for at least 4 weeks at the end of radiation. My co pays on radiation are $1,525.00, Chemo $450.00-$500.00, medications $1,500.00, Then rent, food, etc. These figures are projected over a 3 month period. I’m hoping at which point I can begin some measure of relative health, and strength, and get back to work. In short, this campaign is set up to cover all my expenses over the next 3 months with a total of $8,000.00.
About my career:
I have been a glassblower for 32 years. My work is distinctive and widely collected. Additionally, as a member of the gig economy, I design and build custom glass equipment, and studios, and am presently in the design phase, and getting ready to build, the glassblowing and casting facility at TD Glass, the support facility to the recently opened Imagine Museum.
The Imagine Museum is dedicated to the history of the American Glass movement and the progression of studio glass around the world. The Imagine Museum is among the finest Glass museum’s I have ever seen, and I’ve been to a great many. The Imagine Museum is not only a major gift to St. Pete, the current hot glass capitol in Florida, but to the southeast, the country and the world.
TD Glass will be the host studio for The Glass Art Society’s annual conference in St. Pete in 2019. I have also been asked to be a demonstration artist, a huge honor, during the conference in the studio. Another major blessing in my career. Below, is a brief bio showing the arch of same.
About my future:
I’m am very much looking forward to getting through this malady and resuming a highly productive life.
I am presently totally dedicated to TD Glass, who have been exceptionally understanding and kind through this process, and finishing my design/build of an amazing studio. And after the studio is up and running the time necessary to get it tuned up to be one of the most effective, professional and comfortable studios anywhere. The perfect support studio for The Imagine Museum.
Over the next two years I will, however, begin assimilating back into my personal studio.
I hope to always maintain a comfortable working relationship with TD Glass. But I find it necessary to get back into my studio, where I will be set up to blow glass, fuse and cast glass, forge, fabricate and, in general, begin a series of masterworks based on the extreme natural progression of disparate items. An extension of my ever evolving “ Ceremonial Relic” series, inspired from a teaching assistantship with Herb Babcock at Penland School. And the progression of murrinni work, inspired from my 2 year apprenticeship with murrinni master Richard Ritter. And whatever else the universe sends my way.
In Thanks:
Thanks to all who have taken the time to review this missive. I find it difficult to write about myself, and would like to thank Terry DiBellaThoelke for an amazing edit.
I deeply appreciate all who have read this narrative about a glass artist going through cancer.
To all who would consider supporting this campaign, I will truly forever be grateful. I find it very difficult putting into words the deepest feelings of the heart.
To everyone who chooses to support, I will send a hand written thanks. While others have already come forward to donate their work as incentives.
In closing, I would like to a Wordsworth soliloquy, written upon the grounds of Fountains Abby in southern Wales, which I immediately dedicated to memory. It is the closest I have ever read that expresses verbally the feelings of the heart:
And I have felt a presence that disturbs me with the joy elevated thoughts, Of something far more deeply interfused: a sense of sublime.
Whose dwelling is in the light setting suns,
And the blue sky,
And the round ocean,
And the living air,
And the mind of man.
Bio:
My work drives my life. As well as the never ending need to learn more. I dedicated my life to glass with my first gather, after spending 5 years in a very successful custom wood working business. One I left within 3 years to pursue my love of glass. During the wood working days I completed large scale commissions for St. Joseph Hospital, Atlanta, Shriners Hospitals in Utah and Kentucky, Abington Memorial in Philadelphia, and Van Vancouver General in Van Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, among others.
My rise through the studio glass movement is resplendent with drive and good luck. At Penland School of Crafts, I had been studio coordinator and taught with Richard Ritter, Paul Stankard, Mark Peiser, John Littleton and Kate Vogal, Herb Babcock, among others. For two years, I was honored to apprentice with Richard Ritter. I also had the extreme honor to teach with Harvey Littleton, the grand father of the American Glass Movement, at Sigma Studio in St. Pete in the early 90's. I worked with Lino Tagliapietra at the 25th GAS conference held at Penland School of Crafts in 1995, and for the 50th anniversary I had a piece in the "Global + local" exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts in St Pete, Florida. During the exhibition I gave to lectures on the history of glass and the American Glass Movement and conducted two walking tours.
Some selected collections: Asheville Museum, DeLand Museum, Lisa Ratner Museum, City of Charleston (2), Virginia Tech (2), City of Orlando, Former Mayor of Philadelphia, John Street, former mayor of Tampa, Pam Iorio, AAmco Oil Company, Smith Barney, Goodwill Industries, among others. My work was also featured in two Extreme Makeover, home editions while at East Falls Glass. A public access studio I co-founded and built.
About me:
I’m Owen Pach. I’ve been a studio artist my entire adult life. I’m a glassblower, blacksmith, sculptor. About two years ago I began a spiritual journey toward celebrating life in good health, with a strong heart and an abundance of blessings, and as a result my life is amazing on numerous levels. 4 months ago I was diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, staged at 4 because of it’s aggressive nature and the spread throughout my entire lymph system. I see this as a bump in the road, regardless of what I’m told, and my spiritual journey has only gotten stronger.
About the treatment:
I am blessed so far in this process; Until 3 weeks ago, side effects were minimal. At that point, however, chronic fatigue set in. Still I continue to be as active as possible, and have only spent a handful of days in bed since beginning treatment. To date I have been through 11 chemo treatments. At the beginning my cancer marker, normally 5 for most cancer patients, was 267. After 5 treatments it went down to 163, after 8 to 65.5. Initially, after being marked and charted for
radiation, my Radiation Oncologist decided not to pursue radiation lest my lungs be damaged. However, since the cancer in my neck and some behind the esophagus is gone I am now going through an aggressive radiation program to reduce the tumor and kill all cancer in my body. I started on 22 April, after having a feeding tube surgically implanted in my stomach on 21 April, and am scheduled for 28 radiation treatments, 5 days a week, my last treatment on 1 June. I continue to go to Chemo, concomitant with the radiation, each Wednesday but am only getting Carboplatin.
The next two months will be difficult, of course, but my Doctors, all, have assured me at least 5 years. But, in my heart, I’m going for 15. I still have much to contribute to my profession and helping others through this process.
About the funds:
I’ve done a lot of research on radiation treatment, it’s effects and recovery times. Of course, everyone is different. Again, I began this process with exceptional health and a very positive attitude. These are the foundation blocks to build strength and success through this process.
Until a couple weeks ago I have been able to pay all bills on time, both personal and medical, on time. And continue to do so. But, at this rate, Im only have a couple weeks funds left. Additionally, I’ve been told to expect not to work for at least 4 weeks at the end of radiation. My co pays on radiation are $1,525.00, Chemo $450.00-$500.00, medications $1,500.00, Then rent, food, etc. These figures are projected over a 3 month period. I’m hoping at which point I can begin some measure of relative health, and strength, and get back to work. In short, this campaign is set up to cover all my expenses over the next 3 months with a total of $8,000.00.
About my career:
I have been a glassblower for 32 years. My work is distinctive and widely collected. Additionally, as a member of the gig economy, I design and build custom glass equipment, and studios, and am presently in the design phase, and getting ready to build, the glassblowing and casting facility at TD Glass, the support facility to the recently opened Imagine Museum.
The Imagine Museum is dedicated to the history of the American Glass movement and the progression of studio glass around the world. The Imagine Museum is among the finest Glass museum’s I have ever seen, and I’ve been to a great many. The Imagine Museum is not only a major gift to St. Pete, the current hot glass capitol in Florida, but to the southeast, the country and the world.
TD Glass will be the host studio for The Glass Art Society’s annual conference in St. Pete in 2019. I have also been asked to be a demonstration artist, a huge honor, during the conference in the studio. Another major blessing in my career. Below, is a brief bio showing the arch of same.
About my future:
I’m am very much looking forward to getting through this malady and resuming a highly productive life.
I am presently totally dedicated to TD Glass, who have been exceptionally understanding and kind through this process, and finishing my design/build of an amazing studio. And after the studio is up and running the time necessary to get it tuned up to be one of the most effective, professional and comfortable studios anywhere. The perfect support studio for The Imagine Museum.
Over the next two years I will, however, begin assimilating back into my personal studio.
I hope to always maintain a comfortable working relationship with TD Glass. But I find it necessary to get back into my studio, where I will be set up to blow glass, fuse and cast glass, forge, fabricate and, in general, begin a series of masterworks based on the extreme natural progression of disparate items. An extension of my ever evolving “ Ceremonial Relic” series, inspired from a teaching assistantship with Herb Babcock at Penland School. And the progression of murrinni work, inspired from my 2 year apprenticeship with murrinni master Richard Ritter. And whatever else the universe sends my way.
In Thanks:
Thanks to all who have taken the time to review this missive. I find it difficult to write about myself, and would like to thank Terry DiBellaThoelke for an amazing edit.
I deeply appreciate all who have read this narrative about a glass artist going through cancer.
To all who would consider supporting this campaign, I will truly forever be grateful. I find it very difficult putting into words the deepest feelings of the heart.
To everyone who chooses to support, I will send a hand written thanks. While others have already come forward to donate their work as incentives.
In closing, I would like to a Wordsworth soliloquy, written upon the grounds of Fountains Abby in southern Wales, which I immediately dedicated to memory. It is the closest I have ever read that expresses verbally the feelings of the heart:
And I have felt a presence that disturbs me with the joy elevated thoughts, Of something far more deeply interfused: a sense of sublime.
Whose dwelling is in the light setting suns,
And the blue sky,
And the round ocean,
And the living air,
And the mind of man.
Bio:
My work drives my life. As well as the never ending need to learn more. I dedicated my life to glass with my first gather, after spending 5 years in a very successful custom wood working business. One I left within 3 years to pursue my love of glass. During the wood working days I completed large scale commissions for St. Joseph Hospital, Atlanta, Shriners Hospitals in Utah and Kentucky, Abington Memorial in Philadelphia, and Van Vancouver General in Van Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, among others.
My rise through the studio glass movement is resplendent with drive and good luck. At Penland School of Crafts, I had been studio coordinator and taught with Richard Ritter, Paul Stankard, Mark Peiser, John Littleton and Kate Vogal, Herb Babcock, among others. For two years, I was honored to apprentice with Richard Ritter. I also had the extreme honor to teach with Harvey Littleton, the grand father of the American Glass Movement, at Sigma Studio in St. Pete in the early 90's. I worked with Lino Tagliapietra at the 25th GAS conference held at Penland School of Crafts in 1995, and for the 50th anniversary I had a piece in the "Global + local" exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts in St Pete, Florida. During the exhibition I gave to lectures on the history of glass and the American Glass Movement and conducted two walking tours.
Some selected collections: Asheville Museum, DeLand Museum, Lisa Ratner Museum, City of Charleston (2), Virginia Tech (2), City of Orlando, Former Mayor of Philadelphia, John Street, former mayor of Tampa, Pam Iorio, AAmco Oil Company, Smith Barney, Goodwill Industries, among others. My work was also featured in two Extreme Makeover, home editions while at East Falls Glass. A public access studio I co-founded and built.
Organizador e beneficiário
Louanne DiBella
Organizador
Greenville, RI
Owen Pach
Beneficiário