Introduction
In October of 2023, scientific glassblower and artist Tim Drier was invited to the University of Wisconsin-Madison through a 175th Anniversary Grant to create models of deep sea creatures using modern torches, glass, and techniques.
This project was created in consultation with UW professors Prashant Sharma and Nazan Gillie, who both teach aquatic invertebrate courses in the department of Integrative Biology. During Tim’s visit, he created a number of deep-sea marine invertebrate models, prioritizing models that the Zoological Museum did not have specimens for, and that are especially hard to study as preserved museum samples.
This project is distinct from the previous iterations of UW Blaschka recreation research, in the fact that these models would not have been created or known by the Blaschkas. They did not have the technology for deep sea investigations at the time. However, glass models lend themselves well to these specimens, it would be impossible to bring them to the surface for study due to the extreme pressure environment of the deep sea. This practice of creating glass models for education and study is much like the goals of the Blaschka’s in the mid to late 1800s.
During Tim’s visit, he created the following invertebrate models:
- Deep Sea vestimentiferan worm: Riftia Pachyptila
- Brittle star: Ophiothrix fragilis
- Sea pig: Scotoplanes sp.
- Sea angel: Clione sp.
- Ping pong tree sponge: Chondrocladia consecrens
Tim created a total of 8 models during his time at UW-Madison, details of each model are listed below.
Deep Sea vestimentiferan worm: Riftia Pachyptila
The first set of models created during Tim’s visit were the Deep Sea vestimentiferan worm models. Due to the large size of these specimens (about 6 ft in length) the tube worms were created at a 1” = 1’ scale.
These models consist of two separate parts. One part is the white colored tube body of the worm, and the other is the red-colored feeding apparatus of the worm. The two pieces were then glued together with UV glue. The bases for the models were created with air dry clay.
Tim created two sets of this model during his visit. One model was created with colored glass, and the other was created with clear glass. The clear glass models and bases will be painted and mounted by the UW Zoology Museum.
In addition, Tim created two clear glass spiny slugs, often found in proximity to the tube worms.
Brittle star: Ophiothrix fragilis
Tim Drier created one brittle star model during his time, which consists of hot-sculpted clear glass. For this model, each of the legs and body of the star were sculpted separately, then hot assembled using a modern torch. This model will be painted by the UW Zoology Museum for closer resemblance to the original specimen.
The base for the Brittle star model consists of a standard wooden base. Sand was glued to the top of the base to resemble the environment of the Brittle star.
Sea pig: Scotoplanes sp.
Two sea pigs were created by Tim Drier during his visit. These models were created at full scale, with the original specimens ranging between 1.5 inches to 6 inches in length.
These models were created with standard glass sculpting techniques. One model was created with pink-colored glass. The other model was created with clear glass, and the feet of the model will be painted by the UW Zoology Museum.
Sea angel: Clione sp.
Tim Drier created two sea angel models, each created at a 5x scale. The original specimens are about ½ inch to ¾ inch in length.
These models were created with standard glass sculpting techniques. They consist of a clear glass exterior with orange and red glass components on their interior. They are mounted on wooden bases with wire stands. The exterior of these models will be painted by the UW Zoology Museum.
Ping pong tree sponge: Chondrocladia consecrens
The final model created by Tim is the ping pong tree sponge. This model was created at full scale, with dimensions of 16” H x 8”W x 8”D.
This model is created in multiple separate components that were glued together. The first component is the spindled body of the ping pong tree sponge, created with white glass. This piece was hot sealed to a clear glass rod, which would become the stand for the piece.
Each of the bubbles of the ping pong tree consist of a clear glass bubble with a small hole. A small, flared tube was created to fit inside this hole to suspend the bubble on the ping pong tree sponge. This flared tube was stuffed with cotton and was placed over each branch, with the bubble, onto the model. The clear bubbles and clear glass rod were painted with clear matte spray paint for closer resemblance to the surface texture of the original specimen.
