By Josh Lyford

Will D’Errico is a man with a straightforward vision. Glassblowing is his life and it is a life he has painstakingly crafted through hard work, ingenuity and unrivaled artistic intent.

Will knew early on that glassblowing was something that would scratch a particular itch that none of the other arts he practiced seemed to reach. A Central MA native and graduate of Wachusett Regional High School, Will says he has “…vivid memories of Worcester,” and doesn’t understand why people “…trash the city. It has a lot of culture and progressive attitudes. It has helped shape me as an artist.” His mother and father were artists themselves and Will always knew that one way or another, he would somehow be involved in the arts. His mother was a potter and his father was a professional actor and founding member of Worcester Artist Group.

With fifteen years of glassblowing experience under his belt, Will has blown glass all over the country. He explains, “When you’re a glass blower you have to go where the work is. I always enjoyed traveling and I am constantly trying to progress. Making the same thing over and over again isn’t going to help with that.” So, he travels; he’s spent time blowing glass in Hawaii, Las Vegas, Arizona, Alabama and all over New England. Calling all these places home while learning the nuances of his craft has given Will an interesting perspective on glassblowing in general. In fact, Will says that what sets him apart from other glassblowers is indeed this eclectic artistic perspective.

“A lot of glassblowers don’t have the same unique artistic background that I had, they kind of model after what has already been done,” he says. Will prides himself on being an individual and letting his work speak for itself. He understands, however, that you have to get through the repetition to allow for your own unique touch further down the road.

Will says that he tries to make functional work whether he is on his own or working for another glassblower. He says, “You can make a cup, or you can make a really fancy sculpture of a bird or something, but if you combine the two, that’s the best.” He says that his favorite pieces to create are goblets and bowls. Goblets are very challenging, especially if they’re to be both functional and creative. He attributes his joy in creating bowls to his mother’s pottery background. Will says that when you make a bowl, it can be a “…Zen moment, feeling the material touching the tools or your hands, it’s a really positive thing, not just achieving the shape, but the process of creating it.”

Will is currently building a website to feature some of his incredible art, but for now you can check some of his pieces out on Facebook.com by searching William D’Errico or by emailing him directly at Wgdglassmosis@Yahoo.com.