whitney harmon the Cast Away Set

The natural world embodied in Whitney Harmon’s glass is an echo of the elements, an ode to the ocean that’s been both an anchor and inspiration all his life.

“I feel like I need water near me to feed my soul,” says Whitney, a native of the Northwest. “The barnacles in my work evolved from my love of beach glass and millefiori slowly coming together over the years. They are made up of many layers of glass – cut off hot, then cold-worked with a rotary bit – before it's all blasted to look like it's from the beach. These have become one of my favorite concepts, as I can apply them to almost any form. It's challenging to accomplish realism in glass – I feel this is as close to it as I have come in my 24 years on the torch!”

Documenting the Cast Away Set was equal parts studio and action shots, with the right time for tide and lighting being essential to the texture of the Birch Bay photo, which photographer Rex Hilsinger describes as “mesmerizing” and “as real to the touch as they look in photos!” Having photographed many of Whitney’s works, Rex says, “His dedication to originality always inspires me to capture images that reflect the story he's trying to tell.”

"The barnacles in my work evolved from my love of beach glass and millefiori slowly coming together over the years."