THE 2022 OREGON LEAF BOWL WAS LIT... SO WHO’S READY FOR ROUND 2?
28 grams of flower, 10 grams of concentrate, 10 units of pre-rolls/carts/ edibles/topicals
$420 per entry, with $20 from each entry going to supporting a nonprofit TBA. All fees to be paid in full at time of dropoff.
Accepting entries starting February 1, 2023. Deadline for entry is March 15th, 2023.
Enter based on how the flower is grown, then pick a category that best represents your flower’s flavor profile ... or put it in the Open Category for the ultimate head-tohead competition for a Leaf Bowl award!
FLOWER
PRODUCTION METHODS:
• INDOOR
• MIXED-LIGHT/GREENHOUSE/LIGHT DEP
• FULL-TERM SUNGROWN
FLAVOR PROFILES:
• FUEL, OG & CHEM
• EXOTIC FRUIT
• CITRUS & SAP
• PURPS & DESSERTS
• OPEN CATEGORY
• CBD-RICH (1:1 OR BETTER - NO HEMP)
PRE-ROLLS
TRADITIONAL INFUSED/ENHANCED
FECO/RSO:
• HIGH THC
• HIGH ALTERNATIVE CANNABINOIDS
HYDROCARBON :
• PULL ‘N’ SNAP / SHATTER
• DIAMONDS & SAUCE
• BUDDER / BADDER
• CRUMBLE / SUGAR
SOLVENTLESS HASH:
• FULL-MELT / BUBBLE HASH
• ROSIN
• TRADITIONAL HASH
CARTRIDGES:
• LIVE RESIN
• SOLVENTLESS
• CO2
• DISTILLATE
• GENERAL HYDROCARBON
• ALTERNATIVE CANNABINOID (CBD, CBG, CBN, ETC.)
EDIBLES:
• BAKED GOODS
• GUMMIES
• CANDIES / CHOCOLATES
• DRINKABLES / TINCTURES
• SAVORY / OTHER TREATS
• CAPSULES/TABLETS
• ALTERNATIVE CANNABINOID
TOPICALS:
• CREAMS / LOTIONS
• SPRAYS
• BEAUTY/SKINCARE
• TRANSDERMALS
• CBD
(Sponsorships available only to non-competing companies)
WES ABNEY CEO & FOUNDER wes@leafmagazines.com
MIKE RICKER OPERATING PARTNER ricker@leafmagazines.com
TOM BOWERS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER tom@leafmagazines.com
DANIEL BERMAN CREATIVE DIRECTOR daniel@leafmagazines.com
AMANDA DAY STATE CONTENT DIRECTOR amanda@leafmagazines.com
MAKANI NELSON STATE SALES DIRECTOR makani@leafmagazines.com (808) 754-4182
MEGHAN RIDLEY COPY EDITOR meghan@leafmagazines.com
CORTNEY “BUBBLES” DONACA COMMUNITY & BRAND ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR bubbles@leafmagazines.com
On the cover of Oregon Leaf’s always awaited Glass Issue is the stunning work of local glass artist Mike Gong @original_gongster.
“Taking the artform to another universe,” writes Leaf Contributor Matt Jackson.
“[Gong’s] solo works are like snapshots of fantastical psychedelic experiences frozen in glass – each one tied together by the presence of a starry-eyed face that gave his ‘Acid Eaters’ series its name. Playful but also dripping with pure craftsmanship, you can find examples of this style in his workdating allthewaybackto2014.”Read more in our profile on pg. 36,andstopbyourwebsiteat LeafMagazines.com to see more glass art and eachofoursixmagazine’suniquecovers.
COVER & INTERIOR PHOTOS
BY @BOROPHOTOGRAPHERCONTRIBUTORS
BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN + FEATURES
JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION
BORO PHOTOGRAPHER, PHOTOS
TOM BOWERS, FEATURES
TYLER CAMERON, PHOTOS
KATELYN COLLINS, FEATURES
AMANDA DAY, FEATURES + PHOTOS
STEVE ELLIOTT, NATIONAL NEWS
MATT JACKSON, FEATURES
RYAN HERRON, FEATURES
MIKE RICKER, FEATURES
MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING
RYAN SANETEL, FEATURES
DIANA THOMPSON, PHOTOS
DAN VINKOVETSKY, FEATURES
NATE WILLIAMS, FEATURES
BRUCE WOLF, PHOTOS
KATHERINE WOLF, FEATURES
LAURIE WOLF, RECIPES
JAMIE ZILL, PHOTOS
We are creators of targeted, independent Cannabis journalism. Please email us to discuss advertising in an upcoming issue of Oregon Leaf. We do not sell stories or coverage. We can offer design services and guidance on promoting your company’s recreational, commercial or industrial Cannabis business, product or event within our magazine and on our website, leafmagazines.com. Email makani@leafmagazines.com to learn more about our range of affordable print and digital advertising options to help support Oregon Leaf, the state’s longest-running Cannabis magazine!
Thanks for picking up The Glass Issue of the Leaf!
Glass holds a special place within Cannabis culture, as it both defines our movement through artistic expression, and provides the tools necessary to consume our plant. Without glass pipes, bongs and dab rigs, we’d be stuck smoking joints and out of apples in a return to pre-legalization shenanigans.
Today, glass pieces regularly sell for five to six figures – and a single piece has the power to define a stoner’s personality the way a cool car or shoes can. This representation of Cannabis culture is unique to consuming our favorite plant, as I’ve yet to see custom beer steins being brought to bars by drinkers, or heady pipes bejeweled for smoking illegal street drugs. With many of the highs outside of Cannabis being a function of necessity, and oftentimes addiction, it explains the lack of investment into accoutrement.
Only with Cannabis is the method of smoking equally as important as the flower or dabs themselves. From hitting a Hitoki Laser Bong full of tasty flower to taking timed and temperature controlled rosin dabs from a custom rig with perfect percolation and a terp slurper banger that’ll blast you to the moon and back, picking the right tools can transform an average sesh into an expression of art and elation. As Dale Carnegie poignantly said – “The essence of all art is to have pleasure in giving pleasure” – and this can be no better applied than to the artists who make glass to get us high.
It’s through the beautiful amalgamation of fire and borosilicate that an artist shapes both how we smoke and how we perceive the act of smoking, and this issue of the Leaf is dedicated to celebrating the artists and art that shape the visual arm of our industry. I hope that this issue inspires our readers to find a new appreciation for high end glass, to follow new glassblowers on social media, and to consider investing in a piece of artistry for their daily smoking habits.
-Wes Abney“PICKING THE RIGHT TOOLS CAN TRANSFORM AN AVERAGE SESH INTO AN EXPRESSION OF ART AND ELATION.”
POT COMPANIES SUE NYC REGULATORS
he first Canadian marijuana farm has received organic certification, courtesy of Sun+Earth Certified in British Columbia. Sun+Earth Certified is a nonprofit third-party certification for regenerative organic Cannabis. Sea Dog Farm has existed since 2017 in Central Saanich, B.C. – at the south end of Vancouver Island, near the provincial capital of Victoria. In addition to holding a micro-cultivation Cannabis license, the five-acre family farm grows fruits, vegetables, berries, herbs and cut flowers. Sea Dog Farm uses no-till, regenerative organic practices.
T
The lawsuit, filed in state court in Albany, claims that state Cannabis regulators exceeded their legal authority when they opened the initial application pool in August only to people with past pot convictions or their relatives, instead of to everyone. The lawsuit names as defendants the state’s Cannabis Control Board and Office of Cannabis Management, as well as top officials, reports AP.
Cannabis industry leaders, experts and advocates founded Sun+Earth in 2019. The group promotes regenerative organic agriculture, farmer and farm worker protections, and community engagement. There are now more than 70 Sun+Earth Certified Cannabis farms in California, Michigan, Oregon and Washington.
The state’s equity program, which offered first dibs to individuals with past pot convictions or their relatives, was an attempt to create opportunities for those who have been most adversely affected by pot policing, which resulted in Black and Latino people being arrested at disproportionately higher rates.
OKLAHOMA VOTERS REJECT LEGALIZATION
THE NEWS IN BRIEFeast coast
T
About a month after the House passed a comprehensive legalization, taxation and regulation measure sponsored by bipartisan leaders, on March 16 members took up the simpler legislation to remove marijuana from the state’s list of banned substances.
“When bills get complicated and they get long and they get confused, people vote against them,” said GOP Rep. Kevin Verville. “This is the shortest, easiest way to affect the change that the majority of our constituents want – and that is the legalization of Cannabis.”
A
The study examined the sustained use of marijuana extracts in 157 patients with treatment-resistant neurological, musculoskeletal, autoimmune or anti-inflammatory disorders. Under Australian law, physicians may only authorize medical Cannabis to patients unresponsive to conventional prescription treatments.
Investigators reported patients age 65 or older and/or those suffering from neurological disorders, received the greatest benefits from Cannabis therapy. Conditions helped included Parkinson’s disease, peripheral neuropathy and multiple sclerosis.
Their findings are consistent with those of several other studies reporting quality of life benefits among older patients consuming marijuana.
“Overall, there is no clear evidence that RCL [Recreational Cannabis Laws] had any effect on rates of ED visits and hospitalizations for either motor vehicle or pedestrian/cyclist injury across Canada,” authors concluded.
The findings agree with those of a 2021 Canadian study. That one “found no evidence that the implementation of the Cannabis Act was associated with significant changes in postlegalization patterns of all drivers’ traffic-injury ED visits or, more specifically, youth-driver traffic-injury ED presentations.”
THE SOUTH
A
“When bills get complicated and they get long and they get confused, people vote against them,” said GOP Rep. Kevin Verville.“It simply doesn’t make sense to base an employment decision on that kind of unreliable outcome and test.”
$102.9m
-WA State Sen. Karen Keiser (D), lead sponsor of SB 5123, which would protect most job candidates from discrimination for using marijuana outside of the workplace.
On the corner of 91st and Beaverton Hillsdale Highway, there’s a quaint shop that’s relocated since its 2010 start.
“A younger crowd was more predominant in the beginning … since recreational legalization, the crowd is much more diverse,” owner and operator Josh Bergman tells us.
Having the ultimate location and exclusive distribution deals with several artists – including Seed of Life, US Tubes and Leisures – it is no wonder NVS has two stores in high-traffic areas around the metropolitan area.
Walking into the store brings a unique sensory experience with an eclectic vibe, where you’ll be met by Binx the cat, and a couple of signs warning you not to pet him.
Having an emphasis on individuality, a great variety of American-made glass and a newly-added gift shop at the front of the store, it feels more like a boutique than a typical storefront. The environment is sleek and natural, scientific and functional, featuring carefully curated displays of exquisite and intricate pieces, with sunshine gleaming in every direction.
“We have a consistent clientele, regardless of the time of year … with many more collectors,” Josh tells us of his customer base. The glass industry has continued to rise in price, but the constant contact that
Josh keeps with artists and the nonprofit-style events that he puts on factor into why his prices remain below many other virtual marketplaces and brick-and-mortar stores. While many glass stores focus on heady, higher-end pieces to attract customers, NVS has developed a slightly different approach over the years – holding events and exclusive drops every five to seven months that brings lines out the door.
Their 4/20 celebration, where proceeds are donated to humane societies and animal rescues, is a highly recommended time to stop by and get stocked up for your festivities this month.
“We have a consistent clientele, regardless of the time of year … with many more collectors,” Josh tells us.
Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. For use only by adults 21 years of age and older. Keep out of the reach of children.
Our products feel different because they are made differently. We specialize in lipid infusions of cannabis. Inspired by a traditional herbalist method of steeping herbs in fats or oils, our proprietary process produces a sparkling-clear, golden-colored infusion that is mild tasting and highly bioavailable without using unhealthy solvents or gimmicky tech. This pure process captures the exceptional phytochemical diversity of Oregon’s best regeneratively-grown cannabis, preserving a full spectrum of naturally-occuring cannabinoids and terpenes.
Luminous Botanicals is proud to be the world's first Sun+Earth Certified manufacturer. Sun+Earth certifies cannabis that is grown under the sun, in the soil of mother earth, without chemicals, by fairly-paid farmers.
Take care of the planet while you take care of yourself.
EASY BRANDS has marked themselves as the next big extractor to emerge onto the Oregon market. With a background in recreational Cannabis, it was easy to stake a claim and comfortably feel out their niche within the processing side of the industry. Hash rosin has taken the state like a tsunami, flooding into areas of Oregon that haven’t seen hash since the medical days.
While picking between the top concentrates in the state can be an arduous task, this month all signs pointed to Easy’s run of Laird Family Farms Rainbow Belts 3.0. It’s a cross of Rainbow Belts #20 and Moonbow #112 f2 #60 – a phenotype hunted and made popular by Portland’s own Archive Seed Bank.
Hash now comes in many forms, from the old-school pressed coins to the highest grades of fresh-pressed and full-melt. There is something in each of them that tickles the soft spot of nostalgia, or engages a new age intrigue. But cold-cure rosin seems to reach a wider audience … with its simpler handling and terpenes still wafting from the jar.
“A heavy, cheesy and gassy front end punch evolves into a strong Zkittlez backend.”
Upon first look and smell, this is not your average Rainbow Belts. It has been selected for yield, taste and effect, and Archive chose a much different, gassier terpene profile than many would expect from this strain. The sweet candy smell is non-existent. Instead, a heavy, cheesy and gassy front end punch evolves into a strong Zkittlez backend. The effects are beyond any other Rainbow Belts we have tried to date. It makes our eyes low, but brings energetic feelings and surprising excitement for whatever minor or major task we have to accomplish. Quite frankly, it pairs well with life.
“WITH HOLES ON THE TOP INSTEAD OF THE BOTTOM, YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR PRECIOUS HASH SLIPPING THROUGH.”
First on our list is an old school hash pipe made by Ryan Irish @LikeMindedGlass. It’s used by heating the ball on the end of the ‘hot rod’ and dipping it into the pipe with hash in the bottom (where you would normally put the flower). With holes on the top instead of the bottom, you don’t have to worry about your precious hash slipping through. It’s a unique experience that expresses the sweeter, candy-like terpenes with help from the quickly glowing glass rod (soon to be a quartz rod in future models). At this temperature, you are not as likely to get massive clouds – but you are able to get the effects and flavor of the product expediently.
@LIKEMINDEDGLASS
Next up, Eugene-based @MattitudeMats can be found at different Cannabis events showing off what he has created: a one-of-a-kind cork mat with a fully-customizable artistic touch. Rooted locally in the Northwest, ‘Jet’ Taylor has made a mark for himself in the industry with locallymade and handcrafted mats that most use for glass dabs rigs (although, they’re endlessly versatile). He has a large selection of personally created designs, but also works with brands to print logos and special projects. It’s not hard to find something that fits every style. With an ever-growing customer base in the hash community, we chose one of the original designs as an ode to the Hash Heads out there.
@MATTITUDEMATS
“AN EVERGROWING CUSTOMER BASE IN THE HASH COMMUNITY...”
Finally, we have a beautiful “baller jar” from @TheMeltingOwl. This is not your regular glass concentrate jar. It was handmade with intention behind every piece – from the notched bottom for gripping to the color choice for sun protection, as well as aesthetics. The Melting Owl is based in Oregon and creates a host of dapper glass dabbing accessories. Knowing very well that the recycling of concentrate containers is well behind, we like the sustainability of these reusable glass jars. On top of being beautiful, they offer people who struggle with the typical concentrate storage an alternative to keep their goodies in. The careful attention to detail makes it easy for anyone to open and use this for anything – from extracts to terp pearls and small smoking accessories that are easily lost.
“HANDMADE WITH INTENTION BEHIND EVERY PIECE.”
Looking to bring more style or function to your next sesh, then look no further…
We met with Donald Huff, Tim Grey and Eddie Tomlin of the Cheeze Factory, an indoor Cannabis grow based in La Pine. The depth of their relationships became evident as the trio explained how they met each other, with stories ranging from working together at a glass shop in downtown Bend to buying an ounce of Girl Scout Cookies in a truck stop parking lot.
Eddie explains that “they have a unique opportunity,” and the way they’re doing their branding “allows them to be artistic.” He tells us that art is vital to him and that design is an artistic outlet. “If you can dream it, you can do it,” he says.
“THE CHEEZE FACTORY wants to bring the magic into the recreational (market),” says Don. “And the farmers who have been doing it for a long time are the ones who created this magic. How many of the medical growers were able to switch to recreational? How many of them were able to carry their craft with them?” These questions are Don’s driving force toward a greater goal.
Don started growing Cannabis in the early 2000s for medical patients, while searching for genetics with healing properties that could target specific ailments.
He was focused on growing excellent medicine and fell in love with the plant in the process. “All marijuana will get you high. But the terpenes are what really modulate the medicinal part,” he explains. "The Cheeze Factory is where dreams are cultivated into reality. We do 90% of things ourselves. From plumbing and construction, to design work. We do it all.”
The team is currently running Donny Burger, White Runtz and Apples ‘N’ Bananas, among others. Relying upon a vast genetics library, they hunt for new and upcoming terpene profiles while also holding on to some staple strains of the past. One particular strain is their UK Cheese (Don's favorite), and the inspiration behind their brand name.
Part of the magic of their method is the growing medium. The crew prefers an amended soil approach and they run a hybrid system heavy on such soil, and light with salt-based nutrients. Don explains that he has experience with multiple growing mediums, and he and the crew believe there are benefits in all of them. But the hybrid approach allows them the freedom to give the plants what they are lacking at that very moment, or occasionally as something to push them across the finish line.
They have recently done a round of pollination with a male LemonCane from Archive Seed Bank and a Tangie male from Crockett Family Farms. The trio wants to hold on to the OG strains or, as Don calls them, heirloom strains. “There are too many strains that are falling through the cracks,” he says.
The team tells us that they retain the freshness and the magic through the process of curing and packaging. The company pre-packages eighths in glass jars and stores them in a temperature-controlled environment to avoid degradation. They pride themselves on maintaining the quality and freshness of their Cannabis, taking every step to ensure high quality – from when the plant is cut down and cold-cured, to when it is sold to the consumer.
The Cheeze Factory is vertically integrated with a lab and dispensary storefronts – so keep an eye out for their in-house brands, Blue Collar Extracts and Just Heads Concentrates. Their products can be found at House of Hash in La Pine and their multiple Green Knottz dispensary locations along HWY 97 from Klamath Falls to Madras.
As our tour concludes, Don shrugs and jokes that he went from eating government cheese to growing cheese. “If we aren't grassroots, I don't know what is.” @CHEEZE_FACTORY
“THE CHEEZE FACTORY WANTS TO BRING THE MAGIC INTO THE RECREATIONAL MARKET.” -CO-OWNER DONALD HUFFTIM GREY & DONALD HUFF
“Seconds after tearing into the bag, the entire room is perfumed with an indulgent, doughnutsweet scent.”
MOONBOW’S REPUTATION PRECEDES IT. As an exceptional cross of Zkittlez x Do-Si-Dos, its lineage lingers long after the joint hits your lips. Put simply, this cultivar delivers. Flavor, potency, structure and bag appeal are all top tier – and when it comes to the #112 phenotype – these traits are exaggerated and oozing with personality.
Moonbow #112 is Archive’s winner in a large selection focused on flower quality. In all, two expressions made the cut for the shelves. The popular #99 phenotype, which leans more toward the doughy bakery scents of Do-Si-Dos, and the #112 with more of the Zkittlez nose – a pleasing and punchy buzz that’s half fruit and half nose-tickling gasoline.
This eighth of Moonbow off the shelves was packed into a slick die-cut mylar featuring Archive’s signature yellow alongside a rainbow of greens and oranges. Inside is nothing but chunky bright green buds absolutely coated in silver trichomes. Seconds after tearing into the bag, the entire room is perfumed with an indulgent, doughnut-sweet scent.
The rather tight bud structure breaks open to reveal bits of subdued violet and dark green, glistening calyxes. In the jar, this herb has an intense aroma – but breaking it up by hand is nearly eye-watering. Loud only begins to describe this flower. Leading with gas, sugar cookie dough and candy scents, this profile really pops when you dig a little below the surface to experience the plethora of complex cedar, licorice, lime and blackberry notes. Its dessert-forward fragrance immediately snags my attention and there’s more to dig into every time the jar is cracked.
Well-cured, the herb breaks down easily and evenly, with a burn just as perfect –the wafting smoke sweetly scenting the area with vanilla and familiar cookie aromas, while the effect sets in quickly. Spacey and mood-lifting, Moonbow has an incredibly high ceiling. The more you enjoy it, the more the effects seem to compound with no plateau. Great for clearing your mind after a long day … or sitting in front of the bong with your sights firmly set on outer space.
Yoshinori Kondo, known as Yoshi, grew up in the port city of Osaka, Japan before moving to Arizona for middle school at 15. By age 19, he was fleeing the states with two open warrants for his arrest – one for a car chase in Tucson after a paranoid mushroom trip comedown, and the other for a minor Cannabis possession charge along the highways of California.
AT 48, Kondo is now one of the most beloved glass artists in America with a cult-like following for his pieces … all without having stepped foot on U.S. soil since 1997. But let’s back up a bit, shall we?
It’s 10:00 a.m. in Seattle when Kondo’s face appears in a tiny box in the top corner of my phone screen. He looks a little sleepy, but after all, it is nearly 3:00 a.m. in Japan as we begin our FaceTime interview. “My life has been one crazy story. Like I’ve been in a movie,” Kondo laughs as he reminisces on his unconventional journey back home to Japan –one that ultimately led him to the art of glassblowing.
“I was so stupid and so young. After my arrests, I didn’t want to go to jail. So instead of trying to fight at trial, I decided to pack up everything and take off,” he tells us. Five years later, Kondo thought he’d try his luck at getting back into the U.S. through Washington D.C. by way of Amsterdam. Unfortunately, he didn’t exactly fly under the radar.
“As soon as they scanned my passport, the flag went up and they handcuffed me. I stayed in jail for three nights, then went to court,” recalls Kondo. “They let me out because I said I’d come to try to handle the cases and work with a lawyer. Instead, I left again. But getting off the airplane back in Amsterdam, two officers were already waiting for me.”
After failed attempts to get into Amsterdam and then London, he decided to return to Japan voluntarily rather than be deported. By 2001, Kondo had a job at a clothing store in downtown Tokyo making handmade jewelry out of hemp rope. He was looking for something to put on the end of the ropes for decoration, and after noticing a guest artist in the shop selling pendants made with borosilicate glass, Kondo was inspired to try making his own.
He wanted to use boro, too – but lived in a small apartment in the city, which meant no way to handle that type of material and no space for the necessary equipment. Plus, Kondo didn’t have the time or resources to learn from a professional and there was only one glassblowing studio around that cost nearly $3,000 for classes. Instead, he figured out how to make non-functional beads for his necklaces and chains out of soft glass on his kitchen grill.
Surprisingly, the makeshift grill setup was a success. Fast forward to 2008, and Kondo had made such a name for himself from his marbles that he was able to move to rural Chiba and expand his capabilities. Things were going well enough, but in his typical fashion, Kondo was itching for a greater adventure.
“I was actually able to make some money from selling the soft glass beads, so I could finally move to a spacious area and get my hands on blowing boro. But I wanted to be able to truly make a living off my art and show my work everywhere in the world,” he explains. “I like to smoke weed, so I wanted to make more pipes and bongs. Unfortunately, the demand for that was not in Japan at all at that time.” Between the limited local market for functional glass pieces and his inability to travel, Kondo knew one thing: He’d need to set up an international sales pipeline to take the next step as a glass artist. What he didn’t know quite yet was how he would do it.
So, perhaps it was fate that led Kondo to participate in a show at You-Yuusya Gallery, where American marble master Josh Sable traveled to Japan for the event, stumbled upon his work, and knew there would be a market for it in the states. “Sable was truly my angel at that time. He helped me set up a network for overseas distribution, and that changed my life. Still even now, he is my top priority whenever he comes to Japan,” Kondo says. And Sable certainly isn’t the only one hopping on a plane to see Kondo these days.
Since that You-Yuusya show, his work has garnered the global recognition it deserves in exhibitions from Tokyo to Toronto and Vancouver to New York City. There are even dedicated trade groups and fan forums online, where heady collectors are willing to pay top prices for one of his elusive pieces.
Even with thousands of miles of travel required, it’s no wonder why a slew of highly sought-after artists have jumped at the chance to go to Japan and collaborate with Kondo.
“I can’t even express how appreciative I am that there are American artists who want to come out here to work with me since I can’t travel there,” he expresses. When asked if he ever thought this could be his reality as a fugitive over 20 years ago, Kondo had this to say: “When I left Japan for Arizona, I never thought I’d come back home. But you never know what’s going to happen in your life. I fucked up, and I cannot fix that, but I am happy now.”
“I wanted to be able to truly make a living off my art and show my work everywhere in the world.”
Marbles. Your great grandfather might have played games with them for pennies out in the street, but a good one nowadays can cost you thousands of dollars. It’s no surprise really … in the 1800s, glassblowers in Lauscha, Germany became so renowned for their marbles that these masterworks are still considered prize collectibles today.
THE DEMAND for mind-blowing marbles is thriving throughout art galleries from the Wooklands to the Hills of the Heady, and you need look no further than Oregon’s own Mike Gong as a perfect example of why. You might have even seen his work on the viral video where @boywhocriedterps is photographing one of his pendants on the beach, when a wave crashes in and snatches it away. It appears even the ocean wants to own one.
Taking the artform to another universe, his solo works are like snapshots of fantastical psychedelic experiences frozen in glass –each one tied together by the presence of a starry-eyed face that gave his “Acid Eaters” series its name. Tongues outstretched, the marble seems to show those moments where the world opens up and blossoms in color. Like Tolkien’s seeing stones, each one is a portal into a world of intricate shapes and patterns. And once you drop on that UV light, it’s like putting on the one ring and seeing things from a whole new perspective. Playful but also dripping with pure craftsmanship, you can find examples of this style in his work dating all the way back to 2014. Demand for his pieces has increased through a series of collaborative glassworks, as well as events like the recent 11:11 show at Main Circle in Portland – where the smallest marble from that collection would cost you around 3K.
“Taking the artform to another universe, his solo works are like snapshots of fantastical psychedelic experiences frozen in glass – each one tied together by the presence of a starry-eyed face that gave his “Acid Eaters” series its name.”
Chadd and Adrienne started their professional journeys in academia, both earning Bachelors of Fine Art before moving on to further their careers. While Chadd taught at the Cleveland Institute of Art, Adrienne began as a master goldsmith in the same city. It was here in Ohio that their paths joined, but it wasn’t until moving to Florida together that their respective careers in glass grew. Chadd’s work in pipe culture seemed to take off shortly after opening his first studio in the Sunshine State, and Adrienne applied much of her knowledge and skill with metalworking to hone her main craft of carved cameo glass. Today, they live and work in West Palm Beach, making glass pipes and art together. Chadd’s work follows whimsical and nautical themes incorporating marine life, and Adrienne’s work portrays anatomy while focusing on the idea of Memento Mori. Their creations feature Adrienne’s elegant spin of death and decay on Chadd’s marine life, and their carved cameo collaborations can be found in various private and public collections around the world.
Where do you find inspiration for your unique collaborative efforts? Adrienne’s main inspiration comes from her personal medical experiences. Pulling from X-rays of her own skeleton and old anatomical engraved prints, she shows the inside of Chadd’s creatures in imaginative ways. Chadd’s inspiration comes mainly from sea life and ocean themes. Old prints of nautical scenes and animals are among his favorite places to draw ideas from.
Does Cannabis play a role in your artistic creativity? Initially most of our pieces were about form over function, where the Cannabis aspect takes a backseat. Increasingly over the years though, the function of pieces and the culture’s thirst for new accessories has fueled a whole range of inspiration directly related to how Cannabis interacts with the work we make.
What is the significance of the aquatic themes represented in your pieces? Much of the impetus for our work started from ‘Moby Dick.’ The prints within the book, the imagery in the writing, and the concept of the white whale were the starting point. As time went on, our work evolved to encompass more sea life, and to embody a beauty that wasn’t just about the epic story of the white whale. Living in South Florida, the ocean has become a huge part of our lives. We spend significant time in the water, snorkeling and looking at sea life, taking in inspiration that fuels our work.
Where can people find your glass art online and in-person, and how can people purchase your works? Much of our work is available through our network of resellers around the country and the world. We work with galleries and smoke shops in almost every state, as well as selling jewelry and accessories on our own websites. CHADDLACY.COM
“...the ocean has become a huge part of our lives. We spend significant time in the water, snorkeling and looking at sea life, taking in inspiration that fuels our work.”MICRO WHALE MUNCHIES WHALE
Swan Glass is spinning some serious heat out of Seattle! Born and raised in the Emerald City, Aaron Swanson started blowing glass at Sammamish High School and was always interested in crafting and glass as an art, long before he started making pipes. Now when he’s not holed up making headies at Pipe Place Market, he works part-time at the Seattle Glassblowing Studio and teaches lampworking classes at Pratt Fine Arts Center.
SWAN SAYS his style is all about, “Capturing the best colors of the glass and utilizing flowing, curving shapes influenced by ornamental filigree scrollwork.” You can see this highly detailed technique showing out on his collab with Walmot Glass, another Seattle-based artist known for his bloopers and recyclers. The filigree scrollwork is done using glass with silver-reducing properties, which change the color of the surface once blown. Then, Swan sketches out the design by hand, carefully carving away with a diamond-tipped Dremel to reveal contrasting colors.
With a few styles up his sleeve, Swan calls the design on this orange and blue Hydrant Blooper his “lace pattern.” This complex method layers colors together, pulling them into a twisted latticino cane that is used to build up the wall of the piece. With rich color palettes inspired by the Pacific Northwest, intricate designs unique to each piece and function that absolutely shreds, you don’t want to sleep on Swan Glass!
You can see more of his work or reach out about customs at @swanglass. We also gotta show love to Jamie Zill, a badass female photographer who took these shots and is also based in Seatown.
“With rich color palettes inspired by the Pacific Northwest, intricate designs unique to each piece and function that absolutely shreds, you don’t want to sleep on Swan Glass!”
Dustin Revere spent years learning the secrets of glass and metal. Now he spends his days sharing what he’s learned with the world. Born the son of a father who was a master goldsmith and a mother who was a weaver, Revere was immersed in art from day one. “I grew up in a free-thinking environment,” he said. “Art was really important.”
His father started the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts in the Bay Area of San Francisco when Revere was just a toddler. “I grew up watching him create this jewelry school,” he shared. This had a significant impact on the development of Revere as an artist, and by high school he was creating functional art –sneaking bong designs into the kiln in his ceramics class and selling them at Grateful Dead shows.
“I was really fascinated by the gray/black market economy that surrounded Shakedown Street,” Revere said. “As an artisan, and as a psychonaut, and someone who was experimenting – I was fascinated.”
It wasn’t long before he moved from ceramics to glass, and his path unfolded. A decade later, he founded Revere Glass – a multi-discipline school and educational hub that pioneered the concept of training both functional and classical glassblowing and crafting.
A devotee of all manner of glass and metal manipulation and fabrication, his school and YouTube channel – On the Torch – has had a tremendous impact on the industry.
“When you’re staring at the flame, you don’t have space in your mind for anything else, so you end up meditating without even realizing it,” he said.
“When you’re staring at the flame, you don’t have space in your mind for anything else, so you end up meditating without even realizing it.”
Fans of the classic sci-fi films will immediately recognize this badass bust of the T-100 Terminator robot skeleton dubbed “The Terpinator” – a three-way collab between Carsten Carlile (Bend, Ore.), Joshua “JOP” Opdenaker (Philadelphia) and Adam “Hoobs” Whobrey (Huntington Beach, Calif.), who came up with the concept.
@HOOBSGLASS @CARSTENGLASS10 @J_OPDENAKER_JOP
“I picked the idea for us,” says Hoobs. “I’ve been exploring a robot theme body of work recently and had always wanted to try the Terminator. Jop, Carsten and I have all done a lot of skull and mechanical style pieces previously, so the idea was a natural blend of all our styles.”
This killer collab was specifically created for last year’s Champs Glass Games in Chicago.
“We were allowed to make as much of the piece as we wanted before arriving in Chicago,” Hoobs explains. “The rules stated we just needed to leave two days of work to complete live during the trade show.”
The trio first got together at Hoobs’ Classic 33 Studio in Huntington Beach in April 2022, where they spent several weeks designing and sculpting out about 90% of the piece. They divided their labor into three main sections: JOP was in charge of the chest area, Carsten was in charge of the mechanical base, and Hoobs was in charge of the head and shoulders.
“It was a very complex build,” says Hoobs. “Every component was going to need to be scaled perfectly for it to work, and all the components were being made at the same time, so we had to hope that they would all fit together in the end.”
Luckily for them, they did … and in the end, their 400-plus hours of hard work paid off: The Terpinator won 1st Place in the People’s Choice category at Champs.
“It was an honor to be chosen,” Hoobs tells the Leaf. “We definitely treated it as more of an exposition than a competition, but it’s always nice to bring home the victory.”
“It was a very complex build. Every component was going to need to be scaled perfectly for it to work,” says Hoobs.
People tend to be intimidated by phyllo dough. No need. If you keep the sheets of pastry covered with a slightly damp cloth, they will be fine. Also, if a sheet tears, no worries – just place it in the pan and keep working. When sprayed or brushed with olive oil, it will all bake evenly. Allow the phyllo to defrost in the fridge and then come to room temp, still wrapped, before working.
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 large onions, chopped
2 teaspoons garlic, minced
1 cup fresh parsley, chopped
½ cup scallions, chopped
¼ cup fresh dill, chopped
2 ½ pounds spinach, fresh or frozen
(squeezed of all moisture)
2 cups ricotta
1 cup soft tofu
1 cup feta cheese
3 eggs, lightly beaten
16 sheets phyllo dough
1/3 cup olive oil, in a mister or use a pastry brush
4 tablespoons canna-oil, 60mg THC
Olive oil spray
16 sheets phyllo dough
The easy recipes below were infused with the delightful strain Life Coach from Noble Farms in Eagle Creek, OR. I’m never disappointed with the flavor or effect. An indica dominant strain, I find it’s surprisingly good for getting stuff done … and the kind of funny, musky-citrus taste is quite enjoyable. As the season changes, remember: “Spring is nature’s way of saying “Let’s Party!” - Robin Williams
1. Heat oven to 340.
2. In a large saucepan, heat the tablespoon of olive oil. Add the onions and cook until tender, about 8-10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 2-3 minutes. Add the parsley, scallions and dill, and stir to mix. Stir in the spinach and again mix well. Allow to cool fully.
3. When cool, add the ricotta, tofu, feta and eggs, and mix well.
4. Spray a 9x13 baking pan. Open the package of phyllo dough and cover the top with a slightly damp dishtowel. Lift the towel and remove the first sheet. Lay on the bottom of the sprayed baking dish. Combine the two oils, warm slightly and lightly brush the sheets with the oils. Continue this process until you have used 8 sheets of phyllo. Be sure to cover between sheets.
5. Place the spinach mixture over the eight sheets of dough. Use a spatula or spoon to make the spinach even.
6. Cover the spinach mixture with 8 more layers of phyllo, following the same procedure.
7. Bake the phyllo until golden brown, somewhere between 50 and 60 minutes. Allow to cool slightly before cutting into serving pieces with a serrated knife.
SERVES 4
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 teaspoons canna oil
4-5 ounce boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded thin
2 leeks, trimmed, washed well and chopped
2 lbs fresh fava beans, shelled yield is 1½ cups
4 artichoke hearts, quartered
8 scallions, trimmed
3 cloves minced garlic
dash of salt
pepper
1/3 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Cook the chicken over high heat for 3-4 minutes, turn and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes. Remove to a plate.
2. Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and the canna oil to the pan. Add the leeks and the fava beans and sauté for 5-6 minutes. Add the artichoke hearts, scallions, garlic, salt and pepper.
This dish is easy and flavorful. Sometimes I add cooked pasta to the final sauté, and there would be nothing wrong with adding some crisp bits of bacon or sausage.
3. Return the chicken breasts to the pan, along with any drippings and the stock. Heat and divide among four dinner plates. Sprinkle with the parsley.
24 SERVINGS, 5MG THC PER SERVING
coconut oil spray
4-5 cups quick cook oatmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2/3 cup canna-butter, melted, 120mg THC
2/3 cup honey
1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
2 cup mix of coconut, chocolate chips, walnuts, pecans and raisins (up to you!)
1. Heat oven to 325. Spray a 9x13 sheet pan with coconut oil.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients. Mix well.
3. Spread the mixture into the prepared pan. Make it as even as possible.
4. Bake until golden brown, about 30-35 minutes. Allow to cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting.
Granola bars are, for the most part, crunchy or chewy. Since chewy is my jam, this bar rocks texture and flavor … and it gets you high. There are many options for the additions – I tried it with dried cranberries and ginger, which I liked, but this combo is my favorite so far. I may even drizzle a few pieces with canna-chocolate...
SEEDS: FEMINIZED, REGULAR, AUTOFLOWER, PHOTOPERIOD THC AND CBD
CLONES:
EXCLUSIVE CULTIVARS FROM CALIFORNIA’S CANNABIS CAPITAL ONLINE
WWW.HUMBOLDTSEEDCOMPANY.COM
YOU’VE WALKED INTO A ROOM and seen mounted animals peering downward with glazed eyes, yes? Maybe it was a hawk with flared wings and a curved beak, frozen in a statuesque moment. Or a snarling bear, mid-growl, caught in a pose when the hair spiked from the back and the drool dripped over the fangs.
This fantastic plaque is a feast for human curiosity, reminding us that although this beast would rip and mangle our bodies if mistakenly confronted in the woods, evolution has befitted us with the advantage of being properly armed in the wild.
Keeping surveillance from atop the fireplace, the emotion captured from the creature’s expression brings a chill that challenges your love for beauty with fear. It informs you that although it may have been a savage battle, the one with the shotgun walked away unscathed. For a moment, your imagination lands you in the woods where the wind swishes through the evergreens to create the only sound other than your breath and moving feet. Then you hear a fast-approaching, bloodthirsty monster with the scream of a thousand banshees…
The cubes rattle while a swallow of scotch lightly burns down your throat. Arrogance and vulnerability intersect in this moment, a parallel to the juxtaposition in this room – that of the feared predator on showroom display amongst the high cedar ceilings and soothing, lapping flames.
The thought enters your periphery that there is something noble about retaining that pose ad-infinitum over the dreadful alternative of exile to the cold dark earth in a beautiful box … where your existence is quantified by a weathered headstone that marks the day the worms and fungi began to slowly feed upon your bones.
I personally see this choice as a no-brainer.
There’s only one thing I ask: Please place a smile on my face, a joint in my mouth, and a lighter in my hand. Just in case I ever come back to life.
