Frabel Glass Artists
Hans Godo Frabel
Principal Glass Artist
Hans Godo Frabel was born in Jena, East Germany, in 1941. The political climate necessitated family migration during the post-war years. He was trained as a scientific glassblower at the prestigious Jena Glaswerke in Mainz, West Germany, earning the degree of "journeyman."
Klaus Widmann
Glass Artist
Klaus-Dieter Widmann was born in Munich, and raised in a German American family. He married Sieglinde Widmann, also a member of the Frabel corps of glass artists and immigrated to Louisiana (USA) with Sieglinde in the mid 1960's. He was the first associate of Hans Godo Frabel and joined him on January 2, 1973.
Sieglinde Widmann
Glass Artist
Sieglinde Anna Widmann hails from Jena in the former East Germany. Born during the Second World War in Germany, she grew up in Communist East Germany and has a degree as a scientific glass blower at the legendary Jena Glaswerke. She is now chief of the artists and is responsible for the training of apprentices and for the general management of the studio staff.
Frankie Fox Jones
Glass Artist
Frankie Fox Jones is an accomplished torch working glass artist and is the principal engraver for the Studio. She joined the staff at the Frabel Studio in 1987.
Tung Bui
Glass Artist
Tung Bui is a refugee from the troubles in Vietnam. He grew up and was educated in Saigon. He came to the USA in about 1982 and joined the Frabel Studio artists in October, 1988. He has an excellent eye and talent for very detailed and precise renderings of models, and his imaginative mind has been successful also in coming up with new designs included in Fabel Studio.
Sean Thompson Short
Glass Artist
Sean Thomson-Short has worked as a glass artist with the Frabel Studio for many years. He started his career as a furnice glass blower, but quickly decided that torchworked glass art was a bigger passion to him. Because of his experience as a furnice glass blower, he quickly picked up the art of torchworked glass sculpturing.
Jack Roberts
Glass Artist
Although Roberts was fascinated with glass at a very young age, he did not start working with glass until 2001. Largely self taught, Jack Roberts worked on small sculptures and pendants until he tried to obtain an apprenticeship at the Frabel Studio in 2007. Since many glass artists were competing for this one apprenticeship position with the Frabel Studio, his chances of obtaining the position were only about 5%. However, he impressed Hans Godo Frabel with his abilities and attitude and became a Frabel apprentice. After he successfully completed his apprenticeship program, he was hired as a junior glass artist with the Frabel Studio. Currently, Roberts lives with his 8-year old daughter Ariel in Acworth, Georgia.
Magnum Mangkang
Glass Artist
Using the ancient technique of flameworking, Magnum Mangkang creates one-of-a-kind sculptural glass art. His work often depicts themes of natural history and primitive culture drawing inspiration from common objects and natural forms. Magnum's work has been covered in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Flow Magazine. He has received awards and grants from Penland School of Crafts, Glasscraft and Northstar Glassworks.
Anne Sutherland
Artistic Director
Anne Sutherland has a Bachelor degree in Visual Arts from the University of the Philippines where she also later taught and pursued graduate studies there with an emphasis on East Asia. She has had many exhibitions of her work both in the United States as well as in the Philippines. Anne joined the Frabel in April 2001, as the Artistic Director, and is presently active in various design projects for the Studio.