Aleksandrs Logvins

Van Den Eijnden, Katja

Glassblower

The keeper of tradition

Aleksandrs and his apprentice are the only active glassblowers in Latvia
He received the Latvian Heritage Cultural Mark for promoting the craft
His is the only glassblowing workshop open to the public in Latvia

In Latvia, the city of Līvāni is synonymous with glass. It is known for its centuries-old tradition of glass production, which was developed at the Līvāni Glass Factory. Aleksandrs Logvins continues to keep this tradition alive at his glassblowing workshop. His career is intertwined with glass and the factory, where he worked for 24 years. Now, he is the only remaining glassblower carrying on the city's heritage. His studio is part of the Livani Glass and Craft center, which also houses the Līvāni Glass Museum, the only glass museum in the Baltics. Aleksandrs’s studio allows visitors to observe the glassmaking process and discover glassblowing and hot glass techniques.

Interview

©Evelīna Rudzāte

How did you train?: I gained basic glassblowing skills at the Līvāni Glass Factory, which was founded in 1887 and over the centuries has become a symbol of Līvāni. Since its closure in 2008 I've defined myself as self-taught, as I have continued to work and develop my skills on my own.
How has your life been entwined with glass?: Glass has always mesmerised me! My first experience of working with glass came around 1980-1981, when I took glassblowing courses at the the Līvāni Glass Factory. In 1984, I started to work there, remaining until it closed. In 2016, I returned to Līvāni to work at the new glassblowing studio.
Has there been a particularly remarkable moment in your career?: Probably the moment when the municipality of Līvāni found an opportunity to build our glassblowing studio. It had been eight years since the closure of the factory. For hot glass to return to our city was truly symbolic and important for the city’s heritage.
What skills do potential glassblowers need?: Great patience above all, because you cannot learn this profession in a year. Unfortunately, my apprentice and I are the last active glassblowers in our country. I really don't want this spark to fade away, so I would encourage young people to learn this craft.

Aleksandrs Logvins is a master artisan: he began his career in 1984 and he started teaching in 2018