Piece of the Week | Robert Mickelsen AR-15 Bong

Now you have the perfect gift for your buddy who loves weed and the NRA… the Robert Mickelsen AR-15 bong.

Details on the Mickelsen AR-15 Bong

You may recognize the AR-15 assault rifle from CounterStrike or you might remember it from a Vietnam movie that you have seen, or possibly your dad has one in his collection of rifles. No matter how you came to learn about the AR-15, there is not doubt that it is an iconic weapon. The AR-15 was introduced in the Vietnam war as a replacement for the M14, so it is near and dear to many Vietnam veteran’s hearts.

This is a beautiful rendition of the AR-15 in borosilicate glass from Robert Mickelsen of Mickelsen Studios in Mims, Florida. The full glass piece is 34 inches long x 16 inches high x 7 inches wide. While those details are nice, the most important question is “how do you hit this bong?”  The bowl is located on the top of the scope, which feeds smoke directly into a cavity in the pistol grip which would be filled with water. Bubbling smoke feeds back into the stock which is where you hit this bong.

Robert has created a amazing piece of functional art.

Video Interview of Robert Mickelsen

Highlights from Robert Mickelsen Interview

• “I have been a flame worker for 38 years” [0:10 mark]
• Why Robert Mickelsen came to making pipes [0:35 mark]
• Robert explains his “weapons of peace” [0:44 mark]
• Tommy gun and AR-15 up close [1:15 mark]
• “If any one thing inspires me right now…” [2:00 mark]

Rober Mickelsen Biography

Born in 1951 in Fort Belvoir, Virginia and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Robert’s formal education ended after one year of college. He apprenticed with a professional lampworker for two years in the mid-seventies and then sold his own designs at outdoor craft fairs for ten years. In 1987 he took a class from Paul Stankard that opened his eyes to the possibilities of his medium. In 1989, he stopped doing craft shows and began marketing his work exclusively through galleries. Since then, his career has taken off. He shows his work in some of the finest galleries in the country and participates in prominent exhibitions each year. His work is exhibited in many prominent collections including the Renwick Gallery of American Crafts at the Smithsonian Institution, the Corning Museum of Glass, The Toledo Museum of Art, The Museum of Arts and Design, The Carnegie Museum of Art, The Mint Museum, The Cleveland Museum of Art, The Museum of American Glass at Wheaton Village, and the Pilchuck Glass School .

He has taught extensively at the major glass schools including the Pilchuck Glass School, Penland School of Crafts, The Studio at the Corning Museum of Glass, and The Eugene Glass School. He has filmed and produced two videos on his flameworking process, and he has designed and maintains an elaborate web page dedicated to his own work and the galleries that represent him (www.mickelsenstudios.com). He has published numerous technical and historical articles on flameworked glass. He served for six years on the board of directors of the Glass Art Society and was their treasurer and vice-president.

source: http://www.mickelsenstudios.com/biography.htm

Weedist Piece of the Week Archives

• Nate Dizzle Guitar Pipe | September 7
• Illadelph Alien Bong | August 31
• Star Wars R2D2 Glass Pipe | August 24
• The Ice Bong | August 16
• Ghostbusters Slimer Bubbler | August 8
• What Brand is Michael Phelps Bong? (Roor) | August 2

 

Check out other posts from Weedist’s Piece of the Week series!