“An Alternative Is Possible!” This is the rallying cry of Oregon artist Marcel Braun, who rose to fame as a pioneer in the glass pipe movement, as he turns his talents toward creating a complimentary currency model using an array of intricate glass coins.
In an economy dominated by big banks, is an alternative really possible? Oregon Glass Artist Marcel Braun believes so. After rising to prominence as a pioneer in the glass pipe movement, Marcel has turned his sights toward creating an alternative currency that can be used by, and in support of, the glass community.
This story is uniquely Oregonian, an exploration of Marcel’s quest to use his art to change the world. He and his friends are creating an alternative currency with high-grade Murrine coins, celebrating the role of artists in their community, and challenging the status quo.
Marcel’s Art Unit designs are record-breaking in their scale, using up to 30 pounds of molten borosilicate glass, heated in a custom-built furnace and pulled into canes that are sliced into coins. The process is grueling, and requires Marcel’s decades of glass working experience and a dedicated crew of supporting artists to succeed.
Award-Winning Filmmaker Daniel R. Collins (Degenerate Art: The Art and Culture of Glass Pipes; From War To Wisdom) documents Marcel’s journey over the course of three years: from the genesis of the project at his “Starship” studio in Eugene, over months of showcasing the project on the road at glass events throughout the country; and engages glass, cannabis, and alternative currency visionaries who critique, contribute to, and provide context for the ambitious goals of Project 33.
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