Glassblowers design the jewelry of the Cannabis industry. Like Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Tiffany & Co., they are the dreamers behind the shiny showstoppers at the sesh. That’s why it’s always a reason to celebrate when non-Cannabis media gives them their flowers. That’s what happened when I tuned into a recent episode of Conan O’Brien’s podcast “Conan Needs A Friend” and heard a name I instantly recognized: California glass artist Dan Dahlhauser, also known as ApixDesign.
This Bay Area native has been creating custom works since high school when he discovered all his friends suddenly needed bongs. Originally he wanted to get into welding but felt it was too time-consuming and expensive, so he went into glassblowing instead. “If I only knew,” he joked.
Now living in Vacaville and creating for clients all over the world, he and his wife are both die-hard fans of comedian Conan O’Brien. So when Dan discovered that you can apply to be a guest on the late-night legend’s podcast, he immediately signed up. Dan says it took close to a year for him to hear back, but after that first phone call the whole process really took about a week from screening to taping.
On a pre-interview call with Team Coco’s Aaron Bleyaert, Dan went over glassblowing and the type of work he makes. It was then that Bleyaert asked if Dan could make a Conan bong — what would it look like, and could it be made so that three people could hit it at once? After an idea session on what that would look like, 30 minutes later, Dan got the call that he’d be featured on the podcast, which meant he had just a few days to create something and get it to their studios before the episode was recorded. “It was a bit of a forced pressure to deliver,” Dan says, “but I kind of like that setup when I’m working.”
The result is what Bleyaert called the “Chill Chums Bong,” a 15-inch tube that splits off into three mouthpieces and flows down over a gridded stemline. The faceted bowl features three orange spiral horns to signify Conan’s signature hair, and the tube is emblazoned with Easter eggs like Conan’s signature doodle, some gerbils to reference the podcast and a big Team Coco logo. Along with the tube, Dan also created a set of glasses, ashtrays and a special Sherlock pipe for co-host Sona Movsesian. As the first glassblower ever interviewed by Conan, he felt, “Why not come in guns blazing.”
Dan’s appearance on the podcast is a great conversation that shows their genuine reactions to both the piece and the art form, while also sharing how much care and intention go into making these pieces. Dan said he felt they really had fun talking about the work, how he became a glassblower and getting to share something he created as a thank-you for all the laughs O’Brien has given him and his wife. “All joking aside,” O’Brien told him, “you’re an artist.”
This “Chill Chums Bong” is the first of its kind for Dan, but he’s already had people contact him asking for one of their own. Fans of the podcast have also been reaching out to Dan, asking for pictures so they can see it for themselves, which are available on his website. For now the piece rests with Team Coco, presumably in the studio waiting for the podcast’s next Chill Chums episode. When asked what Dan’s been working on next, he mentioned a desire to combine his glasswork with his love for woodworking, sculpture and furniture making. “I’ve even taken up welding,” he says.
apixdesign.com | earwolf.com/episode/get-over-myself | @apixdesign
