Glass Feature: Shurlok Holm

@shurlokholm

Imagine growing up in the shadow of an icon. Imagine if that icon is a legendary artist whose name is respected and admired throughout the cannabis community, and who’s creations hold honored spaces in smoke shop showcases and glass pipe collections throughout the country.

That is the legacy to which Caleb Holm — son of Darby Holm —was born into. Since he was a just a little spark making marbles, mushroom pendants and implosion beads, Caleb has worked alongside his dad and other glass masters at DC Labs, in Southern Oregon.

“He’s been a great teacher,” Caleb says, “I’ve learned some of the coolest tips and trade secrets.”

Now, only 22 years old, Caleb, aka ‘Shurlok Holm,’ it taking his turn in the spotlight. While he makes some detailed sherlocks and pendants, Caleb’s signature pieces are the Heady Teddies — figural dab rigs he calls the Teddy Mafia.

“If you look it up, mafia means like-minded organization of criminals. We’ve been viewed as criminals when we were just trying utilize this medicine and even for just being involved with the culture,” Caleb says.

“As little kids, we all had a blankie or a baba, and the bears tie us back to our natural instincts,” he adds. “There are all these amazing pieces out that are really sharp and crazy — my thing is to put a cute, cuddly soft side on it.”

Caleb has also come up with a new technique he’s incorporating into his work — Mayan inspired maze patterns created within a disc flip. For him there’s nothing like the hands-on aspect of the work.

“As glassblowers, we’re drawn to the medium like moths to the flame — that’s where I find happiness,” Caleb says.

“This is the only life I could see myself in,” he adds, “it’s the most community-minded culture in the world. My passion is blowing glass, but the part I love the most is selling my pieces and being able to meet other people with the same open mindset.”

Recent Articles

With Halloweentime upon us, ghosts and goblins all around the world are gearing up for the annual celebration of the macabre. Between dressing up in fun costumes and making caramel apples to taking our kids trick-or-treating around the neighborhood, there’s no shortage of things to do at the end of October; but did you know that some of the earliest traditions revolved around the use of incense and other herbal blends?
When I was in college, my sophomore year roommate, who went by Bear, had a two-foot-tall bong with a name. Green Lucy was a gorgeous emerald-colored masterpiece with thick, bulbous glass at the top, comfortable for ripping huge hits. It was a celebrity on our floor of the creative arts co-op where we lived. People would come from all over the house, and sometimes from other parts of campus, just to hang with Bear and get baked from Green Lucy.
Charlea came into the cannabis space as a journalist, covering Missouri’s fascinating cannabis landscape as it rapidly evolved. While reporting on the state’s medical marijuana vote, Charlea got to know a local physician who was equally passionate about legalizing medical use in the state.
Common business advice tends to view the 80:20 rule simplistically. Focus on the 80% of your store that drives profit, it says. Ignore the rest. That’s fine for the average folks. But what about those who want to boost the other 20%?
Before you've said a word, your shop is selling. The customer hasn’t touched a single product, and your staff hasn't even said hello. Your decor and layout have already done the talking, either pulling people in or pushing them away.
As VP of Operations at ATM Wholesaler and Elite Merchant Services, he’s picked up the baton from his father and CEO, Norman Koza, who passed it to him after founding this successful company over 25 years ago.