Newsletter: Summer 2018
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Go For Glass

Summer is a time of travel for many of us. Here's what we got when we asked subscribers for their glassy travel experiences:
Steph Mader found glass just down the street:
"I was walking along one of the back paths in Langley [Whidbey Island, WA] and stumbled across this new public art sculpture. Well, under it, actually. It looks like a glass and metal spiral buried in the ground and you walk through it like a tunnel. It's a different experience being surrounded by a piece. That's the beauty of sculpture, it takes up space and you have to interact with it. The name of the piece is "Inferred". It's a collaboration of Lin McJunkin (cast glass) and Milo White (steel work). I love being surprised by art!" You can also be surprised by public art by the same artists in Lynwood, WA near the City Center Apartments at the SW corner of 196th St. at I-5 exit and in Mount Vernon, WA's Riverwalk Park at the west end of Gates St. (and other places: we're thinking of focusing our winter 2019 issue on community glass so more on this later)
McJunkin and White's "Inferred" in downtown Langley WA on Clyde Alley (which connects the 3rd Street parking area to 2nd Street).
Jen Haley blowing glass
Jen Haley has family on Whidbey Island WA "After years of walking around Langley and past Callahan’s Fire House, us girls got a glass blowing adventure for Christmas.  This summer I am learning how to do it all myself.  Callahan’s is in an old firehouse, open year-round and the first weekend in January hosts the Sea Float Scramble at Waterfront park in Langley."
Also see Fred Buxton's class travels in "New Work" below.
Jean Shaffer says the Chihuly Gardens and Glass exhibit at the Seattle Center is fantastic and well worth the cost (it isn't even very far away for many of us).
Cynthia Smith hears from students that they see blown glass at one of the local museums and then come into Blowing Sands in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood for a lesson [glowing reviews on Trip advisor].
Karen Seymour makes a habit of checking out galleries when she travels. She stopped in at Creative Minds, a new Co-op Gallery in Eastsound (Orcas Island, WA), where she found glass by Kathy Skripek.
glass by Kathy Skripek at Creative Minds gallery
Post links to your glassy gallery finds on the moderated FriendsInGlass Facebook page.
Several folks attended glass conferences, a fun way to roll lots of glass experiences into a few packed days:
Bridget Culligan traveled furthest: to the island of Murano, Italy for this year's 47th annual Glass Art Society (GAS) conference. "The Glass Path led attendees through the winding path of the island’s remarkable history while exploring the future of glass. A selection of Murano’s glass factories and studios provided the Glass Art Society with the incredible opportunity to use these facilities as venues for the conference. Attendees were a part of the well-planned GAS conference programs including glass demonstrations and lectures on inspiring glass topics, and special programming including parties, gallery openings, collaboration with Italian masters, and culminating in a glass fashion show in the gondola’s of Murano’s grand canal. It was beyond any glass artist’s wildest dreams!" She invites Seattle folks with basic office skills to join her in volunteering at the GAS office in Seattle.
Factory interior of the Simone Cenedese Studio complete with chandeliers.
Rainbow mountains of cullet and rods stacked behind the Murano shops.
Mary Kay Nitchie (Bullseye Glass Co.)  attended the Glass Art Society conference when it was in Corning NY in 2016 and sends this photo from the fashion show: a jacket by Nancy Weisser made entirely of rings of glass. In addition to the excitement of attending a glass conference she enjoyed seeing The Corning Museum of Glass. "Join GAS to get the full benefit of their support for the art glass community."
Matt Laitala  (NW Art Glass) just got back from the Stained Glass Association of America (SGAA) Conference hosted by Judson Studios in Anaheim CA, June 14-20, 2018. He enjoyed the variety of experiences offered: pre-conference classes, guest speakers and face-to-face opportunities with key manufacturers and distributors. "Even at just a fraction of the size of the annual Glass Craft and Bead Expo in Las Vegas, the SGAA conference is an important element of the art glass industry. Members play a key part in the studio production/restoration and retail storefront markets. Founded in 1906, the SGAA continues to publish a quarterly industry magazine and helps promote glass art on all levels. NW Art Glass encourages others to join them in supporting this organization"
Do your travels inspire your glass? Editor Karen Seymour has posted images of natural designs found in a recent visit to Yellowstone and will follow up with images of any glass inspired by them. If you have travel photos that inspired your glass or which might inspire your fellow artists please share the link on our moderated Facebook page.
Planning your next NW trip?  You can find a list of Museums, Glass shops, Studios and NW artists who teach, listed by area, on our classes/resources page.
NEXT ISSUE: "Glass Surprises".  DO YOU DARE to send us images of your "surprises" or "learning experiences" and how you dealt with them so that the community can learn from them too? We'll give a link to your website if you have one (or we can publish them anonymously if you want). Send to FriendsInGlass (you know what symbol) gmail.com by September 15th.
*****Start working on your ornament for our holiday contest***** Deadline for photos is November 1st. We're working on getting local glass businesses to donate gift certificates as prizes.
Karen Seymour, Editor

What's New? New work by local artists

Egret by Fred Buxton who traveled to Fayette Texas to make it during a 5-day class from Donna Serafis "The class I signed up for was appropriately titled "Egrets". Donna's birds in glass are like no other artist's, they literally fly off the background. Donna is not only an amazing artist, but she is a wonderful teacher and mentor. She doesn't just teach you her techniques, she teaches you to pay attention to the finest details and nuances, and then helps you translate it into glass."
Sara Buxton (not related to Fred) created "Inside Out No. 2" using Bullseye's newly re-issued Dense White (000313) to great effect.
We applaud the fact that Dense White is back in production but before using this glass in your own work, read the working notes. Do a bit of testing if you plan to exceed the parameters given.

How'd They Do That?

 Cynthia Morgan's  helpful glass blog is legendary in the fusing community. She let us share her solution to the "my kiln's not tall enough"  problem faced by many of us trying to do kiln-casting. The finished piece above initially went into the kiln face down as you can see in adjacent slideshow. Read the full details at http://www.morganica.com/dripping-in-glass/
(mouse-over the image to play it)

 Announcements & Events

Looking for other glass folks?
  • The Oregon Glass Guild meets nearly monthly; they have a newsletter and they are also looking for volunteers for events.
  • The Whidbey Island Glass Guild holds periodic gatherings and sponsors events: contact Gina Mitchel at 1shopcat (you know the symbol) gmail.com
  • Seattle Glass etc. Sunday Brunch potluck every few months: contact Karen Seymour to get on the email-list, next meeting in late summer
July
10-14  Bullseye Resource Center, Portland OR summer sale
14-15   Wedgewood Arts Festival, Seattle WA
20-22 Salem Art Fair and Festival, Salem, OR
29       Museum of Glass' Glass Fest Northwest, Tacoma WA
27       Daniel Clayman artist's talk at Bullseye Resource center, Portland OR
27-29 See 3-in-1: BAM Arts Festival, Festival of the Arts and 6th St., Bellevue WA
August 
3-5     Anacortes Arts Festival, Anacortes WA
3         Firehouse Gallery open house (every first friday), Vancouver WA
12        Oregon Glass Guild summer picnic, Blue Lake OR
18-19  Fresh Paint, Everett WA
24-26 Art In the High desert, Bend OR
25-26 Art In The Garden, Bellevue WA
25-26 Whidbey Working Artists Summer Studio Tour, Whidbey Island WA
September
2-4      Art In the Pearl, Portland OR
7-9      Art In The Park Boise ID
15        Deadline for Fall FriendsInGlass.org newsletter: "Glass Surprises"
27-30 Local 14 Art Show and Sale, Portland OR
October
13-14 & 20-21 Portland Open Studios, Portland OR
20        Pilchuck Gala Glass Auction, Seattle WA
20-21  Glass and Decor Studio Tour, Seattle WA
           (FriendsInGlass.org sponsors this studio tour)
20-21 & 27-28  Philomath Open Studio Tour, Philomath OR
November 1st: FriendsInGlass.org Ornament contest entries due!!!
Walking an art show is a great way to have the world come to you.
You can find NW artists like Joshua Rodine (above) at BAM, Art In The Pearl, and many other art shows this summer
If you take a vacation be sure to check out area glass exhibits. For example the Bullseye Resource Center in the Bay Area is showing "Reticulation" (above) featuring work by California artists Sean Cramblett and Linda Gass through September 8th.
Your favorite glassy event isn't here? Send us a note or post it to our moderated Facebook page.
We've simplified the Classes/Resources page. If you offer classes (or want to help someone who does) please see if I have you listed/linked correctly. If you have a specific class coming up please post it to our moderated Facebook page.
You sell/teach glass art and you're not in our Gallery? It's free. Without you and your other glass friends our database isn't nearly as useful to the the Pacific NW glass community. We want a photo of yourself at work for the artist directory and 3 images of your art for the gallery plus a bit more info so prospective buyers, galleries, students etc. can contact you.

FriendsInGlass (you know the symbol) gmail.com or (206) 525-1577
Thanks!
Karen Seymour
Friends In Glass Summer 2018 Coupon   
 10% off *
of full retail price on named items from any of these participating artists/organizations
Expires August 31, 2018
NOT VALID WITHOUT SUBSCRIBER CODE
Bullseye Glass Resource Center: 10% off "introductory classes"
   (this time at any location: Portland, Bay Area, Santa Fe, New York or Los Angeles)
Glass Expressions, Burien WA: 10% off frit
Karen Seymour, Seattle, WA: 10% off  non-custom work or classes at studio only
Fred Buxton, Port Orchard, WA: 10% off classes at studio only
Fred Buxton is one of the local masters of fused landscapes. He teaches classes in his Raining Sunshine studio in Port Orchard WA (see coupon)
*The fine print: Coupon can be used only once with any given organization/artist. One size can’t possibly fit all: due to contracts, special agreements etc. the participating organization/artist reserves the right to exempt any particular item from the coupon. Please inquire before attempting to redeem the coupon. Coupon is not transferable, can not be combined with any other discount and has no monetary value.

Get your name and link in front of more than 260 local potential glass customers/students. It only costs you the 10% if it's effective and you sell something (the 10% goes to your customer, not FIG). FIG is free and all volunteer: the coupon is how we get folks to subscribe and open the newsletter.
Thank you to all those who have supported us in this way!
Copyright Friends In Glass 2018 -- All Images are used by permission and those copyrights are retained by the artists
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