GLASSFEST
MARCH 2, 2019, 9AM - 5PM
a premier North Carolina handmade functional glass sale
Glassfest is the first opportunity to see and purchase glassware from the 2019 line of STARworks Glass products. Work by STARworks artists and guest glass artists from across the Southeast will be on display and available for purchase. Free glassblowing demonstrations throughout the day. The Smokehouse Bistro food truck will be on site.
After Glassfest, work will remain in the School House Gallery while supplies last. Gallery open Monday - Saturday, 9am - 5pm.
Guest Artists
Curtiss Brock
Curtiss Brock's work and approach to glass is greatly influenced by working and teaching at the Pilchuck Glass School, where he met and worked with Dale Chihuly, Lino Tagliapietra, William Morris, Jaroslava Brychtove, Bertil Vallien, Stanislav Libensky and other well established glass artists. He holds an MFA in Sculpture from the University of Illinois. The experience provided him a broad understanding of glass from a worldwide perspective that informs his teaching. He has led the glass studio at Tennessee Tech since 1994. Brock designs limited edition production lines under the studio name CB Glass.
Isaac Feuerman
Seattle based glass artist Isaac Feuerman uses the patterned symmetry of nature as the fundamental architecture which underlies his work. Drawing from the techniques of traditional Venetian glassmaking, his sculpture incorporates bold colors and organic forms, working in tandem to create visually stunning compositions that illuminate a space year round. As a craftsman, Isaac has helped fabricate pieces that have appeared in some of the top galleries and retail stores in the country including, Nordstrom’s, Neiman Marcus, the Smithsonian’s Renwick Museum of American Craft, Traver Gallery in Seattle and the Mint Museum in Charlotte.
John Geci
John Geci is a glassblower based near the Penland School of Crafts in Western North Carolina. Originally from Litchfield, Connecticut, John first realized his interest in glass while studying philosophy at Hartwick College in upstate New York. After graduating in 1994, he traveled to the Penland to hone his skills in his newfound craft. In 2001, he had the opportunity to develop his own line of glassware when he was awarded the first-ever glass residency at the EnergyXchange, an innovative small business incubator emphasizing sustainability. Since then, he has produced his vibrant and distinctive glass vessels as J. Geci Glass. He is the chairperson of the glass jury at the EnergyXchange and a member of the Toe River Arts Council.
Brianna Gluszak
Brianna Gluszak is a sculptor working primarily in the medium of glass. Her work utilizes the act of observation, relationships, and formal investigations. Allowing the viewer a meditative space that urges them to escape from the mundanity of everyday life. Brianna received a BFA with distinction in glass from the Alberta College of Art and Design. She has travelled near and far for glass, including to the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Art on Bornholm, and Pilchuck Glass School in Washington State. Brianna recently joined the residency at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, Canada.
Joe Hobbs
Joe Hobbs was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, but grew up in the Bahamas, Key West , Camarillo and Monterey. He studied at the Rhode Island School of Design, California College of Arts and Pilchuck Glass School. Joe earned his BFA in sculpture from the University of West Florida and has worked with glass for two decades now. He was the founding glass artist in residence at the Belmont Art Center (which is now the First City Art Center) in Pensacola, Florida. Currently, Joe resides in Pensacola and makes his work at First City Art Center.
Rainbow Glass Productions
Rainbow Glass Productions was opened in 2017 by Andrew Thompson and Jamie Estes, both originally from the Southeast. The pair met at the Appalachian Center for Craft, where they both studied glassblowing. Andrew and Jamie love the color rainbow and love how all types of folks can connect to its symbolism of equality for all (i.e. sexual orientation, race, and spirituality/religion). The main goal of their work is to bring fun, joy and lightness to their craft. The rainbow theme in their art helps to remind them of the people they are striving to be and to not get caught up in taking themselves too seriously. The couple collaborates in designing and in making their work.
Also Featuring STARworks Artists
Joe Grant
Joe Grant is the STARworks Glass Director. He has won many awards, including a residency at the Creative Glass Center of America and the NC Arts Council Fellowship. His work has been exhibted at the Carrack Modern Art, Turchin Center for the Visual Arts and the Green Hill Center in North Carolina, Gallery A in Richmond, Virginia, Gallery OneOne in Cincinnati, Ohio, Minnetrista in Muncie, Indiana, University Galleries in Bloomington, Illinois and Marx-Saunders Gallery in Chicago, Illinois. Joe earned a BFA from the University of Illinois and an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Thoryn Ziemba
Thoryn Ziemba is the STARworks Glass Production Manager. He is a Windgate Fellowship Award recipient and received a Niche Student Award for sculptural glass. His work has been shown throughout the United States. Before coming to STARworks, Thoryn worked for the Pretentious Beer Glass Company in Knoxville, TN. He holds a BFA in Glass from Appalachian Center for Craft/Tennessee Technical University.
Dahlia Bushwick
Dahlia Bushwick is a STARworks Glass production glassblower. She holds a BFA in Painting from Maryland Institute of Art. She apprenticed at Corradetti Glassblowing Studio in Baltimore and Art of Fire in Gaithersburg, MD. Dahlia has worked and studied at Pilchuck Glass School and the Chrysler Museum of Art. Her work has been exhibited nationwide, including the Portsmouth Museum of Art, Current Space in Baltimore City and Pilchuck Gallery in Washington.