GLASSFEST
MARCH 7, 2020, 9AM - 5PM
a premier North Carolina handmade functional glass sale
Glassfest is the first opportunity to see and purchase glassware from the 2020 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. Smokehouse Bistro food truck on site.
After Glassfest, work will remain in the School House Gallery while supplies last. Gallery open Monday - Saturday, 9am - 5pm.
Guest Artists
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.
Glassblowing demonstration at 10:45am.
Leckie Gassman
Leckie Gassman is a glassblower from Annapolis, Maryland. He is a STARworks Glass resident artist. Leckie holds a BFA from New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in Alfred, NY. In 2014, he received the Val Cushing Ceramic Award. He has been an instructor at the Appalachian Center for Craft in Smithville, TN, at Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, MD adn at Bucks Rock Performing Arts Camp in New Milford, CT.
Glassblowing demonstration at 2:30pm.
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.
Glassblowing demonstration at noon.
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.
Glassblowing demonstration at 9:30am.
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.
Glassblowing demonstration at 1:15pm.
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.
Glassblowing demonstration at 3:45pm.
Jackie Polofka
Jackie Polofka is a STARworks Glass production glassblower. She was born and raised in northwest Ohio and holds a BFA in three-dimensional studies from Bowling Green State University. Before joining the STARworks team, Jackie worked at the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY and the Chrysler Museum of Art Glass Studio in Norfolk, VA. She has shown her work in multiple exhibitions, most notably in the Momentum Juried Exhibition in Toledo, OH in 2017 and was awarded third place in the Glass Arts Society International Student Online Exhibition in 2016.
Glassblowing demonstration during preview party for STARworks Contributors. Click here to find out more about becoming a STARworks Contributor.