Glass Art Society - What's In A Name?

The Glass Art Society! The name doesn't nearly say it all....this group does so much to promote the Glass Arts. But even more impressive for me was the way the 'foster' the student artist. This conference was really all about the 'youth'....there were so many young artist. The conference was very well attended. Artist everywhere - and you could spot them all over Pittsburgh - the the dress, their manner, the slow way they took in the architecture, cameras in hand, but the William Penn Omni have thousands of Glass Arts - so very many students - probably a thousand just female students ( this made me very excited) - Marvin Lipofsky said: "when he watches the students in the commercial vending areas buying their first good blow pipe - the big ones - its exciting for him....when the female students commit to purchasing these pipes, he knows they are committed to the craft" . . .' he remembers a time when there were no women and they wouldn't have been welcome in the shops'- Marvin, has always thought there was a place for the women. He has encourage female students his entire life. After spending only a day with Marvin Lipofsky I realized he is probably one of the most positive people I have ever encounter. To have a teacher like Lipofsky - who refuses to see limits or the world in any given shape or size or constraints - who wants only to create and allow you to develop and create also. WELL he's amazing now and I'll bet 30 years ago he never sat still for even 30 minutes!

While I was disappointed Joel Philip Myers was not in attendance, due to some family illness. He was the topic of conversation at our table - the pioneers I sat with were all his friends - they have traveled with him to Russia, Switzerland, all over the world doing Glass Art lecturers and shows. These men are the founders of the Glass Art Movement in the United States perhaps the World. Henry Halem said " well when we were doing it...me on the east coast, Marvin on the west - organizing most by phone, it was a labor of love, we did it because we love the craft, the art, the students and we love each other - the designers - the teachers - we all knew one another, there was no jealousy, we were just excited to see one of our students, or one of us be recognized, we each tried to open doors for one another. We weren't thinking long term, or realizing how it would grow." I found myself thinking as he spoke THIS IS WHAT ART AND LIFE AND FRIENDSHIP SHOULD BE !

The goal of the Blenko Project was to promote Blenko Glass and bring awareness to BLENKO GLASS s history in West Virginia. So much of the history of Glass Art in the United States isn't recorded and is dying. Marvin, Henry, Joel, Harvey all these men were at BLENKO GLASS if not as employees, they came to work in the factory with their students, they were friends of Mr. Blenko, they valued BLENKO GLASS Company, they were aware of the fine work the craftsmen did. Marvin L. and Henry told me they both had Shorty Finley and Jar Fly Richardson come to their classrooms for years (they paid for them to fly out each year for week) to blow glasss and demonstrate - Henry taught at Kent State in Ohio. Marvin taught mostly in California. The BLENKO connection is wide....I keep finding new BLENKO connections.
The generosity and open mindedness of Mr. Blenko has allowed for University Students and their Professors to visit Blenko and to experience the factory process. I would like to believe that each of those students will also remember BLENKO.

West Virginia's treasure BLENKO GLASS COMPANY was certainly being fondly remembered today in Pittsburgh at a table with a half dozen over 65 PIONEERS all former board members and officers of the Glass Art Society. Each with their own wonderful BLENKO memory.

Let me tell you a little more about the GAS. *
The Glass Art Society is an international non-profit organization founded in 1971 whose purpose is to encourage excellence, to advance education, to promote the appreciation and development of the glass arts, and to support the worldwide community of artists who work with glass. We hold an annual conference, publish the Glass Art Society Journal, the Membership/Education Roster and the bi-monthly GASNews.

GAS strives to stimulate communication among artists, educators, students, collectors, gallery and museum personnel, art critics, manufacturers, and all others interested in and involved with the production, technology and aesthetics of glass. We are dedicated to creating greater public awareness and appreciation of the glass arts.

Membership is open to anyone interested in glass art - artists, students, educators, collectors, gallery and museum personnel, writers, and critics. Members are entitled to vote, hold office, and enjoy all other rights and privileges as determined by the Society's bylaws.

GAS is made up of a Board (elected annually by the full membership and comprised of at least 75% artist/educators and a student representative), a staff of five and a membership of over 2500 glass enthusiasts from 46 countries.

The Glass Art Society has a News Letter - its free with membership and a great read:

GAS News provides ongoing exchange of ideas and information, and a place for regular communication between glass artists around the world. Six issues of GAS NEWS are published a year and mailed to all current GAS members. GAS NEWS is available online for GAS members. GAS NEWS welcomes submissions from members. For more information go here. GAS NEWS also provides advertising opportunities for your company or organization. For more information, go to advertising. You can download a PDF version of a sample issue of GAS NEWS here.

Shane Fero is the Current President

Shane Fero has been a flameworker for 36 years and maintains a studio next to Penland School in North Carolina. He participates in international symposia and demonstrations and has exhibited worldwide. Fero is also an educator and has taught at institutions such at Penland School, Urban Glass, the Pratt Fine Arts Center, the Studio of the Corning Museum of Glass, the University of Michigan, Pilchuck Glass School, Bild-Werk, Frauenau, Germany, the International Glass Festival in Stourbridge, UK, and in Seto and the Niijima Glass Art Center in Japan. His work can be found in collections both private and public institutions worldwide.

*info taken from GAS website

MY CAMERA IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY SO PHOTOS WILL BE POSTED TOMORROW!