Getting a glass blowing lesson at the North Carolina Glass Center
I’ve been mentioning the Summer of Glass (SoG) tours all year in e-newsletters, and on the website – did you consider coming?
Here are some rough notes…they’ll give you the gist of the experience
Day 1: glass demonstrations; history of studio glass and how it has evolved since the 1960’s when it moved out of the factory setting into educational centers & artists studios; we saw the filmed interviews of regional, first generation studio glass artists; had a wonderful lunch; a glass demonstration of a custom ordered piece; viewed glass art in gallery settings – saw local, national and international glass art, all interesting and some awe inspiring in detail! The first day concluded with the group going on their own to see the night viewing of Chihuly at Biltmore.
Day 2: a drive to Burnsville, just over an hour from AVL, visited 4 studios w/6 professional glass artists. Each highly skilled and interesting to hear from, we enjoyed seeing and hearing as they explained their techniques and showed their glass art to us; beautiful countryside; loved seeing the clear flowing river and surrounding mountains; bag lunch from Well-Bred. We talked and laughed and explored together.
Day 3: downtown Asheville - brunch at our host location, Blue Spiral 1 Gallery. A visiting artist joined us and he shared his art journey, telling of the influential people and events that brought him to the place he is now creating sculptural, figurative glass. We cheered on our tour participants as they tried their hand at making a glass ornament or paperweight at the NC Glass Center! Awesome job everyone! Then back to Biltmore to see Chihuly in the day.
Conclusion: yes! You should come see glass art in WNC/Asheville.
