Glass artists across Michigan get fired up in April as they celebrate Michigan Glass Month.
Michigan Glass Month always brings a schedule of creative events and exhibitions geared to promoting Michigan artists, studios, schools, art centers, museums, collections, and galleries.
Stained glass artist Mark Talaba and Habatat Galleries owner Ferd Hampson conceived this celebration of glass artistry 30 years ago as a series of lectures, exhibitions, demonstrations, and studio visits.
Today, the annual event promotes artists working with glass
in many different forms at galleries, art centers, museums and businesses throughout
the state and the greater Great Lakes region with shows, seminars,
demonstrations and other celebrations of the art of glass. Over the years, the
celebration grew to occasionally include events in March and May, and in other regional
locations like northern Ohio and Windsor, Ontario.
This year's schedule includes events traditionally included in Michigan Glass Month like Habatat Galleries 38th Annual International Glass Invitational exhibition and auction in Royal Oak, Michigan. This event features over 90 artists from 16 different countries, and I've heard it described as the oldest and largest contemporary glass exhibition in the world. These pieces can run into five figures at auction, but enjoying the April 24 through May 25 exhibition is free.
The schedule this year appears to include more events at venues in western Michigan as well.
The 4th Annual Battle of the Glassblowers, hosted by the West Michigan Glass Society in Kalamazoo, is a series of timed glass blowing competitions drawing participants from across the country. This event, billed by the sponsoring society as a "spectator sport", looks like a lot of fun and takes place Friday, April 2 and Saturday April 3.
Teens in Benton Harbor, Michigan, get "Fired Up!" this month as they exhibit their fused, blown and flame worked glass pieces at Water Street Glass Works. This organization is a non-profit, public access school, studio, and gallery that offers classes and workshops for teenage students and adults. Check out this show, and a metal and glass show from Kalamazoo metal smith Holly Fisher, April 17 through May 16.
One of the best places around town to watch glass blowers in action year round is at the 75-year-old "Sandwich Glass Plant" in Greenfield Village, where glass blowers demonstrate the process from start to finish, and you can purchase some of the finished items at the Liberty Craftworks Store or online at the Henry Ford site. Visit the glass studio Saturday April 17 through Monday April 19 when the Greenfield Village glass artisan team creates some special pieces highlighting their talents.
Check out the Michigan Glass Month brochure online, or drop
by the organizers' Web site for late updates.
Note:
"Where I live" posts are part of a series of periodic stories about
special events and people in, and around, metro Detroit. "Where I
live" posts are stories I'll post in addition to my regular schedule of
stories about attractions around the larger Midwestern region. I hope you enjoy
reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.
© Dominique King 2010 All rights reserved
What amazing handiwork. When retired my goal is to travel to various shows that are around. I love the artistry.
Posted by: arizona glass | May 31, 2010 at 06:43 PM
Sounds like a good goal. You're right, the artistry is pretty amazing in many cases!
Posted by: Dominique King | May 31, 2010 at 08:02 PM