community spring 2022
Grand Glass Gathering Glass art is intricately interwoven into the fibers of Tacoma. From the nationally recognized Hilltop Artists youth program, to a multitude of individual artists working in garage-based hot shops, to museum exhibitions of glass art featuring internationally famous artists, Tacoma’s connection to glass only grows stronger every year. The City of Destiny will be the host of the 2022 Glass Art Society (GAS) Conference this May in celebration of the organization’s 50th anniversary. Tacoma is a glass capital of the world on par with previous host cities such as Seto, Japan, Murano, Italy and Samland, Sweden.
with the Tacoma Art Museum—our organization has a long history of developing local talent through our glassmaking programs and we want the world to know about what we do. Students can join our programs as young as twelve years old and many stay with us for eight or more years. They become studio assistants and Each year, the GAS Conference features approximately established artists, and they contribute a tremendous 100 presenters from various stages of career development amount of diversity to the field. and involvement in the glass community to showcase their expertise, talent, research, and more. From emerging “Our partnerships with Pilchuck Glass School, Crafting artists to established professionals, the presenters make the Future, and the Museum of Glass here in Tacoma up a diverse and engaging group of artists, educators, expand the skills and experiences of our students by curators, researchers, and administrators. providing access to a wide variety of teaching artists and hot shops. Our students are the future of glassmaking For the region’s youngest glass artists, Hilltop Artists, and I’m glad our GAS peers will have an opportunity to this is an amazing opportunity to learn from established see and appreciate what we can do.” artists from around the globe as well as share their skills and talents. Tickets to attend the GAS conference start at $485, and you will be able to enjoy special exhibitions and events “Hilltop Artists’ students and staff are excited to have the at the Museum of Glass and Tacoma Art Museum with GAS conference here in Tacoma,” stated Dr. Kimberly regular admission (more details available on those Keith, Executive Director, Hilltop Artists. “We are working organizations’ websites). on an exhibition called Gather: 27 Years of Hilltop Artists v HILLARY RYAN SHOWCASE MAGAZINE
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