2018 Summer of Glass

SUMMER OF GLASS 2018 in WNC  |  Mitchell and Yancey County Events

The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina have long been associated with the art of glass and for years, Asheville’s creative magnetism has drawn in masterful glass blowers, makers and artists.

From May through October 2018 – coinciding with a new exhibition at Biltmore of multi-media artist Dale Chihuly’s monumental glass sculptures — the community will celebrate both the historical and contemporary context of glass and its talented artists in Western North Carolina.

The Chihuly at Biltmore exhibition will be at the estate from May 17 through October 7, 2018. The exhibit will be on display in the Winter Garden of Biltmore House and the Estate’s stunning gardens. For the first time, Biltmore will also host an evening experience in the gardens offering views of the sculptures after dark each Thursday through Sunday night.

Alongside the Chihuly exhibition, the Asheville and regional glass community offer its own community-wide celebration of glass through special local exhibitions, tours, workshops and events. Demonstrations of glass blowing, glass jewelry making, stained glass, enameling and working with glass beads will occur in artists’ studios, galleries and other locations across the city and surrounding region.

The Penland Gallery & Visitors Center is one of the finest showcases for contemporary craft in the Southeast. Attracting thousands of visitors each year, the gallery exhibits and sells work by current and former Penland instructors, resident artists, and former students from around the country.

A knowledgeable staff provides information about the school’s programs, the artists, and studios in the area. The John & Robyn Horn Gallery, Lucy Morgan Gallery, and the educational Visitors Center Gallery provide a remarkable destination for visitors to Penland School and the surrounding arts community.

Penland School of Crafts | History of the Glass Program

Though small in physical scale, a single innovation changed the course of glass making in America: in 1962 Harvey Littleton, with the help of Norm Schulman and Dominick Labino, built and demonstrated a studio-scale glass furnace in Toledo, Ohio. Prior to their demonstration, glasswork had been closely linked with production factories, and a studio glass practice was pretty much unheard of.

Two years later, a fortuitous meeting between Littleton and Penland director Bill Brown triggered another turning point. Once again, Littleton built and demonstrated a small glass furnace, Bill Brown saw that demonstration and was inspired to build a glass studio at Penland. In 1965, Bill Boysen, a student of Littleton’s, arrived at Penland to build that studio and hot glass at Penland became a reality. Penland’s first workshops in glass were the following summer. Glass has been a vital component of Penland’s programing ever since.

Littleton’s technology combined with Brown’s vision for a glass program at Penland acted as a springboard for the studio glass movement. The technology was accessible and Penland’s glass program became an influential hub.

Penland’s immersive learning environment, along with its progressively more sophisticated glass studios, also made Penland a magnet that has attracted a community of glass artists to the area surrounding the school. Fifty years after the first glass studio was built, there are approximately sixty active glass artists living and working in the community surrounding Penland – forty of whom work full time in glass.

Penland Gallery & Visitors Center  |  Summer of Glass Events

GATHER | Eat, Drink, Enjoy
Courtney Dodd + Nick Fruin
Blown glassware for the table
March 30 – May 20

ALCHEMY | Contemporary studio glass
July 31 – September 16
Reception: Saturday, August 4, 4:30 – 6:30 PM

VISITORS CENTER GALLERY
Special feature on the history of Penland School’s glass program
Through November

CAMPUS TOURS
Public tours are offered on Wednesdays at 1:30 PM.  Tours are only offered when classes are in session and reservations are required. For more information or to make a reservation call 828 765 6211 or email tours@penland.org

The Toe River Arts Council connects artists, the arts, and communities to enhance participation in and appreciation of the arts that will improve the quality of life for all the Toe River Valley.

Toe River Arts  |  Summer of Glass Events

Glass on Fire: Burnsville Glass Gateways Exhibition
May 19 – June 16
Burnsville TRAC Gallery
Tuesday -Saturday 10:30 – 5:00 PM

Sphere of Influence Exhibition: Glass Artists of WNC
July 28 – August 25
Spruce Pine TRAC Gallery | Dottie Owen Room
Wednesday-Saturday 11:00 – 4:00 PM
Reception Saturday, July 28, 5-7 PM

Toe River Studio Tour
Regional artist studio tour – includes 15-20 glass studios open during the weekend event
June 1 – 3
10:00 – 5:00 PM

Burnsville’s Glass Gateway
Blown glass public art sculpture
Completed installation anticipated May 2018
Dedication event July 27th

Guided Glass Studio Tours and Demonstrations
Aug 3, 10, 17, and 24  
Begins from Spruce Pine TRAC Gallery
Call TRAC for reservations and more information

Toe River Artists | Open Glass Studios in Mitchell and Yancey Counties
Map available for visitors at the TRAC Galleries, call ahead recommended

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If you haven’t explored Asheville’s newest craft areas lately, now’s the time to enjoy the explosive creativity of our artists and galleries. Hosted by the Center for Craft, you can enjoy our Summer of Glass happenings as artists and galleries expand on the spectacular Chihuly in the Gardens at the Biltmore Estate. Adding an insider’s visit to our most creative studios and gardens, the Center for Craft Tour includes exclusive nighttime tickets for Chihuly at Biltmore, a private visit to the home & garden of John Cram, Asheville’s “Founding Father” of our crafts scene, and exclusive introductions to top artists and galleries.

The Center for Craft Tour takes place from Thursday afternoon, June 14 to Friday evening, June 15, with an optional add-on day of Saturday, June 16. Cost is $295 per person with $85 for the additional day’s tour. We invite you to come with your friends and family on this exclusive craft adventure limited to 20 guests.