July 17 and 18, 2009, saw a unique event in Colorado lampworking history. The Colorado Project, a nonprofit organization committed to building the glass communitythrough philanthropy, held its first annual event in Denver, Colorado. Shack Man GlassStudio in conjunction with Glasscraft, Inc., hosted the two-day event. People from allover the country came to participate and show support.
Glass Artists with a Mission
The purpose of the event was to create a collaborative glass art installation consistingof a four-foot-by-eight-foot mask to be sold at auction to raise money for LearningLandscapes, a University of Colorado program that rebuilds playgrounds in disrepair.
Composed of lampworked pieces of crucible-pulled color and a huge bead necklace andheaddress, the mask was impressive to say the least. The community aspect of the eventwas emphasized by having nearly 150 glassblowers rotating through lampworking stations at both Shack Man Studio and Glasscraft to produce the beads for the headdressand necklace.The work for the mask itself was done by Nathan Aweida, Cary Hollenberg, andAdam Grafuis, with Abe Fleishman from Northstar pulling the color out of the crucible.For anyone who has never seen color being pulled, it is quite a sight.
During the entire event the spirit of sharing and goodwill was evident as newbies and old timers discussed techniques and traded information freely. Being able to come together to celebrate glass and raise money for a good cause made the atmosphere electric.
The success of the project shows the power of philanthropy and the versatility ofthe borosilicate community and sets a wonderful precedent for future functions. It wasthe brainchild of Sean Muelleralong with Corinne Winters, Chris Jetter, and AdamGrafuisand went from concept to reality in a mere four months, which is certainly atestament to the tenacity and ability of the Colorado Project team.
The Colorado Project 2010
This year, the organization is hoping its second event will be even bigger and better. Proceeds from the Colorado Project 2010, July 16-17, 2010, will be donated to Food Bank of the Rockies. Attendees are asked to bring $10 or an equivalent non-perishable food donation to the event.
The main event will include glassblowing demos, food and beverages, live music and glassblowing stations open to the public. There will also be a tool and material silent auction. A complete schedule of events is available on the website.
The borosilicate lampworking movement has risen far above and beyond anyone's expectations and continues to grow and change in exciting ways. As more people join theranks of the glass community, we see a dynamic evolution of not only technique but the things that drive the industry and the very way that information is propagated. More thanany other time in history, glass knowledge is not only available but shared readily. This ensures that the lampworking legacy only grows stronger as time goes by. The Colorado Project gives us a glimpse of what the future can hold for the borosilicate movement, and it is a bright future, indeed. For more information, visit www.thecoloradoproject.com
The Colorado Project 2010
Portions of this article were reproduced with permission from The Flow Magazine Fall 2009.
