IN THIS ISSUE:
  • Thanks for Coming to the Winter Open House
  • In the Community: Light Bulb Lec-mo at Prince Elementary
  • Give the Gift of Glass Art Education
  • Student Artist of the Month: Stephanie Saffron
  • Glass Class Spotlight
  • Lynn Davis on KXCI Nonprofit Spotlight
  • Sonoran Glass is a Best of Groupon Merchant
  • Thanks to our Volunteers!
  • Upcoming Events: The Flame Off, Tucson Bead Symposium, and Sonoran Glass Art Show all return this February.
Thanks for Coming to the Winter Open House!
Our annual Winter Open House was a big hit! Thank you for experiencing the glass arts with us! You supported nonprofit glass art education by making projects and buying gifts from our winter gallery!

You can still stop by to find that perfect locally-made glass art gift before Christmas.

PLEASE NOTE OUR HOLIDAY HOURS

We are open Monday through Friday 9AM-5PM.

We are closed on the following days:
December 24th, 25th, 26th and New Year's Day.
In the Community:
Edison Light Bulb Lec-mo at Prince Elementary
Last week, Flame Shop Director Bronwen Heilman and Associate Director Nick Letson went to Prince Elementary to teach elementary school kids about the wonders of the glass lightbulb and Edison's role in the development of artificial light.

This was in correlation with their lesson plans for this semester. The kids enjoyed a PowerPoint presentation about the history of the light bulb by Nick while Bronwen made a working light bulb out of glass live in front of the kids!

Thank you to the Kitay family for making this event possible.

Here's a thank you note from one of the kids:
"Thank you so much for teaching us and letting us do this glass project. You guys are very kind and sweet. Also you guys are the best coolest people ever, I actually mean it thanks for teaching us and helping us cut the class and more."
Student Artist of the Month: Stephanie Saffron
Q) How did you get started in glass?
I have always been a creative and artistic person, but I think moving across the country and diving into the culture out here in Arizona really gave me a new perspective. There are so many little weekend art shows and events. I love walking around, exploring and admiring people's work throughout the whole city. I remember talking with one woman in particular who had been blowing glass for years and was just mesmerized by her glass bead work. I have been intrigued and inspired ever since!

Q) Why did you become interested in glassblowing?
I had never really thought about actually blowing glass myself, just really blown away by the art of it all. Within the last year, I've moved in with a new roommate and when helping her unpack her belongings, I came across some of her amazing collection of glass work. She had told me that her friend from Colorado blew glass and explained the whole process. Admiring the glass on a daily basis all over in my own home, it inspired me to go out and look for more. I had yet to find a real calling furthering my education, but was looking to try and take classes somewhere, then I discovered the Sonoran Glass School. I absolutely love being a student, love my instructors and the whole atmosphere. I cannot wait to continue my education and keep learning from the best!

Q) What is your favorite part about working with glass?
The ability for all types of creativity to shine, is one of my favorite parts about blowing glass. You get drawn into the experience. Even when your pieces aren't exactly the design you set out for them to be, you can always learn something new from every piece you blow. Taking something found in nature and being able to create something so beautiful, the feeling is amazing!
Featured Glass Classes
Heat up your creativity this winter with these spotlight classes:

Standing Cactus, Warm Shop (kiln-fusing) - by appointment - Come experience the joy of fusing by creating a three dimensional glass cactus! Students will have the choice to make a saguaro, barrel, or prickly pear cactus. This class style is designed for students to be able to simply follow along with an instructors directions to recreate a beautiful piece of art.

Visiting Artist Joy Munshower, Flame Shop (torchworking)
This workshop is for intermediate and advanced students. Students will be sculpting bas-relief style horse beads, hedgehog beads and various sea-life beads. Students will learn to sculpt these animals from both photo reference and instructor-drawn examples. Students will learn how to break down the shapes of these animals and how to apply those shapes to sculpting in a bas-relief or low-relief style on a base bead.

Learn the finer points of making fun drinking glasses. Nothing tastes better than drinking out of a cup that you created. Using bits of colored glass called frit, students can create vibrant color patterns on their cups.
Board Member Donates Family Glass to Corning Museum
Vase, K. & K. Fachschule | fuer Glasindustrie Haida (Designer), | Karl Meltzer & Co. (Manufacturer), | Bohemia, Novy Bor (Haida), 1914-1920. | Gift of Roberta B. Elliott. 2017.3.55.
The Corning Museum of Glass recently published this blog about Roberta Elliott's donation of an heirloom that eventually made its way back to her family despite the persecution and destruction of WWII.

From blog.corning.org:

"This is the story of a vase.

Like so many old family heirlooms, this particular vase sat at the back of a china cabinet, unnoticed and hidden from view. For almost 50 years its story went untold. That is, until one strange moment of serendipity led its owner to reawaken her family’s past. A moment that would forever change her own life."
Exec. Dir. Lynn Davis on KXCI's Nonprofit Spotlight
Our very own Lynn Davis went on KXCI to share how Sonoran Glass School is inspiring people of all ages to discover the wonder of glass art.

Listen to the segment with the link below.

From KXCI: " Our Host Jennie G finds out how the people at Sonoran Glass are changing lives and playing with fire!"
SGS is a Best of Groupon Merchant
Sonoran Glass School's Groupon offer has been extremely popular and is receiving excellent reviews online, which caught the attention of Groupon. We will be listed as a Best of Groupon Merchant for 2019.

We're honored by this and want to thank everyone for their great feedback!

From Groupon: " As one of our customers’ most loved local merchants, you’ve been selected to join our  Best of Groupon collection.
Give the Gift of Glass Art Education!
Our gift certificates are the perfect gift for the aspiring glass artist or the intermediate student to take classes, rent time, or purchase glass tools and supplies!

Buy one today in the office, or order one online and we'll mail it to you.
Thanks to Our Volunteers!
To all the volunteers and board members who recently helped out at events and outings, THANK YOU! We sincerely appreciate your support!

(Clockwise from upper left) Thanks Mary Burke, Diane Taylor, Cookie Pashkow (thanks David Pashkow too!), Michael Joplin, and Jim Boulay.
Sonoran Glass Art Show
February 6-9
Explore work from glass artists from around the country and the world at Tucson's only all-glass art show during the
Gem Show.
Tucson Bead Symposium
February 6
Ornament Magazine, the Ethnographic Group, and Sonoran Glass School present the 2019 Tucson Bead Symposium featuring presentations from speakers and experts on bead topics and history.
The evening is hosted by glass artist Floor Kaspers.
FLAME OFF!
February 8th
You'll be hearing a lot more about our 18th annual Flame Off in the coming weeks.
This year's theme:
The (Un)Natural World.
Watch as up to 20 artists compete to create the best molten glass masterpiece.
Glass Art Education Transforms Lives
At the end of this month you'll receive a few emails form us highlighting SGS programming from 2018. Your contributions help us continue to offer community programs to under-served kids, vets, adults with special needs and other individuals. Please make your tax-deductible gift today! Thank you!