Our General Meeting at Vintage Glassworks

Lee Ann Ellison and Ben Rolston hosted our general meeting at thieir 'Vintage Glassworks" shop and studio in Mission Gorge on July 19th. If you are not familiar with the shop, previously owned by Blue Dolphin, you must visit! Lee Ann has a great selection of Oceanside, Bullseye and stained glass. She sells frit, sheet glass, vitragraph and tools for just about any glass project.

Las Vegas Glass and Bead Show

The Annual Glass show this year was very well attended and all of our sponsors and vendors were there with an exciting array of glass, equipment and accessories. Krista Heron and Susan Hirsch worked at the Rayzist photomask booth demonstrating and showing examples of the many ways to use Rayzist films to create imagery and effects. Krista helped people with the "Make your own Paperweight" teaching how to apply the masks and sandblast. Susan taught three sold out classes with Krista's help. Thanks to Oceanside Glass for providing glass for the classes.

Tour of the "Clearly Indigenous" Exhibit

at the Mingei Museum in Balboa Park

The AGASC had a private tour in July at the Minqei Museum with three docents to answer questions and give insight into the show. A few days later there was a lecture by participating artist Dan Friday. Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass is a first-of-its-kind, groundbreaking exhibition giving broader and overdue recognition to a wide range of contemporary Native American and indigenous, Pacific-Rim artists working in glass.

This powerful, innovative, and majestic exhibition includes approximately 120 glass art objects created by twenty-nine Native American artists, four Pacific Rim artists from New Zealand and Australia, and leading glass artist Dale Chihuly, who first introduced glass art to Indian country. 

Zoom lecture with award winning artist

Alex Gabriel Bernstein at Heron Studio

Our group was so fortunate to have such an esteemed artist like Alex Burnstein take the time to share a powerpoint of his work and talk about the techniques required to do his art. This live presentation where he shared his person story and answered our questions was amazing. He was most generous and sharing regarding all of the steps in creating his intricate work. Bernstein skillfully combines metaphor with the power and sensuality of sculpted glass. His cast, carved and polished glass sculptures provide the viewer with intimate narrative landscapes, drawn from light, form and color. Alex explores ideas about the passage of time and the processes of creation and transformation.

The forms of Bernstein’s pieces – as well as the techniques he uses to work the glass – mirror processes in nature, such as oxidation, erosion, growth and decay. As a result, many of his pieces evoke images of flowing water, ice crystals, mountain peaks and jagged canyons – all structures that seem solid and unyielding, but are actually in constant flux.

USCD Open House

On August 12th, the new The UC San Diego Glass Center held an open house and glass demonstration for the public. The Center is a 10,000-square-foot facility that opened in March 2026 within the Ridge Walk Living and Learning Neighborhood. Open to students, staff, faculty, alumni, and the public, the center offers introductory classes, workshops, studio space, and professional services. Annika Nelson, senior director of the craft and glass centers, will lead the new art center with Alexander Rosenberg as assistant director. 

Facility Features & Studios

• Hot Shop: Equipped with four benches and two 400-pound electric furnaces for glassblowing and ladle casting.
• Cold Shop: Outfitted for grinding, drilling, lathing, polishing, and etching.
• Flamework Studio: Named the Paul Stankard and Dave Graeber Flamework Studio, featuring 13 benches and a lathe.
• Multipurpose Classroom: Supports stained glass, fusing, slumping, and layout work.
• Viewing Gallery: Showcases demonstrations and finished works.

Three Day Casting Workshop at Corning

followed by the GAS Conference

The Corning Museum of Glass and Corning Studios marked a major milestone this year with not only the GAS conference, but also their first-ever Casting Conference. Following the completion of the studio rebuild last year, it was the perfect way to showcase the expanded facilities.

The three-day Casting Conference was held first, with attendance capped at 100 participants—reflecting the seating capacity of the new auditorium. The event featured nonstop presentations from some of the world’s leading glass casters, offering an impressive depth of knowledge and inspiration. Highlights included presentations and demonstrations by Karen LaMonte, Dean Allison, Fumio Adachi, and Zdeněk Lhotský, among others.

After three intensive days dedicated to casting, the momentum carried directly into the GAS conference. The schedule was packed with demonstrations and presentations across both the studios and the museum. Featured artists included Karen Willenbrink-Johnsen and Jasen Johnsen, Lucio Bubacco, Davide Salvadore, Jiyong Lee, and many more.

To accommodate the large crowds, live video feeds were streamed into additional viewing rooms, ensuring attendees could experience the full program despite high demand. The event culminated in a lively fashion show and celebratory party on the final night, closing out an unforgettable week of glass art.

Welcome New Members

Calendarx2026

August 6xxxxxxxxTour and Sale at Coatings by Sandberg

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxCoatings by Sandberg

xxxxxxXXXxxxxxxX856 N. Commerce Street 

xxxxxxXXXxxxxxxXOrange, CA  92867

xxxxxxXXXxxxxxxXTour starts at 10:30 am

August 22 & 23xxColdworking Workshop by Tom Marosz

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxTom's Studio

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx606 Concepcion Avenue

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxSpring Valley, CA 91977

September 5xxxxxAdhesive Workshop by Tom Marosz 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxTom's Studio

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx606 Concepcion Avenue

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxSpring Valley, CA 91977

Sept 12 - Oct 24xxFallbrook Center for the Arts

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx29th Annual Glass Exhibition

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxOpening Reception: September 12

Oct 20 - Nov 2xxxxAGASC 45th Annual Members' Exhibition

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxGallery 21, Spanish Village Art Center, 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxBalboa Park, 11-4pm daily

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxReception October 24, 4-7pm