Gathering of the Guilds in Portland Oregon
April 25, 2013
My car is packed and I’m ready to set up my booth today for Oregon Glass Guild’s Glass Gallery this weekend. Held in conjunction with Gathering of the Guilds at Oregon Convention Center, Portland Oregon April 26, 27, 28 it’s the largest artist run art show west of the Rockies.
It takes me almost a full day to set up my booth for a three-day show like this. You can see pictures in this link from last year’s show.
Knowing I’m about to miss a gorgeous long weekend, I decided to spend the afternoon in my garden.
I noticed this little chickadee leaving a bird house so decided to wait & watch for a bit.
He’s building a nest! I love the sound of baby birds each spring.
We have a swarm of hummingbirds defending territory. I’ve posted photos on my Facebook page, but will soon add them to An Artist’s Garden also.
It was a lovely afternoon sharing the sun with this little guy, the birds, bees and butterflies! Hope to see you at Oregon Convention center for Gathering of the Guilds this weekend!
777 NE Martin Luther King Blvd in Portland Oregon. Hall C. Friday 10 – 9; Saturday 10 – 7; Sunday 10 – 5.
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I’m feeling particularly exhausted after this year’s Glass Gallery. The last two days were spent basking in the sun photographing birds and flowers in my garden as new colors emerge from the earth. Today is back to reality with two more shows coming right up!
This year’s Glass Gallery was wonderful. The artists were fabulous. Our customers were delightful. I’ve shown you how the show and my booth are set up, so this epilogue will simply be some of my friends & ‘booth neighbors’ who I caught when they weren’t busy with customers. Some of my favorite artists were always so busy that I couldn’t digitally catch them this year. Starting with Carolyn & Kathy, my neighbors … then random order:
Carolyn Crystal Handmade Glass Beads
Art Glass by Dale Rohrer with Donna Mason
Michael Barley Handmade Glass Beads
Debra Fenzl of MSR Studio
Kathy Engholm of Indigo Crow Studio and Karen Fairley of Shattered Illusions Glass
Stephanie Johnston
Natalie Vinsant of Live Laugh Love Glass
Pamela Domick
Carli Schulz Kruze, Juice Glass
Julie Vincent of Corte Designs
Don Bietschek of Aquila Glass School demonstrating.
And just to show you I DID get out of my guild area for a couple of minutes, here is my friend, Karen Saró Troeger of Touch the Sky in the Handweavers Guild having just as much fun as I did!
It’s always a treat to meet new art collectors and network with old friends at this show, probably the largest one that I participate in. Over the three days I was privileged to have several particularly poignant conversations. Some of which I cannot let go of … that I keep thinking about … and am grateful … honored that I was chosen to have those stories shared with me.
Thank you.
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One week from today is the opening of Oregon Glass Guild’s 12th Annual Glass Gallery at Gathering of the Guilds in Portland Oregon. It’s a fabulous three day art show and it’s what to do in Portland next weekend.
Glass Gallery is held in conjunction with Gathering of the Guilds, which is the largest artist-owned art show on the West Coast. The show runs May 4, 5, and 6. Show hours are 10am – 9pm on Friday; 10am – 7pm on Saturday; and 10am – 5pm on Sunday.
Originally started by the Oregon Potters Association thirty years ago, ‘Gathering of the Guilds’ includes the Oregon Glass Guild, Portland Handweavers Guild, Portland Bead Society, Guild of Oregon Woodworkers, Creative Metal Arts Guild and Northwest Fine Woodworkers.
The Oregon Convention Center is located at 777 NE MLK Blvd in Portland close to the intersection of I84 and I5. You’ll find the Glass Gallery in Hall C.
The best way to see the show, meet artists and learn a bit more about their work is during the typical ‘slow’ times of an art show. Friday during the day, Saturday night and Sunday morning. Typically the largest crowds arrive Friday night after work and Saturday late morning through late afternoon; then Sunday early afternoon after church and brunch.
If you go during a slower time, you can get to know your favorite artist better – ask about their work, what inspires them, what upcoming projects they have, and maybe even talk about a special commission you’d like them to make for you.
You can read about how I set up my booth in this post from last year’s show: Epilogue of the Event: Glass Gallery 2011.
This year I’ll be in booth # 29, nestled between my friends, Carolyn Crystal and Kathy Watne behind the information booth. We plan to have a lot of fun. Come see us first, ok?!! Oh, and I’d love it if you tell me you follow my blog!!
Epilogue of the Event: Glass Gallery 2011
May 5, 2011
The 2011 Gathering of the Guilds took place this past weekend at the Portland Convention Center. It’s the largest event of it’s kind, run by artists for artists in the Pacific Northwest. The show includes Portland Handweavers Guild, Guild of Oregon Woodworkers, Creative Metal Arts Guild, Portland Bead Society, and Oregon Glass Guild. It was initiated 28 years ago by the Oregon Potters Association and we other guildss have joined slowly over the last 10 to 15 years.
Above is my booth just before the Glass Gallery show opened. It took awhile to get it to this point. I’ll show you:
A group of Oregon Glass Guild volunteers ready to assist in the big empty building as artists arrive.
Alice Geyer, our State President along with Gayle Larsen from the Mid Valley Chapter arrive bringing a truckload of artwork. And all the ingredients needed for our Pavilion!
The pipe and drape goes up while more artists arrive and unload their work.
Once the pipe & drape is set up we can start building our booths. My walls & lights have to go up first. No, I don’t turn them on until the show starts!
It’s easier if I display my wall art prior to setting up tables. At this point, my neighbors haven’t arrived, so I can spread out. As have the pavilion folks that are also setting up and painting pedestals.
Most of my work is unpacked, lots of tweaking yet to be done. Where are my neighbors?
So close, but in my haste I didn’t notice the sloppy edge of a table covering, so I had to remove the glass and pull down the table covering. A few more things to stash and my booth will be ready. Let the show begin!
In random order, a few of my friends and neighbors at the show. Alexandra Farnham
shared a booth with Vandy Hall. Blown glass.
Dianne Muhly’s booth ready for customers. Fused glass.
Ken Hashagen and Julie Vincent of Corte Glass ready for action! Sharing a booth with Kathy Engholm of Indigo Crow Studio. Fused glass.
My friend Carolyn Crystal, a torch-worker had crowds all weekend……
…as did Cynthia Morgan, Becky Magnuson and Carol Carson who shared a booth. Fused and cast glass.
Jim Aden of Jaidenglass was there early to help set up and stayed late to help clean up. My thanks to Jim and Dean Wirst for loading my car when the show came down!
Lyn Kennison’s Blue Eyed Creations booth. Fused glass.
Jane Godfrey about to make a sale. She and Sondra Radcliffe, both of Ambiente Art Glass have wonderful stained and kilnformed work.
Ann Cavanaugh and Joann Wellner shared a large space. Kilnformed Glass.
My booth neighbor, Eli of Mazet Studios had a crowd all weekend and was still selling after the show closed! Very impressive work from his torch.
Debra Fenzl of MSR Studio. Her beautiful torchwork won a prize in the pavillion.
Dennis Hoerauf of Nature of Glass. I love his blown glass!
Sue Purr Designs, Sue Bradley makes cat glass in her kiln.
My friend Serena Smith working her booth filled with lampworked beads. She was also the Glass Pavilion Chair this year.
I thought the Group Booth was particularly beautiful this year, chaired by Greg Frye. Greg with Cindy Lacey.
Don Bietschek of Aquila Glass School was excellent at running the demo area this year.
Our Glass Pavilion was gorgeous! Thanks Serena & crew including Jim & Jayne Simmons who ran out to buy more paint!
This event is a huge undertaking with many people taking the reins of important tasks in order to stage a premier glass show.
I’m simply going to list their names and tasks, but want you to know they all contributed so much more than just chairing a committee. Indefatigable comes to mind:
Charlene Fort, our Queen Bee, heading up the entire Gathering of the Guilds as well as our Show Chair for Oregon Glass Guild.
Mike Yamrick (State Treasurer) – he who writes the checks and cashes us out!
Susan Arnot and Jayne Simmons…advertising and PR. Did you see our Facebook page? It’s not too late to ‘like’ us – we plan to post upcoming events there for you to follow!
Serena Smith took on the monumental task of organizing and setting up the pavilion.
Don Bietschek organized the demonstrations, including the recruitment of demonstrators.
Alice Geyer and Gayle Larsen led the mosaic portion of the demonstration. The finished mosaic will be donated to a women’s shelter in The Dalles, OR.
Victoria Miller donated the mosaic that was displayed and raffled in the Information Booth.
Lesley Kelley organized the volunteers and I can tell you she is organized. Her husband, Kevin was the go-to guy for errands, ran the credit card machine, and even worked security – following potential perpetrators of petty theft around the building.
Donna La Plante produced the beautiful postcards and helped set up the floor plan.
Jim Piazza and Bill Cooper were instrumental in setting up the pavilion and running the information booth. Not to mention their sleuthing skills at following would-be-shoplifters.
Jim (our unofficial photographer) and Jayne Simmons worked tirelessly setting up the pavilion and doing all sorts of odd jobs throughout the weekend.
There are so many more people involved, I’m sure I’ve left out a number of folks. It’s a volunteer organization and we all volunteer to make the show happen. Those above gave their time to perform major tasks without which, there would be no show! I applaud everyone involved for a show well done!!
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Preparations
April 20, 2009
Frit Cast Hearts & Tree
Today I have a ton of ‘finish’ work to do in preparation for the ‘Glass Gallery’ show which is coming up too fast! I can hardly wait for the kilns to be cool enough to check out yesterday’s work! I wasn’t planning to post any new photos until after the upcoming show, but Kathleen’s comment on my previous post gave me an idea to tease you until then. The left photo, taken yesterday shows my cast hearts & tree upon opening the kiln door.
Photo on the right shows the glass removed from the molds & ready to cold work (grinding then polishing the edges smooth). These are my own molds made with reusable casting material. In the background, you can also see a commercial butterfly mold filled & ready to go in today’s firing. At the Glass Craft & Bead Expo I purchased a number of Colour de Verre molds to try out & those are what I’m waiting for, cooling in the kilns this morning ( http://www.colourdeverre.com/index.php ).
At the show, for the first time, we’ve invited some of the suppliers we use to join us. If you are unable to attend the Portland show, you can visit them at their websites! Here are some links (you may have to paste the link into your browser):
Bullseye Resource Center: http://www.bullseyeglass.com/
Glasshopper Patterns: http://www.glasshopperpatterns.com/
Elements Glass: http://www.elementsglass.com/
Roses Glassworks: http://rosesglassworks.com/
The participating artists are all members of the Oregon Glass Guild. You can see a sneak preview of the show by clicking on the ‘Member Gallery’ at http://oregonglassguild.org/
Of course, not all members will be showing, but you’ll get a taste! And here are just a few of the participating members:
Heather Fields: fieldsandfieldsblownglass.com
Alex Farnham: www.farnham-art.com
Serena Smith: sjasdesigns.com
Donna LaPlanate: www.confusionartstudio.com
Jane Godfrey / Sondra Radcliffe: www.artglassambiente.com
Bob & Rox Heath: CandlelightGlass.com
Jenny Newtson: www.firebrandbeads.com
Hope to see some of you there – don’t forget: visit my booth # 44 & tell me you follow my blog for a special token of my affection!
Give it Away, Pass it On; Random Act of Kindness Alert
April 13, 2009
Collection of Mini - Celestials
This collection of mini Celestials is ready for the upcoming Glass Gallery at the Portland Convention Center. April 24 – 26 if you’re in the area. They’re priced in the $20 – $30 range. Beautiful colors with 22k gold spirals, stars, sunbursts, and lines inspired by nature drawn atop & fired in. Miniature replicas of my larger bowls.
If you do visit me at the Glass Gallery, please mention you follow my blog for a special treat. And along those lines……
A Facebook friend, Lisa Allen (http://www.lisa-allen.com) recently started a “Give it Away, Pass it On; Random Act of Kindness Alert which greatly appealed to me. I decided I’d like to try it here. The rules are pretty simple:
This offer does have some restrictions and limitations so please read carefully:
– I make no guarantees that you will like what I make.
– What I create or give will be just for you.
– It’ll be done over the next 12 months.
– You have no clue what it’s going to be. It may be a cool glass bracelet. It could be a shibori tie-dye scarf. Might even be a book I think you will like. Could be a sculpture or a painting. It may be a gift certificate from a place I think you would like. Or maybe I will make a glass piece with you as the inspiration. Who knows? Not you, that’s for sure!
– I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.
– I reserve the right to change the rules!
And in return, all you need to do is post this text into a post of your own and make or give 5 things for 5 others.
Of course, you’ll have to send me your mailing address……
Sound fun? Comment below:
Steider Studios Blog 