In the two decades since Hilltop Artists in Residence was formed in 1994, the unique power of hot glass to reach at-risk youth who may have been left behind by traditional education has been established. Programs using hot glass to teach life lessons have been cropping up around the U.S. separated by thousands of miles and limited communication. The distance between these programs is about to narrow considerably thanks to a summit taking place as part of the 2014 Glass Art Society conference. A special panel from 10:30 AM to 12 noon on Friday, March 21st, will offer instructors and program heads a chance to exchange best practices and share success stories. But the more important goal of this event (sponsored by the Robert M. Minkoff Foundation) is to build bridges that will continue into the future in hopes of advancing the field through shared knowledge and experience (Disclosure: GLASS Quarterly Hot Sheet editor Andrew Page is also the director of the Robert Minkoff Foundation). To that end, a special Website at www.atriskglass.org seeks to be a hub for interorganization dialogue and cross-pollination into the future.
The event will bring together personnel from 9 organizations from around the U.S. to take part in a facilitated discussion on the second full day of the GAS conference. Representatives from Hilltop Artists in Residence, Tacoma, Washington; GlassRoots in Newark, New Jersey; Neusole Glassworks in Cincinnatti; Ignite Glass Studios in Chicago; Little Black Pearl in Chicago; Water Street Glassworks in Benton Harbor, Michigan; Sonoran Glass School in Tucson, Arizona; Watts Community Development outside of Los Angles, and Hot Glass in Davenport, Indiana.
The networking opportunities will continue in the evening with a special exhibition and performance at Little Black Pearl on the Southside of Chicago. There, a student exhibition will showcase work being made at programs around the U.S. as well as a special performance art piece that will have GAS keynote speaker and renown artist Theaster Gates working with the glassblowing students. A reception will follow, and offer further conversation between at-risk glass program participants and those interested in learning more about glass as a particularly useful teaching tool.
IF YOU GO:
At-Risk Youth Program Summit Friday, March 21, 2014, 10 AM - 12 NOON Glass Art Society Conference (Conference registration required) Palmer House "Unbreakable: Young Reflections in Glass" Friday, March 21, 2014, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Invitation Student Exhibition and Performance featuring Theaster Gates Buses leave from Palmer House at 5:30 PM Little Black Pearl Art and Design Academy 1060 E. Greenwood Drive Chicago, Illinois 60653More information: www.atriskglass.org