The Glass Art Society has announced the location and dates for the upcoming 2023 annual conference, which will take place in Detroit from June 7th through 10th. Following their post-pandemic return to in-person programming with 2022’s Tacoma conference, the Detroit event is planned to be in-person and tickets are already available for purchase at a special early-bird discounted rate, which will expire on January 10th. Along with attendee registration, applications for exhibition slots and scholarships are also open.
Many of the presenters have been decided, an online component is also being planned, and a line-up of exhibitions in have been released. In "Connections 2023: Glass From Every Angle," the achievements of a select group of GAS members who have pushed the limits of glass from around the world will get the spotlight. The student exhibition entitled "Evolution 2023: A Showcasing of Emerging, International Talent" will put the focus on student artists working primarily in glass. A new digital exhibition entitled "Trace 2023: An Exploration of Sustainable Glass Art" will explore sustainable glass practices, and will allow artists to showcase their work without shipping and traveling, lessening their impact on the environment. A fourth exhibition, the details of which are yet to be announced, will focus on LGBTQIA+ themes. All programmed exhibitions were juried by internationally awarded artists, educators, and museum executives.
Split across three venues in downtown Detroit, programming will take place either at the Russell Industrial Center, the College for Creative Studies, or the Detroit Institute of Arts, focusing on the theme of community, collaboration, and crossover. Over 100 presenters from all over the world are already confirmed to participate in the conference with topics spanning from new technologies and innovations to motivational lectures to historical discussions and everything in between. The program also comprises demonstrations, lec-mos (lecture-demonstration hybrids), networking opportunities, and special events such as the Goblet Grab, the Silent Auction, and the Portfolio Review as well as events hosted with GAS Conference partner, the Michigan Glass Project. There will also be a fundraising event to support future GAS activities.
As per usual, the conference will host all manner of glass vendors and institutions in the GAS Market. The GAS website details the options available for reserving booths for the event, offering prices and plans catering to premium members, vendors, and non-profit institutions.
Visit their conference announcement page for more information on the market, registration, programming, and more.