Canadian glass artist association puts emphasis on community for upcoming “Re:Do” conference in May

From May 25th through 28th, 2017, the Glass Art Association of Canada will hold its member conference, this time with the theme of "Re:DO." The concept is to urge artists to "re:think, re:inspire and re:connect" with both their peers and glass art, according to the event website. The keynote speaker will be Canadian-born artist and educator Katherine Gray, who teaches at California State University, San Bernardino. The theme of "re:connect" will be especially apt because this will be the first time the organization has convened its full membership since 2010. The planned 2013 event, which would have taken place in Calgary, Alberta, had to be canceled because of low projected attendance by the organizers, who cited financial struggles of glass artist members.

The outlook is much more upbeat for the upcoming 2017 conference, where attendees will discover and learn how to create blown, cast, kiln-formed, scientific, flameworked, architectural, and sculptural glass art. When aspiring glass artists are not learning from presentations, lectures, or demonstrations, they can attend social gatherings at the Marquis Pub or take part in the Glass Olympics scheduled for Saturday, May 27. You can find the full itinerary for the conference here. 

Gray's work has been reviewed in the Los Angeles Times and on Artforum.com, and is in the permanent collections at Corning Museum of Glass as well as the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington. Other presenters include: Joanne Andrighetti, Miri Chechanovich, Dr. Jane Cook, Jayne Cornelius, Kasia Czarnota, Sebastien Duchange, Susan Edgerley, Alfred Engerer, Norm Faulkner, Carole Freve, Irene Frolic, Rika Hawes, Alexandre Hupe, Benji Kikkert, Catherine Labonte, Tanya Lyons, Caroline Ouellette, Gilles Payette, Patrick Primeau, Jeff Goodman Studio, Ione Thorkelsson, Koen Vanderstukken, Cheryl Wilson Smith and Vaz Zastera. There will also be technical displays, silent auctions, and a member’s exhibition, which opens on May 26th.

All members of the Glass Art Association of Canada are eligible to register for the upcoming conference. Those who are not members can join upon enrollment.