Members of the Midwest Contemporary Glass Art Group met on July 9, 2013 at the Hotel Andra for a five day trip in Seattle, Washington led by Barry Rice. Our first day was a scenic drive to Pilchuck Glass School for an escorted tour with Jim Baker, the Director–ending with wine and cheese at his cabin.  It is a fabulous facility and environment for students. The weather was beautiful for the week and we had many sightings of Mt. Rainier.

A stop at the Chihuly Gardens and Glass Center, Boathouse and then, the Ballard Studio where we visited with Dale Chihuly and had a photo op. (Our rock star of Glass!!!)  In Tacoma, we went to the Museum of Glass and saw the marvelous Martin Blank’s “Fluent Steps”  in a reflecting pool.  Then on to the Chihuly Bridge of Glass and the Tacoma Art Museum, where there was a special retrospective of contemporary glass.

In the studios we visited artists  Martin Blank, Flora Mace and Joey Kirkpatrick, John Kiley, Nancy Callan, Cappy Thompson, April Surgent, David Huchthausen, Richard Royal, Kait Rhoads, Jenny Pohlman and Sabrina Knowles and Nancy Mee and Dennis Evans.  At Ginny Ruffners, at the end of one day, we had a delicious wine and cheese party.

Martin Blank in his studio                              April Surgent with her work

We enjoyed seeing several private collections including the wonderful Benaroya home where we saw a copy of Becky Benaroya’s wedding dress in glass by Karen Lamont.

Our trip was very active every day and a comment made was “We are either seeing glass or eating!”

At the Martin Blank Fountain in Tacoma

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With Chihuly at the Ballard Studio
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Article and photos by Donna Rice