Pilchuck Glass School

Founded in 1971 by Dale Chihuly, Anne Gould Hauberg and John H. Hauberg (1916-2002), Pilchuck Glass School is an international center for glass art education. Located on a former tree farm in Stanwood, Washington, Pilchuck sponsors three-week classes each summer in a broad spectrum of glass techniques as well as residencies for emerging and established artists working in all media.

History

During the first summer workshop in 1971 Chihuly, accompanied by two other teachers and 16 students, built glass furnaces and began blowing glass just sixteen days after arriving at the Hauberg’s tree farm. Buoyed by the success of that first summer, the Haubergs agreed to provide the location and financial support for a second summer workshop, and then a third. A few years later, realizing that Pilchuck glass workshops had become a summer mainstay rather than an occasional happening, the Haubergs established the school as a non-profit, solidifying the framework for today’s Pilchuck Glass School.

In the first years, facilities were primitive, but over time a campus was developed with a series of rustic structures, designed by Thomas Bosworth, including the Hot Shop for the kiln area (1973), Flat Shop for smaller scaled glass crafts (1976), Lodge (1977), faculty cottages, bathouse and other buildings; by 1986 there were fifteen structures on the site.

Mission

Through the power of art and education Pilchuck Glass School inspires creativity, transform individuals and build community.

Summer Education Program

Offering programs throughout the year, Pilchuck Glass School’s most concentrated activities occur from late May through early September when there are five consecutive 17-day educational sessions offering five concurrent workshops exploring different aspects of creating art in glass. Designed for the uninitiated, the intermediate, or the advanced student seeking skills and conceptual challenges with glass, workshops succeed because they are limited in size (typically ten to twelve students) and highlight a focused inquiry into glassmaking techniques and aesthetic directions.

Students explore the creative possibilities of hot and cold glass in such areas as glassblowing, hot-glass sculpting, sand- and kiln-casting, fusing, neon, stained glass, imagery transfer on glass, flameworking, mixed-media sculpture, and engraving. Although enrolled in one workshop, students find additional creative resources among other students, instructors, artists in residence, gaffers and staff.

Artist Residencies

In addition to summer workshops, Pilchuck also offers residencies for artists of all levels to simply work on their art throughout the year. Resident artists employ Pilchuck’s studios and environment to experiment, innovate and create new bodies of work.

Summer Artists in Residence- Established, visual artists are invited to reside on campus for a 17-day session. They become a stimulating force in the educational program, adding insight and experience from different disciplines.

Professional Artists in Residence- Residencies of varying duration throughout the fall, winter and spring allow independent artists of outstanding accomplishment to create in Pilchuck’s studios.

John H. Hauberg Fellowship- This spring residency for up to six outstanding artists in any medium fosters collaboration in support of new work or new research.

Emerging Artists in Residence- This fall program is designed for a group of six artists in the early stages of their careers who need financial support, time and a place to develop individual bodies of work with glass as a focus.

References

* Oldknow, Tina, "Pilchuck: A Glass School", Pilchuck Glass School and University of Washington Press, Seattle and London 1996, ISBN 0295975598

* Rosenfield, Erika, "Building with Light in the Pacific Northwest: The Houses of Thomas L. Bosworth, Architect", ORO Editions, San Rafael and Philadelphia 2007, pages vii-xvi, ISBN 0977467260

External links

* [http://www.pilchuck.com Pilchuck Glass School]