Annual glass art event features designs by students, faculty and staff of UT Arlington’s acclaimed program
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Nearly 1,000 exquisitely crafted works of glass art go on sale to the public Saturday, March 28, at The University of Texas at Arlington’s annual Glass Art Show and Sale at the Studio Arts Center, 810 S. Davis St.
The work, designed by students, faculty and staff in the College of Liberal Arts Glass Art program, will range from paperweights and vases to sculptures and other collector items. Prices range from $5 into the thousands. The sale runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A silent auction takes place at 2 p.m., with silent auction bids taken from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., also at the Studio Arts Center.
This year marks the first time that the public sale has ever been held on a Saturday, an event that draws art enthusiasts from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and cities across Texas.
“Due to increasing requests from campus and community supporters, we decided to move the sale in order to accommodate work schedules and those people traveling from across North Texas and neighboring states,” said Justin Ginsberg, artist, glass program coordinator and assistant professor in the Department of Art and Art History.
“Each year, crowds come early to find wonderful bargains and timely treasures. We are especially excited to showcase designs from our very creative and talented artists who have been nationally and internationally recognized in recent months,” Ginsberg said.
Among that group is Jean Fernandes ’14, an adjunct professor of glass art, who was selected as the winner of the 2015 Niche Student Awards in the sculptural glass category. The winning work is now part of the permanent collection of the Prague Gallery of Czech Glass in the Czech Republic.
Sponsored by NICHE magazine, the NICHE Awards program celebrates excellence and innovation in American and Canadian fine craft.
Ginsberg ’11, a noted and highly respected glass artist, also will have work on display. In 2014, he received critical acclaim for curating work at Berlin’s Glas e.V. In January, the Dallas Observer named him a winner of its Masterminds 2015 Art Award. Ginsberg began directing the UT Arlington program following the retirement in 2013 of mentor, program founder and world-renowned glass artist David Keens.
Robert Hower, chair of the Department of Art and Art History, said Ginsberg’s art and skill cultivating student talent, and leading staff and faculty, continue the legacy of excellence that Keens built during his nearly 40 year career with UTA.
“Justin understands the importance of providing enriching glass art experiences for the University, the DFW region, the state, national and global audiences,” Hower said. “UT Arlington continues to lead the way in delivering a world-class education and innovative experiences for students interested in this distinctive form of art.”
He added: “I think that people attending the sale this year will see some of the best work ever presented in the history of the art show and sale.”
The annual event was started on a loading dock behind the art building in the mid 1990s by Keens in order to raise money to buy raw materials, equipment, tools and development scholarships. The studio facility continues to operate on a modest yearly academic budget, supplemented by the funds raised during the one-day a year sale. Proceeds are divided equally between the contributing student and the glass studio. The studio’s half is still used for all major equipment purchases and for buying raw materials.
The process of developing glass art involves manipulating glass with a variety of hand tools and fire. A raffle and live glassblowing demonstrations will be part of the event.
Call the Studio Arts Center at 817-272-2891 for more information about the March 28 show and sale. Ample free parking is available near the building. View a campus map here.
About The University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington is a comprehensive research institution of more than 48,000 students around the world and the second largest institution in The University of Texas System. The Chronicle of Higher Education ranked UT Arlington as the seventh fastest-growing public research university in 2013. U.S. News & World Report ranks UT Arlington fifth in the nation for undergraduate diversity. Visit www.uta.edu to learn more, and find UT Arlington rankings and recognition at www.uta.edu/uta/about/rankings.php.
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