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December 2015  

Welcome New Members! 
Welcome to all the ISGB members who joined in November:

Arizona
Betsy Barnhouse

British Columbia
Marcy Dayan

California
Kimberly Milan

Indiana 
Karen Wingler

Massachusetts
Sue Overstreet

New Jersey
Kathryn Keller

New South Wales, Australia
Angela Gensch

Pennsylvania
Jeanne Vissa


The Melting Point
Sedona, Arizona
ph.928-554-4754

Upcoming classes include:
  • Jennifer Umphress -  January 7-11, 2016
  • Astrid Riedel - February 18-21 and 25-28, 2016
  • Holly Cooper -
    March 17-21, 2016
  • Sara Sally LaGrand - April 20-24, 2016
Beginning beadmaking and glass blowing classes available.

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Rakow Research Library

A world of glass knowledge is at your fingertips. Check out the Rakow Research Library at Corning Museum of Glass! 

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Board Meeting Minutes
Want to keep up with what's happening in ISGB? Board Minutes are available on the forum or you can request a copy from your Regional Director.

 



 


Bead Release Archives
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Looking for a back issue of the Bead Release electronic newsletter? 

Click Here! 

 


 

Contact Us 

 

ISGB

Sarah Riggle, Administrator

85 East Gay Street

Suite 707

Columbus, OH 43215

614.222.2243

[email protected]

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Beads of Courage

 

President's Message
by Jeri WarhaftigPresident

Dear ISGB friends,
 
I am so happy that this column gives me a chance to wish you all a happy season of holidays and a joyful New Year. Our membership is worldwide and diverse, but we are unified in a love of the glass arts and an enthusiasm for the pursuit of the art form. We are makers, designers, suppliers, collectors and "fans".  In some small way, I hope your involvement with glass heightens your enjoyment of friends, family, holidays, seasons, weather, and whatever else comes your way in the waning days of 2015!
 
In the U.S., we have just celebrated Thanksgiving Day, a holiday that typically entails cooking (and then eating!). When I was raising my kids, in the day or two before the big holiday my dear neighbor and I would run back and forth across our yards for the inevitable "borrowing". "Do you have a cup of sugar? Can you spare some eggs? Any extra folding chairs?" That was the frequent refrain.
 
Two weeks ago, I was desperate for clear frit. My Bullseye order was on a truck and was still a week away!! Luckily, a friend nearby had an extra pound, and she solved my dilemma. WOW, how luxurious to know someone nearby, with a love of 90 COE glass, who has a studio that I can "borrow" from. Most of us don't have that luxury.
 
Last Spring, however, this same friend would not have been able to lend me that glass. She was suffering from artistic doldrums. She needed to move her studio (UGH), she felt her work had grown stale, and she hadn't found another artistic activity that she enjoyed as much as torching.  I invited her over for some play dates,  and we fooled around with some new glass ideas.  Suddenly, she was full of ideas and was off and running in several new directions in glass. She has less time for play dates because she has happily returned to creating at her torch. I realize now that I lent her a "cup" of my enthusiasm for the glasswork I have been pursuing.
 
We all have strengths and weaknesses.  We can view a "weakness" as an area where we just need to borrow a "cup" from someone else! For example, can you borrow a cup of a friend's organizational skill to get you ready for a show? Maybe they will share an easy spreadsheet that will get you over feeling overwhelmed.  Are you worried that your jewelry lacks trendy appeal? Think of the friend who can lend you a cup of modern design attitude.
 
I sometimes feel weak on the design aspect of my art.  This means I can handle a technique, but struggle to apply it beautifully.  So I borrow a cup of design from a good friend. She comments on color and form and inevitably helps me evolve my technique into an artistic design. Similarly, my mom, an artist, lends me a cup of inspiration. She doesn't know a thing about glass, but her questions, such as "Can you make this part of the flower pointier? Is there a way to add a loop to both ends of this? Would you like me to draw what this should look like?" push me to try new designs and to look at my work through someone else's eyes.  My weak areas are supported by borrowing from her strengths.
 
Now, think about your strengths. What do you offer to the people around you? The internet brings us into each other's home. Maybe we can't deliver a pound of frit, but we can give a cup of ourselves to others in many ways.  On the other hand, think about where you need help. There are many people in our glass community who, when asked, will lend a cup of whatever you need! I have a lot of enthusiasm, experience, inspiration, technical knowledge, and academic resources to share. I will happily lend a cup to you. I hope that you too will make a cup of yourself available to your friends and to those around you in our glass tribe.
 
I wish you all a new year of peace. 
 
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A Letter From Our Fundraising Committee Chair
by Martha Giberson, Member

For decades, the ISGB has been a leader in the contemporary glass beadmaking movement. Providing education and awareness, our organization has encouraged and supported beadmakers in their artistic endeavors, both as a career and for personal enjoyment. As members of the ISGB, we help give life to our organization's vision of being a leader in our creative community and to expanding the innovative use of complementary mediums among artists and craftspeople.

Member support helps make it possible for the ISGB to continue its longstanding tradition of producing quality, broad based programming for beadmakers and flame workers worldwide. This happens through our annual conference, The Gathering, every year, our quarterly magazine Glass Bead Evolution, the monthly e-newsletter Bead Release, and scholarship opportunities within our organization as well as with industry shows like Bead&Button. The ISGB encourages growth for us as members and for flame workers in all art forms. 

The ISGB's annual fundraiser is happening now, and it is your gift today that will ensure the ISGB stays strong and meets our fundraising goals.  

Donations make us a more effective organization, but I personally give to the ISGB because I am grateful for our group, as my fellow members you inspire me, and I am stronger and better for being a part of what helps us fulfill our mission.

Our organization continues to offer opportunities for members to participate in traveling juried shows and we are partnering with the Society of North American Goldsmiths for joint membership, online sales opportunities, and for collaboration with metalsmiths. The ISGB Vendor Discount Program continues to thrive and we remain dedicated to the sharing of techniques, best practices, and business education as we strive to propel the contemporary glass bead movement farther into the future. Naturally as our programs expand, financial resources to support them become more vital than ever.

The ISGB has provided me with a group of like-minded people that I can always rely on for support, guidance and inspiration, but I am not the only one. As a recent ISGB scholarship recipient wrote:  "I found benefit in the exchange of ideas. So often, work done in the studio is done alone. The exchange of ideas that comes from talking with artists helped to increase my understanding and, hopefully boost my creativity. Many of the conference participants freely shared their experiences and one discussion lead to a solution with a nagging design problem. I now have ideas for a better way to arrange my workspace." Experiences like this need to continue, so our financial support as members is essential.

Invest in the future of the ISGB by making your donation today. Contribute online at www.isgb.org.
 
Thank you for all we make possible together,
 
Martha Giberson
Chairperson, Fundraising Committee 




Glass Art Auction At The National Liberty Museum
by Jeri Warhaftig, President

The National Liberty Museum is located in downtown Philadelphia, very near the Liberty Bell and other important historical landmarks. Each year, they conduct a Glass Art Auction to raise money to fund their many programs. Because the museum's founders are my cousins, I have been able to watch the museum grow and expand its mission to teach about liberty through glass art. I have attended many auctions over the years, and have noticed the frequent participation of several ISGB members. I thought you might enjoy hearing more about this museum, its auction and its worthy mission.
 
The point of the National Liberty Museum is to teach that liberty is fragile but that it is also alive and well. Liberty is dependent on each of us to keep it going strong, a theme that is conveyed throughout the museum. Each museum visitor is encouraged to find their "inner hero" and taught the characteristics of being a hero through the interactive displays within the museum. Glass art is prominently displayed in every portion of the museum to hammer home the message of the fragility of freedom. The center foyer welcomes each visitor with a several stories high Chihuly flame sculpture.
 
A big part of the museum's mission is to perform educational outreach through a novel program called Young Heroes Outreach Program.  This program began in 2011 in 3 Philadelphia school and is now in 13 schools. Since 2011 this program has worked through a select group of passionate and inspiring educators to teach the next generation of adults civic responsibility and positive character.
 
The honoree at this year's Glass Art Auction was Lu Chi, a contemporary glass artist from China. By the time I met her on Saturday night, she was battling jet lag but she still wanted to tell me that her collaboration with the museum and its educational mission was extremely important to her. As it said in her bio, her annual donations to the museum's educational programs make her feel that glass art can be more than beautiful, it can be powerful and helpful as well. As a side note, Lu Chi also told me that the shipping company she uses failed to timely pick up her glass art in China for delivery to the auction. She ended up bringing several large sculptures in her carry-on luggage!
 
Walking around the pre-auction floor, I saw the work of glass luminaries such as Shane Fero, Paul Stankard, Ginny Ruffner and William Morris. They were in the good company of a fabulous necklace by ISGB member Amy Lemaire.  Member Donna Nova had two great necklaces in the silent auction. Beadmaker Patti Dougherty was there too, showing off adorable fascinators that were embellished with her beads.
 
All of these items were auctioned off and the money went to a worthwhile cause. It was wonderful to see the work of our members and other flameworkers connected to our community, out in the world helping to raise money, and demonstrating the generosity of the glass community.


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A Few of My Favorite Things
by Kris Schaible, District Director

With the holiday season upon us, perhaps your family or friends are looking for last minute suggestions for a quick gift, or maybe you are looking for the unique items your friends might not ask for but really would love. Here are a few things on my list and I hope that you might find them useful as a source for ideas. 
 
Anti fatigue mats - After all, most of us have concrete floors to stand on while working.
 
Specialty Yarn & Wool - I adore hand dyed yarn for making that special project.
 
Cooking Class - I would love to learn a new technique for feeding my family and friends.
 
Clay/craft oven - Wouldn't it be fun to explore new media and direction with your work? Having the right tools makes the process less stressful.
 
Arm warmers - I don't know about you but my studio gets COLD in the winter.

ISGB membership as a gift - So many great benefits, magazine and monthly newsletter, shows and exhibits to take part in!
 
Sorting rack or shelves - I can always use help organizing my frits and cane better. I especially love the clear bins.
 
Super soft cushion for studio chair - I know I need to take a break from my chair every so often.
 
Coloring books/ pencils (for grownups) or not... but they look like a ton of fun and contain a bunch of ideas for stringer work.
 
Work from their favorite artist - I have a wish list of work I would love to own and receiving it as a gift would be extra special.
 
Reference books for ideas - I am always searching out books for ideas and photos... what a great way to help your favorite artist stay inspired.
 
Sketch book with fancy pens - I drool over those leather bound books with the high quality paper and those smooth writing pens... Small or large, they become a great catalog of ideas and challenges.

Whatever you celebrate this season, we wish you the gifts of creativity, inspiration, and most of all, time spent with your loved ones!

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The ISGB is the leading organization for the promotion, education, and appreciation of the art of glass beadmaking for wearable, sculptural, and functional art. 

Our mission is to preserve the rich and diverse traditions of the art of glass beadmaking and glassworking techniques; promote educational initiatives and professional development; and encourage innovative use of complementary mediums among artists and craftspeople. 

We invite you to join us on our journey through collaborative creativity in the worlds of glass and complementary mediums.