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Schedule of Events

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Hot Glass & Cold Beer Fundraiser - March 25th 2021

HOT GLASS & COLD BEER
THURSDAY, MARCH 25TH
5:00 - 8:00 PM

Save the Date!
We are excited to partner with The Livery for our annual fundraiser: Hot Glass & Cold Beer. This year we will be hosting a socially distanced event that will held at both Water Street Glassworks and The Livery! Stop in the gallery for a selection of contemporary and historically inspired beer glasses, and visit the catwalk for glassblowing demonstrations. Then hop on over to The Livery and enjoy your glass with an artisan beer (and may we suggest indulging on one of their incredible pizza's!) Our glassblowing artists have been creating vessels for the event that will be available for purchase at WSG and The Livery. Proceeds support WSG programming! Follow our Facebook event page for updates and sneak peeks of the vessels.
Bring your favorite mask to the event and abide by socially distanced protocols. We are excited to host this event and for the safety of our patrons, staff, and volunteers, we will be monitoring the number of guests in the gallery and on our catwalk for demos to implement recommended Covid guidelines. We look forward to seeing you!
 
BHAA Arts in the Park

BHAA ARTS IN THE PARK
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH
6:00 - 9:00 PM

Be the first to "pick" from our annual pumpkin patch!
It's pumpkin season and our studio artists have been working hard "growing" our pumpkin patch! We have exciting palettes and new mini pumpkins for our 2020 edition! More important now than ever, 100% of your pumpkin purchase supports WSG programming.
Join us in person for Arts in the Park in the the Benton Harbor Arts District on Friday September 25th, 6:00 - 9:00 pm. Enjoy local artist's booths, food trucks, live music, and more! The event will be held in Art's Park, Thayer Park, and the central grassy field off of Water Street. Local arts district businesses will be open for food, beverages, and retail. Stop by our new neighbors, Forté Coffee, and welcome them to the Arts District!

Bring your own chairs to set up while enjoying our parks! The BHAA will provide a check-point station with information and hand sanitizer. Safe social distancing is required for this event and wear your favorite mask when social distancing is not possible (like on the busy sidewalks or when entering a restaurant or business).

Thank you for supporting Water Street Glassworks, the Benton Harbor Arts District, and our local artists! For a schedule of events visit: BHAA Arts in the Park.

 

Fired Up! Art Fair

ART IN THE PARK: FIRED UP! ART FAIR
SAT & SUN, JULY 11 & 12
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Join us for a special Fired Up! Art Fair in Art's Park across from Water Street Glassworks in the Benton Harbor Arts District.

Due to the cancellation of the Krasl Art Fair, we have created Art in the Park for our students in the Fired Up! program. Fired Up! student artists work all year preparing for the Krasl Art Fair and it provides them the opportunity to sell their art and talk to patrons about the program and their work. It is an important entrepreneurial experience for the students and the annual culmination of the Fired Up! program. For the safety of our students, volunteers, and staff we will be following CDC guidelines at this event. We request that patrons wear masks and follow social-distancing recommendations.

Students in the Fired Up! Teen After School Program will be presenting their work including blown glass, fused glass, and jewelry designed with flameworked glass beads. Find a treasure and support the Fired Up! student artists and program. Students receive 70% of their sales and 30% goes back to fund the program. Don't miss out on the wonderful Pay-it-Forward art created by the students! 100% of Pay-it-Forward sales support Fired Up! scholarships and future teen artists.

Grab your favorite (maybe artsy) mask and head over to Art's Park across from Water Street Glassworks. We hope you will join us to meet our talented student artists! 

For more information about the Fired Up! program, volunteer & sponsorship opportunities, and video of our students at work, visit: Fired Up! For the safety of our students, volunteers, staff, and patrons - we will be following CDC guidelines at this event. We request that patrons wear masks and follow social-distancing recommendations. 
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Kalamazoo Institute of Arts High School Area Show

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts High School Area Show

Now in its 38th year and for the first time ever the High School Area show is going digital. The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts is showcasing amazing juried works including the work of five of our Fired Up! student artists, even while their physical space is closed due to the Covid-19. Visit their Virtual Exhibit to view their work and all the talented students selected for this prestigious show.

 

 

SPRING ART HOP!
FRIDAY, MARCH 13
6:00 - 9:00 PM
BENTON HARBOR ARTS DISTRICT

Join us to celebrate the arrival of Spring and the first NTAA Art Hop of the Season! Enjoy glassblowing demos, refreshments and choose from an array of Spring items created exclusively for this event.

Hot Glass Cold Beer February 21 6-9pm

HOT GLASS COLD BEER
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21
6:00 - 9:00 PM

Warm up your winter in the Water Street Glassworks studios with artisan beer enthusiasts, this evening will present examples of historical and contemporary beer glasses, glassblowing demonstrations and artisan beer from The Livery. Water Street Glassworks artists are creating contemporary and historically inspired limited edition beer mugs that will be available for purchase at the event. Proceeds will support WSG programming!

 

Community Night: The Livery

Community Night: In benefit of Water Street Glassworks

Join us at The Livery for "Community Night" Supporting Water Street Glassworks! We appreciate their continued support of non-profits and arts organizations in our community. Get a sneak peek of our limited edition, hand blown mugs and drinking vessels that will be available at Hot Glass Cold Beer: Friday February 21. We will also have glass pieces available perfect for that special Valentine.. or you! Come join us at The Livery and find out what Water Street Glassworks has to offer including upcoming classes and programs that support the community.

HOLIDAY ART HOP!
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13
OPENING: 15th ANNUAL HOLIDAY SALE 
6:00 - 9:00 PM

Find something to give and something to get at WSG’s 16th Annual Holiday sale featuring a dazzling array of hand-blown ornaments made by our team of talented glassblowers. 100% of the proceeds from this fundraising tradition keeps the fires burning at WSG continue! 


FALL ART HOP!
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18TH
6:00 - 9:00 PM

Kick off the season at the Fall Art Hop! Pick a "ripe" blown glass pumpkin - or two or three - from our beautiful pumpkin patch in the Dorris Akers Gallery. 100% of your purchase supports WSG. Start a collection, display for Halloween, or bring a one-of-a-kind gift to your Thanksgiving gathering. Each pumpkin is made right here in our hot shop by our talented team of glassblowers. Visit the Glass Pumpkin Patch through November 10th. The patch will change and grow as pumpkins are added throughout the exhibit. Stop by to see what is fresh picked daily from our annealing ovens! 


FIRED UP! OPEN HOUSE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
5:00 - 8:00 PM

YOUR DONATIONS helped us re-launch Fired Up!  Help us create another successful year of artmaking at Water Street Glassworks! Students, as well as parents/guardians, and volunteers interested in becoming a part of our Fired Up! after school program are invited to join us for the afternoon. Take a studio tour, talk to instructors, meet teen artists, and enjoy some snacks. Get your application today by calling 269.925.5555.

ARTOBERFEST
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
NOON - 6:00PM

Shop WSG’s booth at Artoberfest, New Territory Arts Association’s fall celebration of visual and performing arts, live bands, delicious food, drink and fun. Water Street Glassworks will have an array of glass artwork and jewelry available for purchase. This annual event draws visitors to the Benton Harbor Arts District from far and wide to experience what makes our downtown such a great place to visit, play, work, and live.

 

Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff 2019

ART FAIR ON THE BLUFF
July 13 & 14
Saturday 10am - 6pm
Sunday: 10am - 5pm

Join us for the 58th Annual 2019 Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff presented by the Krasl Art Center. Students in the Fired Up! Teen After School program will be exhibiting their work of our Fired Up! students including blown glass, fused glass, and jewelry. Find a treasure and support the Fired Up! program. The Krasl Art Fair includes over 200 artists from across the United States and is held on the bluff over-looking Lake Michigan. Experience art, while enjoying the view and breezes of the lake and the charm and hospitality of St Joseph. Vist the WSG booth that will be located in front of the Krasl Art Center. For more information about the Fired Up! program and students visit: Learn More.

 

Jewelry Trunk Show June 21 & 22

ANNUAL JEWELRY TRUNK SHOW!
June 21 & 22
Friday, 6pm - 9pm
Saturday, 12pm - 5pm


Join us at Water Street Glassworks for our annual Jewelry Trunk Show Friday (During Art Hop) & Saturday, June 21 & 22! We will be featuring the work of seven area artists who are also instructors at Water Street Glassworks including Jackie Baker, Lynne Clayton, Gina Edwards, Donna Sauers, Heather Seawright, Anna Strach, and Tina Tavolacci. Meet the artists, enjoy refreshments, and shop the gallery's new work that reflects the season. A portion of your purchase supports Water Street Glassworks programming.

 

NTAA SUMMER ART HOP
BENTON HARBOR ARTS DISTRICT
Friday, June 21
6:00 - 9:00 pm


Join us Friday June 21 at the New Territory Arts Association Summer Art Hop in the Benton Harbor Arts District! We will be hosting our Annual Jewelry Trunk show featuring the work of seven area artists and Water Street Glassworks instructors including Jackie Baker, Lynne Clayton, Gina Edwards, Donna Sauers, Heather Seawright, Anna Strach, and Tina Tavolacci. Meet the artists, enjoy refreshments, and shop the gallery's new work that reflects the season. A portion of your purchase supports Water Street Glassworks programming.

 

Extinguish the Fire 2019

EXTINGUISH THE FIRE! 
Friday, May 31
6:00 - 9:00 PM

SOLD OUT!

Be a part of this exciting end-of-season ritual as we empty the glass furnace for the summer! Experience an exciting feast for the senses with Chef Tim Sizer, of Timothy's Restaurant  as he prepares the evenings delicious fare over molten glass. Come raise a glass to toast our 2019 season and experience a ritual that is traditionally reserved for the glassblowing community. This delectable food performance and fundraising event is a popular sell-out so reserve your space today! Tickets are $100/guest. Tables are available for $600/6 guest and includes limited edition signature glasses created for this event.

 

Fired Up! After School Program Open House 2019

FIRED UP! EXHIBIT & DEMONSTRATION NIGHT
Thursday: April 18, 6-8pm
Dorris Akers Gallery

Help us celebrate the accomplishments of our Fired Up! teen glass artists as they exhibit their most recent work and perform live demonstrations in three different studios. Staff will be available to answer any questions about the program, application process for Fall 2019, and volunteer opportunities. 

Your donations helped us re-launch Fired Up! in the Fall of 2018. Help us continue a successful year of art & entrepreneurship. Fired Up! is available to at-risk youth in Southwest Michigan, focusing on residents of the City of Benton Harbor. Applications are available by calling the office at: 269.925.5555. For more information and ways to support the program visit Fired Up!

 

Fired Up! Student Exhibit at the Box Factory

STUDENT ART EXHIBITION
Box Factory for the Arts
Through April 27

We are excited to have our Fired Up! students exhibiting at this wonderful show at the Box Factory. Each year, Berrien RESA, The Box Factory for the Arts, and the Krasl Art Center work together to present two amazing student art shows, one for elementary students and one for middle school and high school students. These art shows allow local students to exhibit their artwork in a professional venue and have it viewed by hundreds of people in our communities.

Multiple juried awards are presented at the exhibition receptions, including 1st and 2nd place awards in 2D, 3D, Video and Collaborative categories. Sponsor awards include the Sarah E. Cayo Award ($500 cash award), the Emerging Artist Award ($500 cash award), the Papachi Framing Award (free custom framing for 1 elementary, middle, and high school artwork) and Berrien RESA scholarship awards ($50 art scholarships for 1 student per school).

Box Factory open Monday through Saturday 10 am to 4 pm
Wednesdays 10 am to 7 pm

 

Jerry Catania Spin Casting

GLASS ARTS SOCIETY - 2019: ST PETERSBURG
Hot Shop Demo: Jerry Catania
10:30 am-12:00 pm
Duncan McClellan Gallery

We are so excited to share our Maestro; Jerry Catania's Spin Casting technique with our glassy family at the Glass Art Society Conference in St. Petersburg on Friday, March 29 at 10:30 in Duncan McClellan's beautiful hotshop!

Spin Casting: A Unique Teaching Process: A combination of sand casting and spin casting, this process opens first-time participants to an exciting and creative hot glass experience. Jerry uses this teaching method for public classes and workshops primarily as an introductory experience however, many artists find this useful for their personal artwork. The process uses a layer of casting sand that is spread evenly to line the walls of a metal bowl. The layer of sand can then be textured with found items or forms leaving negative impressions. The bowl is them placed on a potter’s wheel; ladled with hot glass and then spun to create a glass bowl.

(click image to view video)

 

SPRING ART HOP!
FRIDAY, MARCH 15
6:00 - 9:00 pm

Join us in the studios to celebrate the arrival of Spring and the first NTAA Art Hop of the Season! Enjoy glassblowing demos, refreshments and choose from an array of Spring items created exclusively for this event (we have a special partnership for this event so stay tuned for details!) We also have beer mugs and vessels created by our talented team of glassblowers for your St. Patrick's Day celebrations. Spring has sprung in the gallery and you will find fresh glassy flowers and glass art that celebrates the arrival of Spring. Your purchase supports WSG programming!

 

All of Us in the Lights

ALL OF US IN THE LIGHTS:NEON EXHIBIT BY ANDREA OLENIZCAK & TAYLOR KURRLE!

Former Oxbow student/instructors; Andrea Oleniczak and Taylor Kurrle- Masters of Fine Arts candidates at UW-Madison. Examine the language of equality, unity, and separation in a new exhibit of NEON works at The Dorris Akers Gallery. The pieces are the product of a summer the duo has spent bending neon, learning how to program, and examining language use. Kurrle and Oleniczak turn pronouns and the language of identification into brightly lit poems and patterns, giving the viewer a visual invitation to reflect on the way we use language to relate to others.

After entering graduate school last year, Oleniczak and Kurrle found themselves talking a lot about what "equality" meant to them in a new context. The two, who have been partners fortwelve years, previously worked professionally in the glass craft community, and found re-entering academia to be a bit of a culture change. "Everyone is talking about equality, but it’s almost like noone is practicing it," Oleniczak says of the campus environment. "And we had the luxury of coming from a craft background, where no one was talking about it, but everyone was practicing it."