Art Bargains and Glass Blowing

I made my first visit to some interesting events last year (probably well known by everyone but me, but I’m not bitter).  I assume that if I didn’t know they existed, then maybe you don’t either.  Here are two summer happenings that you might want to check out. 

First, is the Everett Artist’s Garage Sale on June 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Last summer was my first time at this “garage sale.” Being a mosaic artist, I need a large variety of supplies for my own work and, for my mosaic workshops. I had no idea what I would find, probably a bunch of junk. Artists are usually pack rats and we don’t easily part with our stuff, so I had a preconceived notion of finding half tubes of old dried up oil paints and art magazines from the 1980s. I arrived at 10 a.m. and immediately started to panic.  Several people were already leaving with huge bags full of “treasures”. 

I didn’t know what they had but I was certain I needed it more than they did!  As I turned onto Hoyt Avenue (in front of Schack Art Center), I saw two full blocks of booths, food vendors and, heard live music playing.  Besides all of the booths outside, there were many tables set up inside the art center building. You’ll find plenty of deals and bargains for every art medium. If you are an artist, hobbyist or, could qualify for your own “Hoarding” episode, you should go (well, maybe the hoarding personality should stay away). 

Make sure you get there no later than 10 a.m., because those in the know will have been stalking the booths since 8am or earlier.  (I was told that the early birds watch the artists unpack to determine a buying strategy.) I’m not that hard core, but this year I won’t miss getting the “stuff” that was in those other people’s bags - even though I have no clue what that “stuff” was.

Second, the Pilchuck Glass School Open House on July 17 from noon to 5 p.m.  This was another first for us (my husband Rick and I) last summer.  They offer this day only once a year and it’s a “hop, skip and jump” from Woodinville to Stanwood – why hadn’t we done this year’s ago? When you arrive, you drive down a long forested road and park in a wide-open field. They hand you a map and then you are free to roam. You can wander through most of the campus; they only ask that you respect the privacy of the artist’s residences (aka huts).  What made this day so enjoyable was the easy pace – the lack of structure… you get to move in and out of the buildings, observe the artists at work, talk to them, ask questions, watch glass blowing and, for an extra fee, you can try glass blowing yourself. It’s a peaceful and fascinating afternoon of glass art.

A bit of trivia about Dale Chihuly: In 1968, he was the first American ever invited to Murano, Italy to learn glass blowing from the masters.    

A bit of trivia about Murano: In 1291, the government of Venice banned the glass blowing furnaces from central Venice, moving them instead to the island of Murano. This was due to the fear of fire in the wooden structures of a crowded Venice. They also wanted to isolate the master glassblowers to prevent their sharing valuable glassmaking secrets. The glassblowers became virtual prisoners on Murano, where the penalties for divulging glassblowing secrets could include death.