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Tryon Arts & Crafts School recently held the second “FuseFest”, a weekend celebration of fused glass art with lead sponsors Oceanside Glass & Tile, North Carolina Arts Council, and Colors for Earth.

 

FuseFest visiting artists Lucas Krenzin, Paula McCoy, and Scandia Wood-Blackwell each led three workshop sessions and participated in an artist panel discussion for a group of 24 students. 

 

FuseFest participants visited Tryon from California, Florida, Georgia, central and eastern North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. Students, teachers, sponsor representatives, and TACS’ staff and Board members enjoyed reception catering and meals from eight official local food sponsors and shopped and dined at many other local businesses over the course of the long weekend. 

 

The event was a great success. Students made over 180 small projects in a variety of techniques, such as: crackle; dry enamels; bubbleart, enamel, and frit; CFE ink techniques; “designer” sheet glass using frit, paint, stringers and noodles; bubble trapping with stringers and noodles; making and using Frit lace; and how to incorporate Twisted Cane® products.

 

Those who wish to translate the above paragraph into plain English and are interested in learning about fused glass artmaking should stay tuned for TACS’ forthcoming release of the 2022 summer and fall fused glass visiting artist workshop series. FuseFest will return in 2023 over the weekend of February 17 to 19. Save the date!

 

FuseFest 2022 was possible due to support from industry and local sponsors. Industry sponsors included Oceanside Glass and Tile, North Carolina Arts Council with local agency Tryon Fine Arts Center, Colors for Earth, Slumpy’s, Techniglass, Thompson Enamels, G.L. Drew Knives, Joe Cooper Studio, Roundhouse Pottery, and Kakilaki Studio Art. Local Business Sponsors included The Twisted Fork, Mill Spring Farm Store, Katie D’s NY Bagels and Deli, GreenLife Inn at the Mimosa, Tryon Coffeehouse Co-Op, Caro-Mi restaurant, and The Tryon Bottle.

 

FuseFest was Co-Chaired by Karoline Shaffer O’Rourke (Vice President, TACS Board of Directors) and Pam Herres. 

 

Tryon Arts and Crafts School is a non-profit organization that exists to provide creative opportunities for everyone through education, instruction and expression of heritage and contemporary arts and crafts in a friendly, stimulating and enriching environment. For more information about the School, please contact the office at (828) 859.8323 or visit our website, www.TryonArtsandCrafts.org. 

 

Submitted by Will Barclift