April 19 – 22, 2017 AZ Glass Alliance Trip San Francisco
You won’t want to miss this fun filled trip! We plan on arriving in San Francisco on April 19 in time to enjoy a welcome dinner. Then it will be three full days of fun and excitement as we visit with world class glass artists (and perhaps a non-glass artist as well), and visit outstanding private collections in the Bay area. We’ll enjoy three really good dinners, three lunches and best of all, each others’ company. While we’re still working on the details, here’s an idea of what we’re planning:
Our hotel will be the very highly rated boutique Orchard Hotel (www.theorchardhotel.com), which is located just two blocks off Union Square at 665 Bush Street. Rated four stars by Yelp and four and one half stars by Trip Advisor the hotel combines all the modern conveniences with Asian hospitality. We’ve negotiated a very good rate of $189 plus tax per night, single or double occupancy. If you prefer to include a full American breakfast the rate will be $209 per night double occupancy and $205 single occupancy. In addition, the rates will be good three days prior and three days after on a space available basis if you’d like to stay a bit longer.
Artists who we’ve already signed up include:
Oben Abright, one of the absolute foremost artists working in blow molded glass, often combined with other materials. Oben, who is only 36, quickly established himself among the most sought after artists with his highly realistic portrayals of people he has known around the world. For more information on Oben check out austinartprojects.com/artists/oben-abright.
Carrie Iverson (carrieiversonstudio.com) and her husband, Jeremy Scidmore. Carrie is a pioneer in the combination of print making with glass, creating major site specific installations which have been displayed in such diverse locations as a three story warehouse in Chicago and the main Brooklyn public library. Carrie will be an artist in residence at the De Young Museum while we are in San Francisco. Jeremy Scidmore is a multi-talented artist who not only creates both enamel painted kiln formed as well as blown glass, but also does work in photography, printmaking, videos and sound (www.jeremyscidmore.com)
John Lewis, one of the early pioneers of cast glass who is completely relevant and current today with his wonderful, unique tables, benches, vessels and other forms for individual collectors, as well as a very successful practice of site specific architectural and design pieces (johnlewisglass.com). Tentatively we plan on enjoying a Japanese lunch while we visit John’s studio, and you’ll be amazed at the specialized equipment and operations to be found there.
Jay Musler, an acknowledged master of painted, flamework sculptures, including his famous bowl “cityscapes”, masks, boats, panels and much more. Jay’s work is represented in major museums around the world, including the Renwick, the Metropolitan and the Los Angeles County Museum to name just a few. Learn more about Jay on his website, jaymusler.com.
Clifford Rainey, a first rank leading sculptor in glass whose work is recognized and exhibited around the world. Clifford’s diverse images include the human form (often somewhat disassembled), Coca Cola bottles and symbols of cultures from many parts of the globe. Clifford is also a very talented teacher and mentor of other leading artists, and is currently Chair of the Glass Program at the California College of the Arts. Learn more about Clifford at cliffordrainey.com.
Demetra Theofanous, and her husband, Dean Bensen. Demetra is very well known for her signature woven nests, which usually include beautiful eggs as well as branches, leaves and other flora, using both flamework and pate de verre techniques. In addition, Demetra is the current president of our sister group, Glass Alliance of Northern California. Dean Bensen specializes in blown tree forms, including beautiful representations of the California redwoods. To see more of Carrie’s and Dean’s work go to sculpturebydemetra.com and www.deanbensen.com.
Mary White, a glass artist and educator who links glass art with environmental issues such as water resources, renewable energy, urban habitat for wild birds and affordable housing. Mary often uses recycled glass and found objects in her work, which currently focuses on such interesting subjects as solar powered bird baths and glass watershed maps. In earlier years, Mary was very well known for her glass houses, representing her interest in urban habitat. Learn more about Mary at marywhiteglass.com.
In addition, we’ll visit several outstanding private collections in the Bay area, and you’ll enjoy getting to know these warm and interesting fellow art enthusiasts, as well as seeing their fabulous collections.
Time permitting, we’d like to include visits to:
The De Young Museum (www.deyoung.famsf.org), one of the leading contemporary art and craft museums in the country. In particular, the De Young is home to the famous Dorothy and George Saxe collection of crafts, which includes many major pieces of glass sculpture.
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (www.sfmoma.org) newly reopened in its brand new, iconic building. Among other exhibitions on display while we are in town will be the Fisher collection, one of the great private collections of modern art (Don Fisher was the founder of the Gap).
Of course, we’re working on lining up three great dinners for you at area restaurants (as usual, the fourth night will be on your own so that you can “do your own thing” or visit with local friends or relatives).
The cost of the trip will be $750 per person, which includes private chartered bus to all locations, three great dinners and three lunches, museum admissions, snacks on the bus, hostess gifts, artist meals and more. Hotel and airfare are not included. As noted, the base rate at the Orchard Hotel is $189 per night, and right now round trip airfare from Phoenix to San Francisco for that time of year is a very affordable $270 per person. This trip will be very popular and our maximum number of attendees will be 40, so it’s important to get your deposit in early to assure your spot on the trip. Deposits are due no later than December 1 to assure that we’ll have a room for you at the contract rate. The deposit is $350 per person and the remaining $400 will be due after the first of the year. Your deposit will be refunded if the trip is cancelled; otherwise deposits and other payments will only be refundable to the extent that we have funds available after payment of all expenses of the trip. Your deposit check should be made payable to Arizona Glass Alliance and mailed to Fred Schomer.
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