issue-2025-07

  • 2025: July Issue

    PNWGlassGuild.org

    Mel Williams

    Upcoming events: pnwglassguild.org/events/
    (Bolded events are Guild sponsored)

    July
    12-13 Willamette Valley Lavender Festival, Newberg OR (SW of Portland)
    12-13 Wedgwood Arts Festival, Seattle WA
    17-20 Reverse Enameling Workshop, Bainbridge WA
    19 Art In The Garden, Battle Ground WA (Near Vancouver WA)
    20 Guild Picnic, Seattle WA
    20 Registration due for Sept. Open Studios, Portland OR
    21-24 another Reverse Enameling Workshop, Bainbridge WA
    23 Potluck & Pieces, CANCELLED
    26 Guild sponsored Mold-Making Class, near Portland OR
    25-27 Bellevue Arts Fair, Bellevue WA

    August
    1-3 Anacortes Arts Festival, Anacortes WA
    2 GACO (Glass Artists of Central Oregon) Meet Up, Bend, OR
    3 Guild Picnic & Sale, Battle Ground WA CANCELLED
    9 Oregon City Festival of the Arts (south Portland)
    16 Guild Picnic, Independence OR (SW Salem OR)
    22 Mosaic Class with Kory Dollar, Springfield OR
    28-Sept 23 Linda Gerrard Featured Artist, Portland OR
    30-Sept 1 Art In The Pearl Portland OR
    30 Guild Picnic, Fairview OR (NE Portland)
    31 GACO Art Show, Bend OR

    September
    5 ACE Glass Exhibit opens, LaGrande OR
    13-14 Open Studios, 5-county Portland area

    Members can log in and submit their events by clicking About>Contact Us, and filling out the Submit Calendar Event form

    Contents

    • Featured Artists: Cathy Southwick, Mel Williams
    • President’s Message
    • Board of Directors
    • Welcome to our Newest Members
    • Portland area Open Studios Registration
    • Local Glass Tour: Seattle
    • Come to a Picnic!
    • Guild Sponsors a Mold-Making Class near Portland
    • Recent Event Photos
    • Coming Events
    • Featured Sponsor: Maganda Glassworks LLC
    • Thanks to All Our Sponsors

    Read the whole issue on the website:
    https://www.pnwglassguild.org/article-cat/issue-2025-07/

    (If you’ve just clicked the link and are seeing this page again, scroll down)

  • Featured Artist: Cathy Southwick, Eugene OR

    Cathy Southwick and grandaughter

    I live in Eugene, with my husband Jeff, dogs Grizz and Reggie, and Carlyne’s favorite cat, Todd. We moved here from Stillwater, OK in 2020, right as the pandemic was blowing up. We have a daughter and son-in-law in Cottage Grove, and a son and daughter-in-law and 2-year old granddaughter in the Tulsa area.

    I started dabbling in glass in 2013 when I took a torch-working class at the community art center in Stillwater. I quickly became frustrated because my beads were all weirdly shaped, and moved into the fusing class without any idea what I was entering. I found my niche! While we were in Oklahoma, I did assist in teaching some fusing classes at the art center. But haven’t done any since moving here.

    Lately I’ve been moving back into some further experimentation with powders, and have started playing again with fossil vitria.

  • Featured Artist: Mel Williams, Marysville WA

    My journey with glass began a few decades ago. I was working at an antique store in Gig Harbor, WA whose owner taught stained glass at Stadium High School in Tacoma, WA and when the store wasn’t busy, he taught me his craft. I was hooked immediately. Fast forward 10 years and I opened my first studio in Woodinville, WA and dubbed it GlassRoots. I taught stained glass classes 3 nights a week and was open for retail 5 days a week.

    My husband (who is wonderful) and I were raising three children and very busy. He always supported me in my artistic endeavors. One of my students gave me an old ceramic kiln and I started incorporating painted pieces into my stained glass projects. I experimented a bit, but fusing was just in its early years. Bullseye was just starting its fusible glass line. I ran that studio for almost 20 years.

    Here’s a piece I did 40 years ago.

    Fast forward a move to Marysville as kids grew up and out. I had a full time job at a Title company in Everett and was making and selling fused glass jewelry on the side.


    I wanted to learn how to do lampwork beads. Enter a new, and now dear friend, Chris Warrington. An amazing lampwork artist, who said “I’ll teach you how to do lampwork and I want to learn how to fuse.” The moment I began to teach her fusing, I knew that was my path. Here’s my first project back after a 15 year break:

    I stopped doing jewelry and started fusing again. I’ve taken classes from some amazing artists: Paul Marioni & Mark Ekstrom (back in the day), Fred Buxton, Tim Carey and Ann Cavanaugh. Lots of e-books and experimenting and I’m still hooked almost 50 years later.

    Glass is the most versatile medium. I’ve done copper foil and leaded stained glass, sandblasting scenes on shower doors, bathroom windows and office doors in the Columbia Tower, fused, painted, blown, lampwork and cast glass. The way light plays off the glass entices me to constantly want to learn more. So much fun and so challenging at the same time. Every day is like Christmas morning when I open my kilns.

    I think it keeps us young to continue to learn and share all that we can about this wonderful medium we all love.

    Here is some of my current work:

    See more of Mel’s work on Instagram

  • 2025 Board of Directors

    We are looking for members to shadow board members and/or join the various teams in the upcoming year. This will aid in a smoother transition as new board members step up in the future. It also gives you a chance to see behind the scenes and what it takes to keep the Guild engaging and relevant in your glass journey. Reach out to president Lesley Kelly to volunteer or if you have any questions.

  • President’s Message

    July 2025

    Hi everyone,

    I hope you are enjoying the weather we are having so far this summer and making your plans to attend the Guild picnics and other events that will be ongoing during the summer months. Please check out the event listings on the website calendar for details and check it often as new events are added regularly.

    We have completed our project of cleaning out the storage site we have occupied for many years and moved to a new site. The old site was emptied during June, and the keys turned in at the end of the month so that we did not have to pay rent in July. The pedestal pieces and the carts they were in have been donated to a local charity who were thrilled to have them for use, and a considerable number of other old records, supplies, cardboard, etc. have been disposed of.  All this work has given us a new location that is half the size but still holds everything, easy to get to since it is not in downtown Portland, and the monthly rent is less than the previous location. This will help the guild save money for other projects and expenses. If you need something from the storage shed, please contact me or Linda Roman and we can decide how to meet you there.

    President Lesley Kelly

    Open Studios in the Portland-Vancouver area for 2025 is coming up September 13th and 14th, and registration is now open. Please register by July 20th if possible so we can put together the flyers with pictures of all the artists’ works and directions for the event as soon as possible. This will allow us to hopefully advertise at Art in the Pearl as well as having the flyers available for participants to hand out in their local community and to friends and family. See the article in this newsletter for more information.

    A quick reminder that we are still looking for volunteers to lead the Newsletter team and the website team and to represent the teams on the board. These important positions are invaluable to the board and the guild. If you are interested in the duties of the positions, please contact Greta Schneider for information on the newsletter position, and Karen Seymour for the website team.

    Have a safe summer, keep cool and I look forward to seeing you at our summer events!

    Thanks,
    Lesley

  • Welcome to our Newest Members

    Please take time to reach out and connect…even if you don’t live in the same area. The wonders of technology bring us all just a few clicks away. Members can find contact info for these folks and other members if you log in to pnwglassguild.org and go to “For Members” (which only appears when logged in) and choose Member Contacts List.

    Jeannie Custer, Portland OR
    Bianca Gilbert, Portland OR
    Karen Groendyke, Wasilla AK
    Twyla Lawson, Independence OR
    Jon Lickerman, Takoma Park MD

    Clare McGibbon, Portland OR
    Joseph Pike, Forest Grove OR
    Kathleen Piper, Eugene OR
    Shae Reece, Salem OR
    Milo Snyder, Seattle WA

  • PNWGG’s Portland area Open Studios registration now open

    September 13-14 will be our 10th year having a Glass Art Open Studio Tour and Sale in the Portland region.  The show is open to all current PNWGG members who have their studio or home in these five counties:  Columbia, Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas (Oregon) or Clark (Washington State). 
    Members who live in other counties may participate by being hosted in a studio within these 5 counties. Here’s the link to the application info.

    The cost for each artist is $65.  You can easily pay using a debit or credit card after you fill out the registration form linked to the info page above.

    Carlyne Lynch hosted Daryle Ryder and Greta Schneider at her studio last year

    • You need to register in the next two weeks i.e. by July 20th if you want your photos in the publicity, so sign up as soon as you can. The absolute deadline is August 6th but if you wait that long you miss out on being publicized well. No refunds will be given but you can have an acceptable replacement buy it from you.

    • If you are able to host other member-artists in your studio, please register right away so possible guests know where opportunities to show/sell are and can be connected to your studio.  Using the forms linked on the info page above, you simply need to indicate that you can host and how many guests you are looking for. More artists listed at a location on our map tends to increase the number of visitors who stop there.

    • If you want to participate as a guest in another artist’s studio but don’t know whose, please complete the application right away so we can try find a host site that’s a good fit for you. 

    • If you already know whose studio you’ll be at, please indicate that on the registration form by choosing the host’s name from the list as instructed.

    If you have questions please contact Daryle Ryder

    VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

    The Guild doesn’t happen by magic. Actual people have to take the time to make things function. Please contact Daryle Ryder if you want to help distribute Open Studios signs for your county. If you want to help in some other way contact the team you might want to be part of: website, newsletter and other events. Or ask president Lesley Kelly about how to best apply your skills and time. Every little bit you can do helps spread the load.

  • DIY Glass Tour: Seattle

    How do you explore glass if you happen to be in a in a different city? KUOW, Seattle’s local public radio station, recently broadcast glass artist Hillary Lee’s suggested walking tour of Seattle glass (Listen Here)

    If you find yourself in Seattle this summer, we put those spots on a map and added a few more that would be accessible on a short drive north:
    • Bedrock Industries, a major supply stop for local mosaic artists and those looking for odd recycled glass shapes
    • Traver and Vetri, sister galleries who showcase established and not-yet-well-known glass artists respectively.

    Then you might prearrange a class (these 3 are currently open only by appointment):
    • Member Blowing Sands: glass blowing
    • Member Karen Seymour’s studio: glass cutting or a tack fusing/temperature discussion
    • Sponsor Zetamari: mosaic mirror or birdhouse construction

    On your way out of town stop at one of our sponsors to buy supplies:
    • NW Art Glass in Redmond WA (NE of Seattle across Lake Washington)
    • Glass Expressions in Burien WA (S of Seattle near the SeaTac Airport)

    Go to the Google Map

    Now we’re hoping some of you will volunteer to put together a tour of your own local glass area for future issues (contact the newsletter team).

    If you like touring glass studios for inspiration we highly recommend coming to Seattle October 16-19 for Refract (RefractSeattle.org) the glass celebration mentioned in the broadcast. Hilary Lee, the interviewee on the broadcast, helped start this event with about 50 different venues. The PNW Glass Guild is sponsoring two of them:
    • an overview demo of kiln-formed glass for glass art aficionados who want to understand more about the creation and choices in making kiln-formed glass art so they understand what they are buying.
    • the GlassAndDecor.com studio tour October 18-19 which hosts as many of the local PNW Glass Guild members as they can find space for (contact Karen Seymour for info).

  • Come to a Potluck Picnic!

    Better weather and longer days in the summer mean many of us can travel to talk glass in person instead of depending on Zoom to tie the group together. We hope you can make it to at least one of the 4 guild’s potluck picnics or some other other glassy event:

    Be sure to tell the host you are planning to come!

    Last year’s picnic at Gail Haskett’s

    There’s also a meet-up in central Oregon August 2nd, and several shows and classes. See the calendar.

    Videos of recent General meetings on Potmelts and Teaching Glass are now on the website under Glass>education (scroll and click to go to page 2 since both at at the end of the alphabet). Members can log-in and see meetings on many different topics.

    General meetings on Zoom will resume in the fall. Please contact VP Barb Kienle if you have an idea for a future meeting.

  • Guild Sponsors a Mold Making Class on July 26th near Portland

    Hydraperm Mold Making
    Greta Schneider and Carlyne Lynch invite you to a class July 26th on mold making in Carlyne’s Wilsonville studio, SW of Portland. We will supply two premade molds for you to customize and gain practice on cleaning the inside edges and removing potential undercuts. We will also be providing tools for you to use.

    You will also make 2 new molds. In total, you will take home 4 molds to tack fuse with powder. Bring a dark and light powder (in small quantities) in the colors you want to work with. The event listing has more details on what is provided and what to bring plus how to register/pay.

    Both sessions are now full. If there is interest they will schedule another class on a later date. Please contact Carylene Lynch or Greta Schneider for more info.

  • Recent Event Photos

    Carlyne Lynch participated in the Lake Oswego art show. She enjoyed it despite the wet weather.

    Greta Schneider and Daryle Ryder at the Margie’s Market Spring Show (Rose and Gerald McBride and Carlyne Lynch also participated — Thanks for the photo Carlyne)

    Please send us photos of your glass events:

    Having a photo makes it so much easier to invite people to participate in an event next year. If you are part of or go to a glass event and see one of our members please take some photos and send the best 2 to the Newsletter team (400 to 600 px or “medium” resolution, about 500 KB, not more than 1MB if you can help it).

  • Coming Glass Events

    General meetings in 2025

    are via Zoom, usually on the 4th Sunday of most months, at 3:30 pm (no meetings in April, July, August, or December).
    Contact our VP if you have suggestions for future topics. You don’t need to be a member to attend our General Meetings but we would love to have you join. Videos of many meetings are available to logged in members by choosing Glass>Education from the menu.

    Logged in members can submit their events under About> Contact Us, Submit Calendar Event tab

    Spring/Summer 2025:

    (Guild sponsored events are in bold)
    July
    12-13 Willamette Valley Lavender Festival, Newberg OR (SW of Portland)
    12-13 Wedgwood Arts Festival, Seattle WA
    17-20 Reverse Enameling Workshop, Bainbridge WA
    19 Art In The Garden, Battle Ground WA (Near Vancouver WA)
    20 Guild Picnic, Seattle WA
    20 Registration due for Sept. Open Studios, Portland OR
    21-24 another Reverse Enameling Workshop, Bainbridge WA
    23 Potluck & Pieces, CANCELLED
    26 Guild sponsored Mold-Making Class, near Portland OR
    25-27 Bellevue Arts Fair, Bellevue WA

    August
    1-3 Anacortes Arts Festival, Anacortes WA
    2 GACO (Glass Artists of Central Oregon) Meet Up, Bend, OR
    3 Guild Picnic & Sale, Battle Ground WA CANCELLED
    9 Oregon City Festival of the Arts (south Portland)
    16 Guild Picnic, Independence OR (SW Salem OR)
    22 Mosaic Class with Kory Dollar, Springfield OR
    28-Sept 23 Linda Gerrard Featured Artist, Portland OR
    30-Sept 1 Art In The Pearl Portland OR
    30 Guild Picnic, Fairview OR (NE Portland)
    31 GACO Art Show, Bend OR

    September
    5 ACE Glass Exhibit opens, LaGrande OR
    13-14 Open Studios, 5-county Portland area

    October
    16-19 Refract, Seattle area
    16 Overview of Kiln-formed Glass, Seattle
    18-19 Glass And Decor Studio Tour, Seattle
    26 General Meeting

    New work by member Member Linda Gerrard who will be Featured Artist at the Alberta Street Gallery in Portland from August 28th through September 23rd.

    Linda will also likely be a studio stop on the PNW Glass Guild’s Open Studios in the 5-county Portland area September 13-14. Get your own application in now!
    Or put it on your calendar to take the tour, meet other members, see their studio and maybe even buy some of their work.

    Our glass events don’t happen spontaneously: it takes organizing and prep. Give a little time and energy, get a lot more fun, glass info and sense of community. Just a few hours a month helping one of the teams with the many ongoing, easily-leaned tasks will be greatly appreciated.
    For more info contact: Newsletter/publicity team, Website team, Sponsorship team

  • Featured Sponsor: Maganda Glassworks LLC

    Owners Twyla Lawson (left) and Heath Lawson (center) with visitors at Maganda Glassworks (Thank you to Carlyne Lynch for the photo)

    Maganda Glassworks LLC, the PNW Glass Guild’s newest sponsor, is a kiln-formed (fused), stained-glass & lampwork teaching studio located in Independence, Oregon. We offer classes for individuals and groups in stained glass, fused glass, and lampworking, as well as create custom art for you and your home.

    Heath is our full time artist. He left public sector work in January 2024 after 18+ years to run the studio full time. He’s a US Navy Veteran. Twyla works full time in the public sector, as does our daughter Cassie who is also an owner. 

    Come create beautiful glass art that captures your unique style and personality. No other artistic medium has the ability to absorb, reflect, and transform light like glass. We would love to teach you about the world of glass art! MagandaGlassworks.com has contact info. The Facebook page has more current photos.

    Maganda Glassworks will be hosting the August 16th PNW Glass Guild Picnic. Come and say hi!

    Heath Lawson showing off a recent commission.

    They have had as many as 40 people doing fused glass at once in their new classroom (this was at their opening celebration — classes are much smaller)

  • Thanks to our Sponsors!

    These companies and organizations are an integral part of the glass art community. We thank our Sponsors for supporting our Guild through either generous donations or by offering discounts to our Members. Please take time to thank them for their generosity when you visit their businesses.

    Gold Level Sponsors




    Silver Level Sponsors

    Artifex Toolworks – Glass Alchemy – HIS Glass Works