Featured Sponsor: The Last Stand and Diamonds Grind Glass by Gerald McBride
The Last Stand
I began creating bespoke hardwood display stands and frames in 2019 to showcase the stained-glass art pieces my wife, Rose McBride, was creating. By 2021 both Rose and I were busily fusing glass and I needed display options for my own glass art as well.
As other artists began seeing my display stands at Gathering of the Guilds and other art fairs and venues, they began showing me their art pieces or concepts for future pieces and asking if we might work together to create custom display stands to accent their art in functional ways. I loved the idea, and, with the ever-appreciated encouragement of Guild member, Charlene Fort, I began my first sponsorship with the Pacific Northwest Glass Guild.
There are endless possibilities for displaying your glass art. I work primarily with high-quality hardwoods, often with live edges, but I am known for following each artist’s lead to create what seems “just right to them for their artwork”.
Members of this Guild always receive a discount on any production wood bases I create to sell at the Pacific Northwest Glass Guild Vendor Fair or sales through other Guild events (Log in to PNWGlassGuild.org and go to About>Our Sponsors to see how to claim your discount). My prices for custom work always include all work from consultation to completion and I strive to keep my pricing highly competitive.
As you take each piece out of your kiln or off of your light table this winter and throughout the year, think about how you want it displayed for an upcoming sale and send me an email or give me a call. We can also arrange for you to come to our workshop and studios next door to the beautiful Willamette Valley Vineyards and Winery south of Salem, Oregon to work out the details. I look forward to working with you to give your artwork “that look”!
right where you need it
As a glass artist myself, I know how much work goes into every piece of art you bring into existence. Sketching, planning, assembling components, testing, more testing, then reworking and firing until what you envisioned is right there before you.
Craftsmanship is all about beautifully created and finished pieces of art. For glass artists this means having well-finished edges as well as being able to grind glass to finish within delicate interior areas of a piece.
The great thing about our Guild is that we like to share with each other. We share what works and we share angst when we come up against problems that need a fix. I created the Diamonds Grind Glass tool to address a chief concern expressed to me by this Guild’s artists. “How can I work on the interior edges within lace to remove unsightly spikes or carve out areas within my art piece without immersing the piece in water in my sink to do this kind of grinding?”
Diamonds Grind Glass original “water-at-the-tip” roto-grinder allows you to set up your water source and tool anywhere you wish to do your work. We use this tool at our own studios. I sought testing of it by, and feedback from, several Guild artists before producing this tool kit for sale. They continue to sell well within our glass community and I will continue to offer them to Pacific Northwest Glass Guild members at the same discounted price in 2025 as in 2024 (for details Log in to PNWGlassGuild.org and go to About>Our Sponsors for details). If shipping is required, I will only charge you my cost to ship it to you.
You can order this highly useful tool directly from me at any time. It will also be fore sale at the 2025 Pacific Northwest Glass Guild Vendor Fair.
Happy New Year. Keep in touch.
Gerald McBride 503• 349• 5166
