NC Glass Center to Exhibit Group Show at Mars Hill University’s Weizenblatt Gallery

January 13, 2020

Mars Hill University’s Weizenblatt Art Gallery is excited to present a group show January 13 – February 7, 2020, by the artists at the North Carolina Glass Center. The NCGC, located in Asheville, is the artistic home for more than 30 professional glass artists, many of whom are providing new work for this exhibition.

Glass has been a medium for artists for well over 2,000 years, beginning with the ancient Phonenicians and Egyptians. Later, it was used in stained glass windows in European cathedrals. Venice became a center for a particular type of glass renowned for its beauty. By the mid-20th century, new designs for furnaces enabled more independent artists to take it up as an art form. Art glass began in western North Carolina in the 1970s with just a few artists and has now grown into a major art form, with organizations like the NCGS; Penland School; and the Center for Craft, Creativity, and Design helping artists to thrive.

The NCGC is a non-profit, public access glass studio and gallery. It is dedicated to the advancement of education, exploration, and collaboration in all forms of glass. Its low-cost shared studios help emerging artists launch their careers. Its furnaces, torches, and kilns enable established glass artists to pursue new and ambitious challenges. Additionally, the NCGC showcases work from undiscovered to established glass artists in Western North Carolina. NCGC educational programs provide thousands of aspiring glass art students with high quality, affordable instruction. Their efforts include community outreach programs provide safe spaces for veterans and low income youth to learn the science and art of glass. You can learn more at ncglasscenter.org.

The NC Glass Center’s exhibition will run from January 13 through February 7. 2020, with a reception from 6-8 pm on Wednesday, January 22. Weizenblatt Gallery is open 10-4, Monday through Friday, and admission is always free.

For more information, contact the gallery at weizenblatt@mhu.edu.