Louisville KY GAS Conference

Louisville KYWelcome to the home of the 2010 Louisville KY Glass Art Society Conference! This conference was held in Louisville Kentucky on June 10-12, 2010 and marks the 40th annual event for the society.

This site serves as a lasting legacy to the wonderful event that was held here in Louisville!

An excerpt from the program book from the Conference Co-Chairs:
“We hope you are as excited to be here as we are to be hosting the 40th annual Glass Art Society conference. This year’s theme, Ingenious Possibilities, is a reflection on Louisville’s status as one of the country’s newest destinations for contemporary glass.
Though the region quietly boasts a deep historical tradition of glass manufacturing dating back to the 19th century, it has only been in the last decade that Louisville has begun to showcase
the art of glassmaking as one of the city’s main attractions. Three highly visible downtown glass facilities offer a variety of ways to delve into the art of glass. Here you’ll have the chance to experience the making of glass in every form and approach, from architectural and stained glass to production glassmaking, from professional practice to public access to academic endeavors. Whether you choose a trolley, bicycle, or sneakers as a means of conveyance, as you make the short trip between Louisville’s three downtown glass facilities, you will also find numerous galleries, museums, and artist studios featuring glass art and other offerings. Additionally, there are plenty of opportunities to taste Louisville’s unique food and libations and to enjoy shopping and social life – and that’s all within 10 blocks of the official conference hotel downtown, without straying from Market and Main Streets!
While the core of the conference will be in the lively and manageable downtown district, conference programming also highlights the attractions of the Leonard and Adele Leight Glass Collection at the Speed Art Museum, as well as the historic riverfront district in New Albany, Indiana. New Albany offers a gallery and shopping destination that rivals that of downtown Louisville; it also provides scenic views of the Ohio River and the downtown Louisville skyline. For a change of pace, taste the nightlife and sample bourbon, our official state beverage, on Frankfort Avenue or Bardstown Road, both just a few minutes’ ride from the conference hotel.
And if that’s not enough for you, by now you’ve no doubt become familiar with this year’s exceptional conference lineup. From the locals to the internationals, this conference features many of the best and the brightest with several obvious highlights. As GAS closes its fourth decade and we blaze through our first, we would like to thank the organization and its membership for allowing us to host this exciting event. Contagious enthusiasm has fueled Louisville’s sense of ingenious possibility; it is with the utmost sincerity that we invite you to become infected and participate in our growing glass community.
Merrily Orsini Ché Rhodes J. Page von Roenn Brook Forrest White, Jr.”

And a letter from the President of the Glass Art Society:
“The Glass Art Society’s Board of Directors and its staff welcome you to Louisville.
It gives me the greatest pleasure to be the incumbent President for GAS’s 40th anniversary conference in Louisville. I believe that GAS has been instrumental in the growth of the glass arts worldwide, especially as a vehicle for networking, information exchange, education, and the promotion of excellence in the glass arts. As it was initially conceived, it hasn’t changed that much, except in the context of encompassing a wider range of techniques and the inclusivity of membership of all of those individuals and institutions who have been or are our present membership. That one of our founders and a friend of mine, Mark Peiser, is receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award and that another friend, Tom Philabaum, is receiving the Lifetime Membership Award is very heartwarming to me.
The City of Louisville, its citizens, and the glass community here have all been working hard to bring you a taste of what the city has to offer. In conjunction with GAS, we have brought together interesting lectures, demonstrations, panel discussions, exhibitions, tours, and other events to enhance your experience here. Ingenious Possibilities, the theme of this conference, is evidenced by the growth of this city’s vibrant glass community in a relatively short amount of time. Every time I visit, I find more growth in the glass arts community and more to explore within this city. Enjoy the wonderful restaurants, bars, art, music, and local color. We appreciate this city’s industriousness and I am sure you will too.
Stephen Rolfe Powell at Centre College in Danville, KY, is the father of the movement here, which in turn has spun off all these programs and studios. Without him and his tireless ingenuity, promotion, visiting artists program, and student mentorship,
I think the Louisville glass scene would not be what it is today. Thanks, Stephen! Having a lot of incredible artists who happen to reside in the southeastern U.S. is no coincidence. The relative proximity of Penland School and other institutions, plus a great network of people operating studios, creates vibrancy within our community. There is a lot happening in our region and I am glad that you are all joining us for this conference.
Thanks,
Shane Fero”