Fun with Fused Glass

I'm always looking for creative ways that people use the arts in their fundraising activities. This summer the Red Elephant Gallery created Fused Glass Jewelry in conjunction with Art as a Catalyst as a fundraiser for the Rhode Island Leukemia Cup Regatta. We also participated in a Month for CERF (Craft Emergency Relief Fund) during September where we donated a portion of our Art Glass sales to CERF. In both instances we had fun and the proceeds went to benefit three great non-profits; Art as a Catalyst, Leukemia Society and CERF. Well I just came across this news flash in which fused glass in conjuction with wine is being used to help build a new Visual Arts Center in WA. Read on...and order wine!

The Arts Council of Snohomish County, Artspace, Inc. and Northwest Cellars, which produces and distributes wine with custom-designed labels, are working together to raise funds for a new Visual Arts Center. The Arts Council and Artspace, both nonprofit organizations, are collaborating to build a multi-use visual arts education center and live/work studio space for artists in downtown Everett.

In this first series, a collection of five wonderful Washington and Oregon wines crafted by Bob Delf of Northwest Cellars are coupled with five fantastic reproductions of original artwork by five local artists. The artwork represents five of the thirty-five individual 8” x 8” glass tiles that make up a Glass Quilt. The Glass Quilt Project represents local area artists, coming together to produce a wonderful glass quilt comprised of 35 painted, etched and fused glass tiles. The Glass Quilt debuted March of 2006. An anonymous donor purchased the quilt for $20,000 and donated it back to the Arts Council for its permanent collection in the new center. The Glass Quilt is currently on display at the Wall Street Building - 10th floor waiting room in downtown Everett.

Any wine retailer or restaurant can carry the Artist Series One wines. Proceeds of $2 per bottle of wine go directly to support the visual arts center project. For more info visit www.artscouncilofsnoco.org