THE GLASS COMMISSION
SPONSORED
BY BRUMOS MOTOR
CARS, INC.
HISTORY
The Glass Program at Jacksonville University(JU) was founded in 1972.
It began with a four-day workshop, “Building a Glass Studio and
Glassblowing,” taught by Mark Peiser. During this workshop Dr. William
Persick and students built and blew glass on the last day. This workshop
was organized by Vina Schemer, Southeastern director of the American Crafts
Council, and Dr. Barre Barret. JU Professor of Art Dr. Persick , a ceramist
at the time converted to glass and introduced glassblowing to the curriculum.
He expanded the program and kept the tradition alive until he retired
in 1992. The program is now directed by Associate Professor Caroline Madden
and Visiting Artist Jonathan Christie.
In 1999 Jacksonville University held Pre and Post-Conference Workshops for the Annual Glass Art Society Conference, seventy students attended both novice and professional from as far as New Zealand and as close as Canada.
Since 1992 the glass program has hosted several visiting artist workshops that have included Maestro Pino Signoretto from Venice, Dana Zamecnikova and Marian Karel Architects/Glass sculptors heads of Prague Academy, Czech Republic and Petr Novotny owner of Ajetko Glass, Novy-Bor, Czech republic and Ruth King, Artistic Director for Pilchuck Glass School, Seattle.
Additionally international
renowned artists whom have shared their knowledge and skills with JU glass
students include, Fritz DriesBach, Cappy Thompson, Arlon Baylis, Mark
Peiser, Robert Levin, Judy Hill, Jay Muslar, David Reekie, Robin Winters,
Newy Fagan, Robin Cass, James Mongrain.Our artistic influences and curriculum
enrichment programs also draw artists from the sculpture disciplines such
as African American artist Alison Saar, Kiki Smith, Rick and Laura Brown,
Roberly Bell, and Enzo Torccoletti and ceramists such as Rick Hirsh and
Bruno Le Verdi.
THE ART ANNEX
The studio has a 220 pound Electric Glass Furnace; Five Glory Holes (
three are12 inch diameter x 24 inches deep, and 18 inch diameter x 28
inch deep and 8 inch x 10 deep), Five Annealers (two are 36 inches x54inches
long x24 inches deep and three are 38inches wide x 28 inches long x 12inches
deep).