Page 8 - The Jewish Voice - March '22

Page 8, The Jewish Voice

Local Happenings from page 7 of amazing glassblowing demonstrations. The magic starts in glass artists, including
How the Benzaiten Center January and ends in April. No other facility affords the people Lino Tagliapietra,
Martin Blank, Preston
living in our county this type of rare opportunity to see famous
for Creative Arts Commits glassblowers putting on two, three-hour-long glassblowing Singletary, James
demonstrations. These muscular three-hour demos involve
Mongrain, and Nancy
to Community Outreach a team of five to six glassblowers: The guest artist plus our Callan. Jason also has
Programming own staff plus other local artists who want to help assist. This taught at Pilchuck Glass
type of demo cannot be compared to anything you may have
School in Stanwood,
seen in Murano, Italy, or on a cruise ship. Washington, at Urban
Two-Day Events for Jason Christian The center started off Glass in New York City, One of Jason’s signature yoyo
A major part of the Benzaiten Center for Creative Arts’ their season this January with and at the University of pieces
community outreach Claire Kelly, who came all Texas-Arlington.
programming is the way down from Corning, Jason will be performing on Friday and Saturday, March
their visiting artist New York, to captivate 18 and 19. Friday is what the center likes to call their Artist
programming. Each the Benzaiten attendees Blow-Out event. It starts at 6 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m. This
year the center by demonstrating her three-hour demonstration is accompanied by a live jazz
brings in four complicated use of cane and ensemble. Each attendee is given two drink tickets and
nationally renowned murrinis that she incorporates nibbles. And all this can be had for only $15 per person!
glass artists to Palm in her delightful and People often ask, “Why do you charge so little for all this
Beach County from Jason Christian working on a large whimsical, animal-themed entertainment?”
every corner of our hand-blown piece connected to a creations. View a video of “The answer is
country for two days blowpipe one of her demonstrations Point of View a hand-blown that it isn’t about
by visiting the Benzaiten piece using murrinis by making money. We
website. This was followed Claire Kelly don’t come anywhere
by February’s events that close to breaking
featured glassblower and painter Corey Pemberton, who even considering the
was brought all the way from California. His glass-blown cost of the artists’
artwork and a sampling of some of his two-dimensional airfares, housing, local
artworks along with Claire Kelly’s work will be on display transportation, and
102 Year Anniversary at the center’s beautiful gallery for the rest of the season. meals. After all, that is
nd
Do You Have renowned artist Jason Christian from Seattle, Washington. why we are a nonprofit,
For March’s two-day events, the center is bringing in
and this is all part of Closeup of one of Jason’s yoyos
An Old Fur Hanging Jason grew up in Coupeville, a small town situated on our giving back to on the end of a blowpipe
In The Closet Whidbey Island in the heart of the Puget Sound region of our community,” says
western Washington State. Jason’s mother was a nurse;
Founder and President J.B. Berkow. This answer also explains
Not Being Worn? his father, a metal fabricator. As an adolescent he thought why they always hold a free Family Fun Day on Saturday
that he too would find a place in the blue-collar world. He from 1 to 4 p.m. Toward that end, the center is always looking
Restyle Your Old Fur worked construction and odd jobs. He drove delivery trucks. for corporate sponsors who would like to support all these
Hanging In Your Closet However, there was something inside driving him toward a worthwhile endeavors. The visiting artist programming gives
more creative vocation. His mother told him, “You should
a corporation huge visibility as it covers two events a month
really go check out this glass studio downtown. I read about for four months!
it in a magazine.” He went and saw a master glassblower Don’t miss out on any of these great opportunities! Visit
turn a molten blob into a flower and was hooked. This was www.benzaitencenter.org or call the center at (561) 508-7315
during the late 1990s and the Northwest glass scene was in to keep abreast of all of the Benzaiten’s events, class and
full swing. Dale Chihuly was hanging chandeliers in Venice. workshop offerings, studio rentals, their ultra-fun fundraisers,
Italian masters were moving to Seattle. There was plentiful memberships, and sponsorship levels.
work to be had, along with the strong sense of community that
Jason had always wanted. He dove in, and there he flourished.
“I have the same passion for glass now that I had the first Artists Paint Local Scenes
time I stepped in front of a glory hole – probably even more. at Lighthouse ArtCenter’s
I have endless curiosity for this medium that drives me crazy.
It is what it is: It’s glass, it breaks. It’s molten, it moves. I love Plein Air Festival
it. That’s what keeps me going. The common thread to my
work is the technicality Lighthouse ArtCenter’s (LAC) 9th Annual Plein Air
of it – pushing the limits. Festival brings together 30 award-winning artists from all
To A Beautiful I like a challenge. I want over the country to compete and capture the beauty of local
to see the thing I set out to
scenes through the practice of painting in the open air or
Vest, Jacket, make and say, ‘Wow, I’m en plein air. The festival takes place March 27 - April 3
Or Teddy Bear OK with this.’ But never and includes free artist demonstrations, workshops, events,
and wet art for purchase. The festivities begin on Sunday,
will I be totally satisfied,”
says Jason about his love March 27, with a Paint Out Competition at the historic Ann
for glass. Norton Sculpture Gardens; March 28 - March 31, the artists
Jason is an integral provide free live demonstrations in the most picturesque
member of Dale places throughout Palm Beach and Martin counties; April
Come By During Our Chihuly’s boathouse 1 is the Collectors’ Party at the LAC Gallery; the festival
team, collaborating with
ends on April 2 at the LAC Gallery with an art sale, Battle
Recycle Fur & Mink international artists, of the Brushes live painting competition, and Awards
Restyling Event including the late Pino Ceremony. The art will be displayed throughout the
Signoretto. He has worked Dale Chihuly with Jason
Brought to you by Restyle Your Fur, with many well-known Christian at Dale’s Studio Local Happenings on page 9
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