Glass sculpting is a craft like no other. A glass art piece is uniquely alluring. However, this practice is not as popular as other art forms. Glass art community is quite small compared to painting or sculpting communities. Realizing that the craft and its associated community need to reach a larger audience to thrive, John Moran, a master glass and mixed media artist, is redefining the landscape to evolve and popularize this artistic medium.
“The glass community cannot survive on the back of the makers alone, it needs a public willing to support it. For the public to support it and become a part of the broader glass community, they have to understand the value of the work being done both culturally and financially,” John notes. This mindset was the driving force behind Gent Glas, a non-profit community glass studio where John builds his art pieces, conducts various workshops, and features artists from the field.
Founded in 2015, it is a special initiative that focuses on building a sustainable glass community in Belgium while spreading the knowledge of this art form globally. The organization employs different methods to achieve the target of educating a greater population about glass making. “Every aspect of the studio from the live events, to the craft beer served in handmade glasses, to the extensive visiting artist program is meant to educate,” John elaborates.
To grow a viable interest in the glass art community, Gent Glas conducts free, public live glass-crafts demonstrations, providing an opportunity to see and learn what goes into making a glass sculpture. Apart from that, there are low-cost workshops, exhibitions, chances to participate in international events, and showcasing local and international artists’ works. The venture also supports the local community, promoting the sale of local, handmade glass pieces.
The methods employed by Gent Glas have garnered much success. They have participated in the Ghent Light Festival. They have collaborated with Design Museum Gent to launch an exhibition called Lightopia. Their weekly live demonstration, Friday Night Live, has greatly piqued public interest. Moreover, in less than four years, they have hosted 40 visiting artists, including big names like Charlyn Reynolds, Einar and Jamex De la Torre, Angus Powers, and Koen Vanmechelen.
As mentioned before, the main focus of Gent Glas is education. For that purpose they carry out several workshops to introduce glass making and train newcomers in this craft, supporting them to become integral parts of the community. Touching Glass is their introductory workshop, Trying Glass is one for beginners and Learning Glass is an intermediate-level workshop. In 2019, they launched Doorbraak in Glas, a workshop intended to introduce glass as an artistic medium to the public.
John Moran’s hard work and diligence have started to bear fruit as the glass-making community is witnessing a rise in the popularity of this skill. We will surely see more growth in the industry, owing to his dedication to the craft. Discover how Gent Glas is redefining the landscape of glass sculpting and becoming a leader in the field. Visit their website to learn more about their mission and how you can support the glass art community.