CHICAGO (January 21, 2014 ) - - Residents and visitors to the city of Chicago will have the opportunity to get a behind the scenes look at the amazing world of glass art as the Glass Art Society hosts a “Day of Glass”, a free and open to the public event * on Wednesday, March 19 (times vary) at various locations throughout the city. The Day of Glass is hosted in conjunction with the Glass Art Society annual conference, which is taking place in Chicago for the first time in its 43-year history. For more information on the annual Glass Art Society conference, please visit www.glassart.org. *Some events require advance registration; refer to listings below for more information.
 
Chicago will become an epicenter of glass art as world-renowned galleries and studios showcase guided tours, exhibitions and artist demonstrations throughout the city and in select surrounding suburbs. Temporary galleries will be located at various spots in Chicago, displaying the very finest and most unique pieces of glass art. The Day of Glass will offer everyone from curiosity seekers to seasoned collectors an up close and personal look into the amazing world of glass art.
 
TOUR THE CITY’S FINEST GLASS ART STUDIOS
The Day of Glass will offer glass art enthusiasts the opportunity to view pieces and interact with some of the great local glass artists and creators, as some of the city’s most influential glass art studios will open their doors for tours and demonstrations throughout several of Chicago’s distinct and vibrant neighborhoods. Please note, advanced registration is required for some events. Please visit www.glassart.org for more information.
 
Following is a summary of participating studios:

West Supply
4201 West Wrightwood, Chicago, IL / +1 (512)751-7701/ www.westsupply.com
West Supply will host an open-house from 9 am – 3 pm during the Day of Glass, featuring glass blowing and casting demonstrations throughout the day. Examples of "West Collection" pieces will be on display, along with works by West Supply artisans, and select Chicago-based designers. The metals casting demonstration will begin at 2pm.
 
Solstice Stained Glass
2010 W. Fulton Street, Chicago / +1 (847)561-4048 / www.SolsticeStainedGlass.com
Solstice Stained Glass and Larry Zgoda Studio will be collaborating to host Chicago's first Stained Glass Invitational Exhibit at the Solstice studio on March 19. Part of the Day of Glass, this event will focus on increasing awareness of the stained glass community in the area, by offering discussions about issues central to the craft, as well as brief demonstrations of working with the medium. A more in-depth, live demonstration of painting on stained glass will be underway through the course of the day, as different steps of a portrait will be painted on glass and kiln fired.  Solstice Stained Glass will be open to the public from 12 pm – 6 pm on the Day of Glass.
 
Chicago Glass Collective                                                                     
1770 W. Berteau Ave, Suite 203 B, Chicago / +1 (216)543-2329 / www.chicagoglasscollective.com
Chicago Glass Collective will feature a pre-conference workshop taught by artist Carol Milne that visitors will be able to view as well as an exhibition of select work by Milne, Jeffrey Sarmiento, Kathryn Wightman and Chicago Glass Collective member artists. A studio member will be available to help attendees experience the studio space. Flame-working demonstrations will also take place throughout the day. Demonstrations and workshops will take place from 10 am – 12 pm and 1 pm – 3 pm.
 
Chicago Glassworks
2717 South Troy St, Chicago / +1 (773)890-5988 / www.cgwglass.com
Chicago Glassworks artist Eric Bladholm will host an Open Studio event, showcasing an exhibition of his and other Chicago area glass artists’ works. Located in a former 1920’s iron foundry in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood, Chicago Glassworks will also be featuring on-going hot glass demonstrations from 10 am – 6 pm with various artists and techniques on display, including mold blowing for sculptural use, production techniques for lighting applications, sand casting, and other uses of hot glass.
 
Little Black Pearl
1060 E 47th St, Chicago / +1 (773)285.1211 / www.blackpearl.org
Little Black Pearl Art and Design Academy will be offering tours and student glass demonstrations by Little Black Pearl students and various glass artists from 12 pm – 5 pm. A student art exhibition will be showcased in the gallery, as well.
 
Chicago Hot Glass
1250 North Central Park Ave, Chicago / +1 (773)394-3252 / www.chicagohotglass.com
On the Day of Glass, Joe Ivacic and his team will be on-site from 9 am – 5 pm, creating hot sculpted pieces, inspired by nature.
 
Opal Glass Studios
319 N. Albany Ave, Chicago IL / +1 (773)638-3500 www.opalglassstudio.com 
Opal Glass Studios, a multi- faceted, 4,000 sq. ft. arts studio located in a historic 1913 loft building at the Albany Carroll Arts Building in East Garfield Park, will host an open studio event during the Day of Glass, featuring an exhibition of many sculptural works in cast glass, cast bronze, ceramic, stained glass and mixed media, in addition to originals and photos of public art projects/installations. The Open Studio and demonstrations will be featured from 10 am – 2:30 pm. 
 
Ed Hoy’s International
27625 Diehl Road; Warrenville, IL / +1 (603)836-1353 or +1 (800)323-5668 / www.edhoy.com  
*This venue is not open to the public. Registration required by emailing info@edhoy.com
Tour and explore the largest art glass warehouse in North America!  Handmade, hand blown, machine rolled, no longer in production and our own private collections will be explored.  75,000 square feet of unique inspiration! 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm (*Bus leaves the Palmer House at 12:30.)  
 
AN ARRAY OF GLASS EXHIBITIONS AT CHICAGO ART GALLERIES
In addition to some of the hottest glass art studios opening their doors, Day of Glass has attracted the participation of a number of art galleries in the city who will feature special glass exhibitions and events in honor of the Glass Art Society Conference. On Friday, March 21, the select galleries in the River North Gallery District will open their doors to the public from 5 pm – 8 pm to view some of the amazing glass art creations in their spaces. Ken Saunders Gallery (230 West Superior Street) and ECHT Gallery (222 West Superior Street) will each be hosting special opening receptions during the Gallery Hop, featuring amazing glass art works.  
 
For more information or to register for the Glass Art Society annual conference or the Day of Glass, please visit the Glass Art Society website at www.glassart.org.