Glass Artists Work in Class at UW-Stevens Point
UW-Stevens Point student Anna Lehner, Appleton, works with glass artist David Walthers at the university’s hot glass-working studio.

Donors help hot glass program continue at UW-Stevens Point

Recent budget cuts at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point would have eliminated instruction in the specialized art of hot glass. But thanks to the generosity of three area donors, a full-time faculty position will be funded for three years.
 
Available at only a few universities in the nation, the art of hot glass has been offered at UW-Stevens Point since 2009. Students who major in three-dimensional art with a focus on hot glass are creating blown glass work in many forms, winning numerous awards and scholarships and succeeding as professional artists.
 
Mary and Bob Berard of Stevens Point, William “Biff” Kummer of Tomahawk and John and Patty Noel of Stevens Point will contribute a total of $75,000 per year for three years to support salary, benefits and professional development for this program.
 
“This was a donor-driven gift,” said Rhonda Sprague, interim dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication. “As people who have been supportive of the arts on campus, they talked among themselves and came to us to discuss how they could help. The college is truly grateful to have these partners meet a challenge and retain a valuable program for our students.”
 
“These donors saw that learning how to work in hot glass created significant opportunities for students, and they wanted to make sure those opportunities didn’t disappear,” said Kristin Thielking, a professor of sculpture within the Department of Art and Design.
 
Without the hot glass program, students would lose the additional professional experiences offered through the medium.
 
“Hot glass is collaborative and interactive,” Thielking said. “Every professional hot glass artist needs an assistant or a team, and our students have been recruited for that.” Students have also worked closely with professionals from Corning Museum of Glass, Pilchuck Glass School, Ignite Studios in Chicago and others. One student was featured in the Corning Museum New Glass Review, a prestigious honor for a professional artist and even more so for an undergraduate student.
 
Students began attending the annual International Student’s Exhibition through the Glass Arts Society in 2010. They have won honors every year, including two first places.
 
In addition, Thielking said, they have found travel opportunities to work with internationally respected artists, scholarships for intensive summer hot glass programs, fully paid graduate school tuition and jobs as glass studio managers, designers and instructors.
 
Job placement has been very strong, added Sprague.
 
“Our students are exposed to every aspect of working with glass within a sculptural context, including hot glass, kiln glass, cold working and how to operate and maintain the equipment,” Thielking said. “This experience gives them the foundation they need to succeed in a variety of roles upon graduation.”
 
A search to fill the instructor position will take place this fall. Filling the position will help with student recruitment, Thielking said, as well as opportunities to reach out to new student populations through partnerships with organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club.
 
“Having this position enables us to focus on more opportunities for our students and future students,” Thielking said. “We’re realizing that glasswork is a great professional avenue for students who learn by doing.”