Writer’s Choice

Students will demystify — to a certain degree — the magic of glass art at an open house on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 9 and 10.

According to Steve Feren, professor of art and director of the art glass program, the aforementioned magic comes from an interplay of elements, and the effect is very real.

“It’s a dance of heat, time and gravity, all needed to accomplish a work of art in glass,” he says.

UW–Madison’s is the nation’s oldest art glass program at a university, established in 1962 by Harvey Littleton. In the ensuing more-than-40 years, artists including Dale (“Mendota Wall”) Chihuly, Geoff Lee of Hawaii, Henry Halem, Marvin Lipofsky of Berkeley, Michael Cain of New Orleans, Audrey Handler of Verona and Pamela Cremer of Monona were all students in the UW–Madison program.

Feren’s own work is represented in the Oceanside, Calif., Milwaukee and Franklin, N.J., public libraries;

the Wilson Performing Art Center in Brookfield; the Marriott Hotel and offices in Milwaukee; Rutgers University; UW-Platteville and many more.

Feren, on the UW–Madison faculty for 24 years, credits teaching students with keeping his own work fresh and vital.

“We attract very high-quality students here,” he says. “Working with them keeps me current. It’s always such a challenge to teach a skill that is so technically complex and remain consistent about the need for constant growth and expression.”

In 2004 he shepherded a move by the UW–Madison Glass Lab from its old location on Monroe Street to new facilities at the end of Francis Street (630 W. Mifflin St.) next to the Kohl Center. The new studios include fully equipped hot and cold shops, a 400-square-foot neon room, a kiln room and more.

Open house hours both days are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. About 20 students will be taking part in glass blowing and neon demonstration, and work will be available for sale. For more information, call the lab at 262-2963 or visit the UW Glass Lab Web site.