BAGI - Bay Area Glass Institute
call: 408-993-2244
email: studio@bagi.org
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mission & Vision
    • Social Distancing Protocol
    • Hours and Location
    • History
    • Scholarship Fund
    • General Information >
      • Glass Resource Links
    • Funding
    • Staff >
      • Our Instructors
    • Board of Directors
    • Employment
    • Press >
      • Press Kit >
        • Santana Row Ornament Sale Press Release 2016
      • BAGI Video
  • Team Building and Private Events
    • Event Booking Inquiry Form
  • Classes and Services
    • Seasonal Classes
    • Discover Glass
    • Redeem Online Coupons
    • Demonstrations
    • Youth Glass Camps
    • Glassblowing
    • Fusing/Kiln Working
    • Flameworking >
      • Borosilicate Flameworking
      • Soft Glass Flameworking
    • Coldworking
    • Remembrance Series
    • Helpful Info
    • Private Lessons
    • Studio and Kiln Rentals
    • Practice Sessions/Open Studio
  • Support Us
    • Donations >
      • Donate Stock
      • Year-End Tax Donation
      • Giving Tuesday
    • Volunteer
  • Visiting Artists Series
    • PENELOPE RAKOV
    • Penny's visit
  • Events
  • Gift Certificates
  • Mailing List
  • Social
  • Forum
  • Blog
  • Move Information
  • Category
    • Shop
  • Category

The Permanence of Process and Expression

3/23/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
A guest post from Laura Lazzarini!

I've been volunteering with the Bay Area Glass Institute (BAGI) for about two years now. Several years ago I was facing some difficulty in my life with an ailing family member, and I was looking for ways to move myself out of my comfort zone and re-prioritize my life, and start ticking items off my bucket list.

I've had a fascination with glass since I was a kid, and was raised by a mechanical engineer. He was always tinkering in the garage with tools I really couldn't fathom how or why to use. I started attending events at BAGI as a way to find out more about glass, and then took my first “Shape-a-bowl” class. That was all it took, the magic and more importantly the process, of creating a permanent piece that was my own was intoxicating.



Over a year ago I was volunteering to assist a class/demonstration at BAGI, held for a group of at-risk youth one step away from incarceration called Encouraging Diversity Growth Education (EDGE). The EDGE, ran by the Santa Clara County probation office with the office of education, brought a group of participants that where under their care – to learn about glass blowing and get hands-on experience in BAGI’s hot shop and glass fusing studio. 

Some of these young adults were mandated to participate in this program because of gang-related and/or criminal involvement – tagging, car jacking, or other infractions of the law. To watch several of the participants have unlimited access to a creative process, often denied to them in their regular educational experiences and life, was humbling to watch and inspiring. 

One participant made a gift for his girlfriend; a slumped piece that had a heart, their names on it and their anniversary date, April 21, 2013. It was important to him to express his pride at acknowledging the love in his life, as well as a permanent record of this date. This wasn't tagging an overpass to set his mark on the world, but a quiet way of expressing himself in a very visible and permanent way. This particular participant was definitely embracing the process of creating glass artwork, as he “mentored” his fellow EDGE mates. 

Understanding the process of a once mysterious process making it familiar serves so many areas of ones life, work or personal. Dancing with and embracing the process of blowing glass offers lifelong permanence and expression.


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    BAGI Blog

    Richard Small

    Rich Small is a glass artist and writer who serves as BAGI's resident glogger with contributing submissions from various people within our Community. You can learn more about Rich and his artwork on his website at www.asmallproduction.com.

    Archives

    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

    Picture
Street address: 635 Phelan Ave. San Jose, CA   Mailing address: 1650 Senter Rd. San Jose, CA. 95112. 408-993-2244.
​
studio@bagi.org
BAGI is partially funded by the San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs and Silicon Valley Creates