President

Anne Brahaum

Brown County Glassworks

Anne Brahaum, owner of Brown County Glassworks, has been mastering her skills as a glass artist since 1990. Anne creates quality glass art that is unique and meticulously handcrafted using ever-evolving kilnforming methods. She draws her inspiration from nature and enjoys discovering new ways to showcase the enchanting beauty of glass.

Vice-President

Justin Kern

JK Glass Co.

I have been a furnace glassblower for 14 years. I make a lot of seasonal based artwork, vegetables, fruits, ornaments, flowers, ghosts, acorns, icicles, and snowpeople. I enjoy making ghosts the most. I have been making a distinct style of ghosts for almost 8 years now and have found new, fun ways to keep making them. A lot of my work comes from nostalgia. Collecting acorns as a kid, building ghosts out of pvc pipes and nerf balls, and making fruits my grandma and I would enjoy swinging on her back porch.

Treasurer

Abby Gitlitz

Tweetle Beetle Glass

I make colorful whimsical, and, ever so often, functional blown glass art.

Secretary

Katie Chapman

Trailing Leaves Glass

I started working with glass in Fall 2020 and fell in love with it. I now work in fused, blown, and stained glass- one of my favorite things is to combine these methods in my pieces. I design and fire glass in the kiln that I then incorporate into fused glass pieces like nightlights and suncatchers, or into stained glass panels or boxes, or combine with molten glass in the hot shop. My designs are often inspired by my love of plants and working in the garden, so my designs incorporate a lot of natural subjects like succulents, flowers, bees, and butterflies. Many of my ideas for pieces center around my favorite natural scenes, like the beach or the night sky, or include my favorite animals like turtles, dinosaurs, and sea horses.

Social Media Manager

Courtney Hallows

Gleaning Crow Glass

My art, as Gleaning Crow Glass, is a reflection of the ever-changing inspiration and knowledge that surrounds me. I am a perpetual student, constantly exploring new techniques and learning from experiments. My work is an ever-evolving journey, adapting and transforming in response to what I’ve been learning and what calls to my creative spirit. But the spooky season, in particular, holds a special place in my heart and often weaves its influence into my creations.

Erica Barrow

I am an explorer, an adventure-seeker. I see the world and I appreciate you. I am worth it.

Amy Bier

Glass and stone go together very well, as witnessed in the Gothic cathedrals. I am a stone carver, trained in architectural ornamentation, and specializing in Indiana limestone. I am exploring the relationship between glass and stone, casting the glass. I am also having fun with fusing glass. I love cutting and assembling materials!

Kathryn Bodine

I create fused glass pendant necklaces, plates and shallow sculptures using bold, bright colors – balancing simple shapes, forms and lines with negative space.

Gail Bridges-Rea

GBR Kiln-Formed Glass

From a young age, glass has always fascinated me. I started collecting filigree pieces before I was twelve and still have some of them more than 60 years later. I have since learned that they are what is called torch-work glass.
As a crafter, I never realized I personally could use glass as my median to create art until a few years ago, when I was introduced to Bloomington Creative Glass Center (BCGC) and the world of hot glass. I started an apprenticeship in hot glass and found two exceptional mentors who have encouraged and nurtured my interest in the properties of glass and its creative abilities. In the past years, I have gravitated more towards fused glass (kiln-formed glass) which allows for a lengthier design and construction process. Once a piece is conceived it usually morphs into something more amazing by completion. Working with fused glass and learning the many different techniques provides the variety and versatility that allows me to grow as a glass artist. I enjoy creating both functional and decorative pieces.

Erin Cerwinske

Cerwinske Glassworks

Erin Cerwinske discovered her passion for glass art in 2015 at a local nonprofit’s glass pumpkin fundraiser, an event that sparked a profound fascination with glass as a medium. What began as a curiosity soon transformed into a dedicated journey as she immersed herself in the world of glass, volunteering and studying across Bloomington, Indianapolis, and Valparaiso.

Over the years, Erin has explored various techniques, from glass fusing and stained glass to casting and painting on glass. Yet, it is glass blowing that truly captivates her. The dynamic process of shaping molten glass into dreamed up forms allows her to express creativity in the most fluid and exhilarating way.

At Cerwinske Glassworks, Erin enjoys creating flowers, pumpkins, ornaments, and garden globes, but her heart lies in crafting commissioned memorial pieces. These creations are not just art; they are heartfelt tributes designed to celebrate and honor cherished loved ones. Each piece is meticulously crafted to capture the essence and significance of those it commemorates, making every creation a unique and meaningful work of art.

Suzanne Donnelly

Signs of art are around us everyday. From those that discover their dreams from a simple block of stone, to those that suffer and find their voice, it’s always a journey. I combined my love of outdoor koi ponds and glass working into a maintenance free table top glass and acrylic pond. Bringing the outdoors inside via a level of realism and surrealism that I hope will always inspire.

Janette Fluharty

Glass Half Full

A full time fifth grade teacher, Janette’s love affair with glass began when she was a little girl who was transfixed by a beautiful glass paperweight that belonged to her grandparents. After receiving an Eli Lilly Teacher Creativity Grant, she started Glass Half Full. Janette loves creating glass art, and her goal is to share her passion for glass art with others through her artwork and classes she teaches in local galleries.

Suzan Gray

Suzan Gray has been fusing glass since she randomly and happily signed up for a class at Bloomington Creative Glass in March of 2019. She specializes in smaller “functional art” pieces such as night lights, trays, dishes and plates using primarily bold color and abstract design.

Sheila Jones

One of my greatest pleasures is the art of fusing glass. The possibilities with this medium are endless. There are so many “glass recipes” to try!
Learning and connecting with fellow glass enthusiasts are food for my soul.

Emilie Maddern

Brightgarden Studio

I’m Emilie Maddern, and I own Brightgarden Studio. I handmake every item that I sell. I started learning to sew and crochet from my “mamaw” at just two years old. I currently work mostly with fiber, glass, and clay. My favorite ongoing project is making fused glass plates with glow-in-the-dark ghosts on them.

I founded Brightgarden in 2020. That time of uncertainty for the world was further compounded within my own small bubble, as I had just become permanently disabled from a car accident. Thankfully, I found that I could still sit at my table and create art.

To me, art has always been the relief of a glowing candle in a dark room. At Brightgarden Studio, my mission is to share this light with others through my work. Each piece is crafted to offer comfort, evoke joy, and introduce a touch of whimsy into everyday life.

Phillip Oechsle

Soft Glass is a medium teeming with life and possibility, which requires an unceasing focus of presence and flow. Its versatility opens up endless possibilities. Teamwork is also often encouraged when trying to take on some of those challenging possibilities which is something that heavily draws me into the medium. I find it a great way to engage the mind, body, and soul all in one moment and that is what my goal with glass is at the moment. Nothing more and nothing less.

Malory Owen

Little Tiger Glassworks

Stained Glass has been a medium for telling sacred stories for hundreds (if not thousands) of years. The sacred stories I hope to tell with my stained glass are of ecosystems and wildlife at risk of erasure in our contemporary world. I primarily use the Tiffany Technique (or Copper Foil Technique) with fusing, painting, and etching in my work. My visual style might be described as: colorful, cute, bubbly, squishy, and even cartoonish 🙂

Maureen Pirog

Lillypad Glassworks

I create two types of glass: Sugar and Ice glass, aptly named, because of the abundance of facets in the glass that capture and reflect light. These pieces include wall art, ornaments, and bowls. The second type of glass is created from solid glass sheets and often is functional, hence the name, Functional Beauty.

Kelly Rauch

Kelly Wow Glass

Kelly Wow is a Bloomington artist who has worked with glass since 2015. She’s a bookworm; especially when it comes to epic fiction with a touch of magic. She is inspired by stories, nature, music & art & usually has a cat around.

KellyWow.com
TheWandAndVine.com

Joanie Spain

Joanie Spain took her first glass fusing class in 2012 at the Bullseye Resource Center in Santa Fe, NM – and she was hooked! The alchemy of heat and glass is endlessly fascinating, challenging, and inspiring. Following a profound loss in 2019, Joanie found this alchemical process to be a powerful metaphor for working through her grief.

The unlimited expressive potential of glass fuels her interest in various techniques, especially strip construction and more structured designs. Joanie values the community of support, mentorship, and lifelong friendships forged in the Indiana Glass Guild and at the Bloomington Creative Glass Center (BCGC).