California's Bay Area Glass Institute Seeks New ED

Mark Murai

BAGI Executive Director Mark Murai Returning to the Private Sector

The Board of Directors of the Bay Area Glass Institute (BAGI) has announced that Mark Murai will be leaving his position as Executive Director to return to the technology sector. Over the past two years as the organization's leader and as a staff member since 2006, BAGI has grown its impact by expanding class offerings, adding programs for kids, bringing in thousands of new students of all ages, while continuing to be a resource for local artists to work and learn.

Mark said, "It is a bittersweet choice I have made but this decision will help take care of a situation very important in my personal life. I will be part of the interview team for the next Executive Director and will continue to help BAGI with events, studio repairs and as "an Artist" ... The next Executive Director will have a chance to work with some great people and an organization that is truly something very special in the South Bay."
You can read more of his note to the BAGI community here.

"Mark brought a great spirit of entrepreneurship to his role," said Steven Aldrich, BAGI Board Chair. "His energy and passion to expand our outreach has grown the organization in the past two years through challenging economic times. Mark has had a tremendous impact and opened a number of doors by building relationships in the local community."
BAGI’s Board has started the search for a new Executive Director and multiple Board members are working to ensure a smooth transition when Mark leaves in mid-July. Tom Upchurch, Board member and BAGI’s Executive Director before Mark, will serve as Interim Executive Director during the search.

Click HERE to read about BAGI's search qualifications.

The Bay Area Glass Institute (BAGI), a non-profit arts education center founded in 1996, is the only public access glass-working facility in the Santa Clara County that has fully functional glassblowing, fusing, cold-working and torch working studios. BAGI educates the public about art glass by teaching a variety of glass-working classes, offering free public demonstrations, and bringing in guest artists to conduct free demonstrations and lectures. BAGI's goal is to continue expanding its education and program offerings to artists and the general public.
BAGI is located at 401 East Taylor Street, in San Jose, CA.

For more information about BAGI, click HERE.

10th Annual Bay Area Glass Institute Auction

Ethan Stern - Saber T

The Bay Area Glass Institute (BAGI) Presents its 10th Annual GREAT GLASS AUCTION
Saturday, March 26, 2011 5:30-9:30 pm

Preston Singletary

The Benefit supports emerging glass artists, aspiring students and public glass art education
Come join California Bay Area glass lovers, artists, collectors, and patrons as they bid on nearly one hundred pieces of exquisite fine art glass donated by well-known local, national and international artists at the 2011 Great Glass Auction, on Saturday, March 26, 2011 from 5:30-9:30 p.m., in the Cultural Hall at the Palo Alto Jewish Community Center (JCC). The special evening features silent and live auctions of one-of-a-kind glass art and also awards to outstanding glass artists.

A highlight of the Auction evening will be the announcement of the prestigious Saxe Fellowship Award for outstanding craftsmanship and achievement in glass chosen in a juried competition, as well as the People's Choice Award, selected by auction attendees, that honors the best piece contributed by a local artist. The Saxe Fellowship jurors this year are: Susan Krane, Executive Director, San Jose Museum of Arts and world renowned collector Dorothy Saxe of San Francisco, California.

Demetra Theofanous

Tax-deductible tickets for the Tenth Annual Great Glass Auction range in price from $150-$1000 are available online at: http://bagi2011.eventbrite.com/. For additional ticket information, please contact Mark Murai at 408.993.2244 or mark.murai@bagi.org.

2011 GLASS ARTISTS: Local and nationally known glass artists confirmed to participate in the 2011 auction include: Mark Abildgaard, Beck Alexander, George Aslanis, Dean Bensen, Melissa and Keith Bispo, Terri Bromberg, Larry Cazes, Tracy Cazes, Vivki Cederquist, , Lionel Chapital, Shirley Cook, Bernard D’Onofrio, Matt Eaton, Steve Fader, Ian Gilula, Linda Goldstein, Justin Green, Shaun Griffiths, Jaime Guerrero, Theoren Hanks, Susan Haskell, Colin Heaney, Ann Hollingsworth, Martin Janecky, Michael Janis, Chris Johnson, Vladimira Klumpar, Ilona Lindsay, Jeff Lindsay, Elizabeth Ryland Mears, Kari Minnick, Chris Moore, Melanie Moertel, Anne Morhauser (Annieglass), Mark Murai, Jay Musler, Rick and Janet Nicholson, Michael Nourot, Tone Orvik, David Patchen, Jenny Pohlman and Sabrina Knowles, Deva Priya, Toland Sand, Jon Scally, Curt Schauer, Jonathon Schmuck, Treg Silkwood and Candance Martin, Preston Singletary, Rich Small, David Sommers, Michael Sosin, Tom Stanton, Ethan Stern, Cassandra Straubing, Randy Strong, Boyd Sugiki and Lisa Zerkowitz, Demi Theofanous, Cappy Thompson, Jane Tivol, Pamina Tryalor, Tom Upchurch, Jennifer Umphress, Char Walker and Mary B. White.
Visit the BAGI website at http://www.bagi.org/ to view the latest artist updates.

Michael Janis Goes West!

photos by Demetra Theofanous

An earlier WGS blog post mentions that our own master of glass imagery - Michael Janis - was heading out west to teach a series of workshops at California's Bay Area Glass Institute (BAGI).
Michael's workshops were about integrating imagery into glass - one workshop was creating deep bas-relief and in the other workshop he taught how he does his unique frit powder drawing technique.
Below are some photos of the California workshops:

Making clear and color bas-relief samples.

The students try out working in the plaster molds.

Mark adds color to his work; a student's work shows the cast glass bristles of a paintbrush.

BAGI Executive Director Mark Murai is amazed at the detail captured by the kilnformed glass.

Michael Janis describes what goes on inside the glass during the firing.

Michael reveals all his secrets in how to use frit powder for drawing and how the layers of glass create the depth of the work.

Michael said he had really enjoyed working at BAGI's facilities: "It'd be my new home... it has that experimental vibe - where as an artist you can really respond and can take your work the next level."

Click HERE to jump to BAGI's website.

Michael Janis in California

Michael Janis discussing his work.

WGS’ Michael Janis will be jetting off to sunny California to teach at the Bay Area Glass Institute (BAGI). Michael received the 2010 Saxe Fellowship for his work in glass, and he will be teaching bas relief casting and imagery in glass workshops. Click HERE to jump to BAGI’s workshop listing on its website.

The Bay Area Glass Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Art Education facility founded in 1996 to make glass art accessible to all and provide continued artistic and educational growth to artists, patrons and the community. BAGI is funded in part by the City of San Jose's Office of Cultural Affairs and the Arts Council Silicon Valley.