Glass Art Conference Slated for June 2010

Louisville will host a major conference for glass artists next year. WFPL’s Elizabeth Kramer has more.Mayor Jerry Abramson says the conference for the Glass Art Societywill bring up to 2,000 people to Louisville in June of 2010 as well as up to $1 million in spending.Local glass artists and University of Louisville officials joined the mayor at the Cressman Center for Visual Arts Friday to announce the conference.Che Rhodes teaches glass art at U of L and has been on the Glass Art Society’s board of directors. Rhodes says the conference could help bring more attention to local artists and galleries from artists and art critics from around the world."This is really establishing the beginning of our, sort of, glass dialogue with the rest of the world," Rhodes says. "This conference is going to give U of L and also everyone else in town a chance to showcase what’s actually here."U of L Provost Shirley Willihnganz says U of L offered to co-host the conference."One of the things I think any conference is interested in is the academic support," Willihnganz says. "And our glass program is emerging as one of the best in the country."The Glass Art Society has members from the industrial and art glass fields. It has held conferences in U.S. cities including Brooklyn, Seattle and Los Angeles as well as in other countries, including Australia and The Netherlands.LOUISVILLE'S GLASS ART GALLERIES Flame Run Glass Studio and GalleryGlassworks¼/p>