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"Great Glass Pumpkin Patch" September 26-27
Glass pumpkins
--photo by Philip Bailey
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For Immediate Release: Aug. 25 , 2008
Contact:
Lynn Heinemann
MIT Office of the Arts
77 Massachusetts Ave, Rm E15-205
Cambridge, MA 02139
e-mail heine@media.mit.edu
(617) 253-5351
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Cambridge, MA...At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
"raising a glass" can have agricultural overtones. Over 1,000 hand-blown
glass pumpkins, squashes and gourds in all sizes, shapes, colors and designs
will transform a grassy court at MIT into a colorful “Great
Glass Pumpkin Patch” on
Friday and Saturday, September 26-27 in front of MIT’s Kresge
Auditorium at 48 Massachusetts Avenue.
Visitors of all ages are invited to stroll through the "pumpkin patch" on
MIT’s Kresge Oval and choose their favorite autumnal orb Prices range
from $20-$200, depending on the piece’s size and complexity. Many of
the works feature not only vivid colors, but swirls, stripes, spots, curlicues
and unusual stems.
The Great Glass Pumpkin Patch begins with a preview reception (no sales)
on Friday, September 26 from 5 to 8 p.m. On Saturday, September 27, between
10 a.m. and 3 p.m., shoppers and browsers are invited to stroll through the "pumpkin
patch" and purchase their favorite autumnal orb.
(Rain date is Sunday, September 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
The glass pumpkins were created by students and instructors in MIT's
Glass Lab, where members of the MIT community learn and practice the art of glassblowing.
Proceeds from this event benefit the Lab, an art program connected with
MIT's Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Materials
Processing Center. Pumpkin-making is overseen by glass artist Peter Houk,
director of the MIT Glass Lab.
The Great Glass Pumpkin Patch came to MIT in 2001 after a residency in the Glass Lab by 14 members of the
Bay Area Glass Institute (BAGI). The Bay Area Glass Institute (a non-profit corporation located in San Jose, CA),
was founded in 1995 by San Jose State graduate Bobby Bowes and MIT alumnus Mike Binnard.
Every week or so, beginning, intermediate, and advanced students work together for a few hours in teams of six or
seven to produce pumpkins for the sale. Production for the October event continues steadily throughout the year in order
to achieve the goal of 1,000-1,200 pumpkins.
For more information--including an illustrated step-by-step description
of "How To Make a Pumpkin," see web.mit.edu/glasslab/sales_pumpkin.html,
or call (617) 253-5309
Color images are available.
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