STRETCH GLASS SOCIETY RETURNS TO MARIETTA
OHIO VENUE FOR ANNUAL EVENT
OHIO VENUE FOR ANNUAL EVENT
The Stretch Glass Society will hold its 33rd annual convention, show and sale August 1-3 again at the Marietta, Ohio Comfort Inn. This year’s exciting group display theme will focus on Table Place Settings. The club’s goal for the display is to demonstrate how collectors can use their iridescent stretch glass for special occasions or even for every day life. Arrangements of actual place settings will include items such as plates, goblets, cups and saucers, sherbets and completed with silverware, napkins and other decorative elements. The display will feature stretch glass manufacturers such as Diamond, Fenton, Imperial, Lancaster, Northwood and U.S. Glass. Some settings will focus on a single color scheme and some will combine complimentary colors in a “mix and match” setting.
In addition to basic place settings, serving pieces such as cream and sugar sets, salts, mayonnaise sets, toothpick holders, cheese and cracker sets, pitcher and tumbler sets and lemon and bread trays will be used to complete the arrangements. With this colorful exhibit, collectors will be able to leave with many ideas for using their stretch glass. And, isn’t that much better than tucking it away in a dark display case or hiding it in a box?
Opening day, Wednesday, the 1st, is reserved for member check-in, displays set-up and the Executive Board Meeting. That first evening always ends with the new and returning Members’ Welcome Wine & Cheese gathering. All new and long-time members are encouraged to participate in this fun get acquainted or re-acquainted activity!
Thursday morning, August 2nd, the Society’s highly anticipated Member’s Sales Stampede is scheduled. This is an exciting event where members may make their first purchases of stretch glass items brought by fellow members. Then, at noon, the Society will open the room to the public and it will remain open to all visitors until 5 PM.
Activities that all may participate in during Thursday afternoon include a description and discussion of the Table Place Setting Group Display, a stretch glass ID session and a Q & A period. Hosting these activities will be SGS’s technical adviser and co-author of “American Iridescent Stretch Glass,” Dave Shetlar. Anyone curious about just what iridescent stretch glass is or who wants to know the maker of a particular piece in their collection, will certainly want to attend these Thursday afternoon activities.
The room closes to all at 5 p.m. in order to prepare for the annual banquet that begins at 7 p.m. This year’s special guest speaker is West Virginia artist Kelsey Murphy. Murphy, who specializes in glass cameo carving, along with her fellow artist-partner, Robert Bomkamp, have recently teamed with Fenton Art Glass to design and produce some limited edition pieces. The art of glass cameo carving requires great skill, dexterity in execution, and is a painstaking process. Members will certainly want to add the banquet and this fascinating presentation to their plans. Following Murphy’s presentation, the always popular contemporary Fenton Whimsey Stretch Glass Auction will get underway. Absentee bids are accepted for this favorite club activity, so attending members will want to bid high and often!
On the final day, Friday, August 3rd, the doors will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A business meeting will be held in the room from noon to 1:30 p.m. with lunch provided free to members. At 2 p.m., Shelley Fenton Ash--daughter of the late Bill Fenton, second generation Fenton family company leader—will offer attendees a look at Fenton Art Glass through the Fenton sales catalogs and how items are designed for the successful venture with QVC.
The closing activity will be the annual Contemporary Stretch Glass Raffle Drawing which will be conducted shortly following Ash’s talk. Any member wishing to add a nice piece of contemporary iridescent stretch glass made by Fenton Art Glass to their collection is invited to purchase tickets. Tickets may be obtained in advance and winners are not required to be in attendance.
For additional information about the Stretch Glass Society and its annual event, please write, The Stretch Glass Society, P.O. Box 117, Sunbury, OH 43074. Also visit the SGS website or email at stretchglasssociety@columbus.rr.com.