This past weekend was the 33rd annual ArtsFest in Stuart, Florida. ArtsFest has been named one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society for 5 years in a row.
 |
| "Chopped" Cooking competition |
Located in Memorial Park in downtown Stuart, ArtsFest brings artists from all over the country representing the visual, culinary, and performing arts.
This year was especially exciting because the Corning Museum of Glass brought a 46-foot-long, 50,000-pound Mobile Hot Shop to the festival for a glass blowing demonstration. This brilliant museum on wheels contains a fully-equipped glass studio!
In one 30-minute presentation, we watched Team Leader, George Kennard create a unique piece of glass art from start to finish.
The studio is equipped with video cameras and two large television screens that allowed us to experience the process from all angles including a view from inside the furnace!
Here George is working together with Glassblower, Katie Hubbs to sculpt the vessel while Helen Tegeler narrated each step of their process and answered questions from the audience.
I held my breath during this final moment when they separated the vessel from the blowpipe. As someone notorious for breaking any and all glass objects that I come into contact with, I was utterly mystified by their skill. This stunning piece and all of the others they created throughout the day, were raffled off to some very lucky festival-goers.
This was an incredible and unique experience that was the highlight of this year's Arts Fest. The Mobile Hot Shop travels around the country to events and conferences so I truly hope you'll check it out if they come to your town.
