Recapping the Berlin 2024 Conference
We are still basking in the glow of a wonderful conference in Berlin. Over 1,000 attendees from more than 40 countries gathered for four action-packed programming days to explore new ideas and forge new friendships. We are especially excited that we had a strong European contingent and a large number of first-time conference goers–a sign that our efforts to expand internationally are being well-received.
We heard time and time again from attendees old and new about how special this conference was; this incredible conference would not be possible without the support of our board, staff, Work Exchange helpers, and the following supporters and site committee members:
Partners
Berlin Glas, e.V
Bocci
Monopol
Wilhelm Studios
Flame’Off France
The Lathe Riders
Niesenglas
Reichenbach Color
In-Kind Product + Equipment
Berlin Beads
Berlin Flameworking Studio
Bomma Cullet
Thomas Wendler Studios
Flameworking Sponsor
Mad Verre & Équipements France
Site Committee
Eric Goldschmidt
Nadania Idriss
Chris Leeuw
Jay Macdonell
Viviane Stroede
GAS Market Sponsor
TgK
Member Exhibition Sponsor
The Glass Furnace
Student Exhibition Sponsor
Warm Glass UK
Event Sponsor
Olympic Color Rods
Before the official conference started, 40 GAS members of our community were among the first to tour the Reichenbach Glass factory in its 150-year history. Our hosts at Reichenbach, in partnership with Olympic Color Rods, were incredibly generous and even allowed us to try rolling color bars by hand–a task that is harder than it looks!
At the Conference Kickoff, we honored members of our community and showcased the awesome power of coldworking with demonstrations by The Lathe Riders, an international coldworking collaborative.
Thursday marked the first full day of conference programming, including presentations by Claudia Virginia Vitari + Peter Kuchinke, the Littleton Lecture presentation by Silvia Levenson, and a neon demonstration by Victoria Ahmadizadeh Melendez. In the evening, attendees enjoyed the inaugural GAS Film Festival screening and our first Jewelry Trunk Show. Special thanks to our fabulous jewelry makers, who brought some extra sparkle to this event. We also announced that our 2025 Conference would be held in Arlington and Fort Worth, Texas. Conference co-chairs Clifton Crofford and Justin Ginsberg joined us to share what makes their glassmaking community so special, and we can’t wait to highlight that more during the 2025 Conference from May 14–17, 2025.
Friday’s programming started with Jack Gramann’s mind-blowing demo, Midday Interactive Programming centered around grant writing and small business practices, student blow slots using recycled beer bottles at the Green Pavilion, and Zach Puchowitz’s demo of one of his signature bowl designs. We gathered at the Provinzstraße Hub for the Flame Off, which brought together flameworkers from around the world as they constructed a glass chain with adornments that reflected their personal style and for Suzanne Peck and Emilia Marcjasz’s enchanting performances.
It’s cliche to say, but we were truly Blown Away by Saturday’s programming, which began with a demonstration by Jonathan Capps of the glacier sculpture he created on Blown Away. Our Saxe Emerging Artists (Sadhbh Mowlds, Priscilla Kar Yee Lo, and Abegael Uffelman) presented their work, while Jinya Zhao demonstrated her work at the intersection of art and design. All amazing conferences must eventually end, and we said auf wiedersehen to Berlin in style at Alte Münze. The Berlin 2024 Conference was incredible in so many ways–from outstanding attendance to phenomenal presentations to life-long bonds. Thank you to all of you who made the conference a remarkable success!
