Experience Pilchuck Glass School’s breathtaking and historic campus in a whole new light this fall for our second annual Light the Forest. This self-guided tour of neon art installations in the Pacific Northwest forest will feature work by local artists and longtime Pilchuck alumni, Megan Stelljes and KCJ Szwedzinski with a curated selection of works from other neon artists.
This event is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience a self-guided walking tour of neon art installations in the Pacific Northwest forest. This year's event will run for two evenings, November 9 and 10, and feature work by local artists and longtime Pilchuck alumni, Megan Stelljes and KCJ Szwedzinski, with a curated selection of works from other neon artists. All pieces in Light the Forest are available for purchase and commissioned works by the artists are available upon request.
Pilchuck Glass School is an international center for glass art education nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains amidst a working tree farm. Since its inception in 1971, Pilchuck's serene campus has been a place where glass artists from all over the world convene for shared creative experiences, reflection, inspiration, and learning. Get a taste of Pilchuck's creative magic at the most unique art walk you'll ever attend.
Children under 14 years of age have free admission to tour the installations. All add-ons require a separate ticket.
Sign up for a make-your-own session and see first-hand what it’s like to work with molten glass! Craft a stunning glass flower or a charming ornament, and choose from a vibrant array of colors and patterns. You'll receive one-on-one assistance to help you bring your artistic vision to life! Your molten glass creation will need to cool overnight, but we will pack it with care and ship it directly to your doorstep.
There are a limited number of slots, so don’t hesitate—sign up today! Please note: Participants must book their slot on the same day they attend. One piece of glass art per ticket. Open to all ages 6 and up.
Join us for an exciting introduction to neon making! This four-hour workshop will be focused on getting participants into the studio, bending glass, and illuminating their own art. Each student will walk away with a gestural illuminated sculpture—contained and ready to be displayed in your home! Students should expect to get a feel for the way glass tubing is manipulated in a flame and leave with a basic understanding of how neon works. This is a great opportunity for folks who have no glass experience and for those interested in neon art!
Please note: Guests must attend the workshop for the same day they’ve booked their ticket to view the exhibition. Each add-on on is good for one person. Workshop is welcome to everyone ages 18+.
KCJ Szwedzinski is an interdisciplinary artist, educator and arts administrator. She is cofounder and executive director of Project Chance, a non-profit that raises and trains service dogs for children with autism and other disabilities. She has studied, assisted and taught at Penland School of Craft, Tulsa Glassblowing School, Pilchuck Glass School, MIT, NOCA, the University of Washington and the University of Louisville. She has been an artist in residence at the Vermont Studio Center, the Chulitna Research Institute in Alaska, the Pierini International Glass Art Center in Biot, France, Mini Mart City Park in Seattle, Washington and most recently at Rero Glass in Antwerp Belgium. KCJ is the Operations Assistant at the Glass Art Society and will be in the 2024 Autumn Cohort for the WA State Art Commission’s Change Leader Institute and is a 2024 Pilchuck Emerging Artist in Residence. KCJ’s joy is facilitating creative experiences for herself and others at the intersection of service, education and art.
My work is the visual manifestation of my values and emotions. It is most often my daydreams which spark my imagination as the mind wanders beyond self-imposed boundaries. I employ the associations of familiarity and comfort attached to foodstuffs and mine a deep fascination with color and light, to evade my audience's taboos and engage in a camouflaged yet frank dialogue about sex, sexuality, sexual health and consent.
Images featuring artwork by KCJ Szwedzinski and Megan Stelljes. Photography by John Keatley and Pilchuck Glass School.
Experience Pilchuck Glass School’s private campus in a whole new light this fall for our second annual Light the Forest event. This event is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience a walking tour of neon art installations in the Pacific Northwest forest.
New and experienced artists alike often make tremendous conceptual and artistic progress in their short time at Pilchuck. Combining a deep focus on glass, access to a variety of resources, a picturesque Pacific Northwest setting and an ever-expanding international community of artists, Pilchuck has become the most comprehensive educational center in the world for glass artists.