Glass Comes Alive in Pullman

About the event

Interdisciplinary Talks by Glass Experts John McCloy and Hallie Meredith
12:30-1:30 p.m.; Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU

Glass Blowing Demonstration, Tacoma Museum of Glass Mobile Hot Shop
2:00-4:00 p.m., and 4:30-6:30 p.m.; in front of the art museum

Explore the many facets of glass with Glass Comes Alive in Pullman on August 30, 2023. This free one-day event consists of public talks about ancient and contemporary glass and glass-making, followed by a demonstration given by glassblowers from the Museum of Glass Mobile Hot Shop, Tacoma. Helping students broaden their perspective concerning modern technology by looking to the past, both events are free and open to the public.

Dr. Hallie Meredith, an expert in Ancient Art and Archaeology, and Dr. John McCloy, an expert in Materials and Mechanics, will talk about the technology of glass, engaging students and the wider community. These talks will give context to the museum’s Marian E. Smith glass collection, on view in the Samuel H. Smith Center for Undergraduate Education. Employing cross-disciplinary perspectives, this program highlights the continued relevance of glass-making technologies.

Glass Comes Alive in Pullman will culminate in a free outdoor demonstration by the Museum of Glass Mobile Hot Shop, complemented by interactive VR models. Contemporary glassblowers will make versions of ancient Roman, Sasanian and early Islamic glass vessels. The interdisciplinary talks include 3D printed versions of a complex vessel designed in VR, by the Spark in collaboration with Dr. Meredith. An app is available to download during the demonstration, enabling the public to learn more about ancient glass objects while the glassblowers use contemporary approaches to make versions today.