Seattle Glass Art Festival Refract Returns To Highlight America’s Best

Friday, August 1, 2025

In 2015 nan first-ever study of solid creation successful America conducted by The Glass Art Society (GAS) and Chihuly Garden Place recovered that northwestern United States was location to much makers than immoderate different region. The hunt inspired america to create Refract: The Seattle Glass Experience, a spirited show dedicated to showcasing nan creation shape done move venue partnerships and our region’s vibrant solid scene. In nan blink of an oculus it became a fixture successful Seattle’s taste calendar, perched not truthful overmuch arsenic portion from creator to enthusiast regarding what makes solid creation beautiful.

A decade later, nan show returns for its seventh edition, aft a little hiatus during nan pandemic. Refract 2025 promises to beryllium an unforgettable experience, moving from October 16-19, 2025. This year’s programming is packed pinch breathtaking activities, including exclusive workplace tours, unrecorded creator demonstrations, a bid of caller exhibitions, and immersive parties and events. The show intends to showcase a wide spectrum of solid artistry from nan Pacific Northwest, inviting some seasoned creation collectors and newcomers into this captivating world.

A Growing Passion for Glass Art: Study Update

As Refract celebrates its 10th anniversary, GAS, Chihuly Garden and Glass, and GMA Research person collaborated to update their original 2015 study. The results of nan caller investigation are expected to beryllium released soon, but early findings already bespeak a increasing nationalist enthusiasm for solid art. The Pacific Northwest remains nan epicenter of this unsocial creation form, confirming that nan region’s solid creation organization is stronger than ever before.

What’s New for Refract 2025?

This year’s show programming will span aggregate locations passim Seattle, arsenic good arsenic neighboring cities specified arsenic Everett, Bainbridge Island, Issaquah, and Tacoma. With complete 60 events and nan activity of much than 70 talented artists connected display, there’s nary shortage of breathtaking exhibitions and engaging experiences to enjoy. The show has been designed pinch accessibility successful mind, ensuring that creation lovers of each kinds tin participate successful nan festivities, pinch overmuch of nan programming offered free of charge.

Some of nan astir breathtaking highlights for Refract 2025 include:

1. Shuttle Service to Private Artist Studios

For nan 3rd consecutive year, Tours Northwest will supply a shuttle work that transports festival-goers straight to backstage creator studios crossed Seattle. With an expanded way and 11 caller stops, this work offers attendees a unsocial opportunity to meet nan artists down nan glasswork and get an exclusive look astatine their imaginative spaces. This interactive acquisition offers 1 of nan astir meaningful ways to prosecute pinch nan solid creation community.

2. Noteworthy Events and Parties

Refract 2025 will characteristic a scope of events designed to observe some nan creation and nan group down it. Key events include:

• Gather: The Official Opening Party (October 16 astatine Chihuly Garden and Glass)
• Pilchuck Block Party (October 17 successful Pilchuck’s Pioneer Square Office Space and Street)
• Pilchuck Annual Auction and Gala (October 17 astatine Fremont Studios)
• Glassblowing Film Festival (October 17 astatine SIFF Cinema Uptown)

3. Exclusive Studio Tours and Artist Talks

This year, Refract will connection respective exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences, specified as:

• The Boathouse Tour (October 16): A uncommon opportunity to sojourn Dale Chihuly’s backstage workplace and hotshop.
• Refract Artist Open Studios (October 18-19): Visitors tin research complete 20 backstage creator studios crossed Seattle, including immoderate seldom accessible locations.
• Guided Walking Tour of Seattle’s Glass History (October 17): Led by nan Seattle Architecture Foundation, this circuit offers a fascinating overview of Seattle’s longstanding narration pinch glass.
• Artist Talk pinch Kait Rhoads (October 17 astatine nan Seattle Convention Center), featuring her activity precocious acquired for display.

4. New Exhibitions

Refract 2025 introduces respective thought-provoking exhibitions, including:

• “During The Exposure: An Exhibition by Winifred Westergard”: A showcase of ambrotypes, an innovative photographic method from nan 19th century.
  “Petrichor successful nan Land of Falling Water”: A solo showcase by solid and mixed media creator Crista Van Slyck Matteson.
  “Glass successful Everett: A Window Display of Glass Art”: Partnering pinch nan Downtown Everett Association, this accumulation turns complete 10 storefront windows into stunning solid creation displays, showcasing creations by artists for illustration Nick Clawson, Manolo Aguilera, and KCJ Szwedzinski.

5. Live Artist Demonstrations

Throughout nan festival, attendees tin bask unrecorded demonstrations astatine various venues. Notable demos will beryllium presented by:

• Seattle Glassblowing Studio: Artists for illustration Jen Elek, Jeremy Popelka, and Dan Alexander will showcase their techniques.
• Pratt Fine Arts Center: Glass artists Jason Christian, Dan Friday, and Bri Chesler will stock their expertise.
• Pacific Northwest Glass Guild: Offering a broad overview of kiln-formed glass.

A Festival of Glass Art for All

Refract 2025 is much than conscionable a ceremony of solid art, it’s an unfastened invitation to plunge heavy into nan fascinating world of this medium. With complete 600 free events, activities some hands-on and mindful, an array of artists nan show will entreaty to knowledgeable creation enthusiasts arsenic good arsenic first-time participants. As nan show matures, though, nan Pacific Northwest only cements its position arsenic a hub for solid creation successful nan United States.

Whether you’re a solid creation enthusiast aliases conscionable funny to cheque it out, Refract Seattle is an astonishing opportunity to spot nan beauty of solid and meet nan inspired artists who make these unthinkable pieces.

Mark your calendars for October 16-19, 2025 and get fresh to acquisition nan escapade of a lifetime!