The Nature of Glass: Chesterwood's 2016 Gala And Exhibit

Amy Krzanik reports from Stockbridge. You couldn’t have wished for a more perfect summer day for an outdoor event than Friday, June 24, as Chesterwood’s 38th annual sculpture exhibition, The Nature of Glass, opened with a reception, followed by a fundraising dinner. Many of the 12 internationally recognized glass artists were on hand to discuss their work during a walking tour of the 24 pieces, led by the exhibition’s curator, Jim Schantz of Schantz Galleries in Stockbridge. Creations by locals such as gala co-chair Tom Patti join art by a handful of Seattle residents and even a sculptor from the Netherlands for this year’s exhibit, and some are the culmination of glassblowers creating outdoor pieces for the very first time. In addition to the artists listed above and shown below, The Nature of Glass includes pieces by Martin Blank, Daniel Clayman, Sidney Hutter, John Kiley, Kait Rhoads, Thomas Scoon and William Carlson, who was awarded this year’s Lillian Heller Curator’s Award. The 2016 sculpture show will be on view daily until Sept. 18. [Above, Elise Abrams, Alexander Sohn and Chesterwood's executive director Donna Hassler.]

Sara Koffman and her daughter, Deb Koffman; Janet Hargus, exhibiting sculptor Peter Bremers and Chris Magee.

Ute Stebich, Bob Schenkel, gala co-chair Marilyn Patti and Suzanne Nash take in the views; Gallerist Leslie Ferrin and artist Marko Remec pose in front of Remec's Remember What (Field Totem).

Margaret Moulton, Matthew King and Brian Cruey; Maureen Hickey, Ed.D., Laurie Norton Moffatt, director and CEO of the Norman Rockwell Museum, and Carole Hyatt.

Richard Squalia, Erika Sautman, exhibiting artist Nancy Callan, Steve Sautman and Donna Rainone.

Gallerist Natalie Tyler with exhibiting sculptor Richard Royal and Dena Lowenbach; musician Joe Rose and realtor Lori Rose.

KK Zutter and artist Terry Wise, whose work is currently on exhibit at Great Barrington's Castle Street Cafe; printmaker Karl Dastoli, Susan Calkins, contractor Dennis Messana and Victoria Ross.