Fired Up For Glass

(FEBRUARY 1, 2012) Virginia Wesleyan students are encouraged to “bring a spark, light a fire” as they embark on their educational journey at VWC. Thanks to a new formal partnership between VWC and the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia, those students will have an opportunity to get “fired up” in a whole new way.

As of January 2012, VWC students have access to the Chrysler Museum’s world-class Glass Studio, a state-of-the-art facility that opened its doors in November 2011.  Students enrolled in the spring semester art course “Topics in Studio Art: Glass” will travel to the Glass Studio twice a week for an introduction to the practical mechanics of glassblowing as well as the conceptual approaches to glass as an art form and the history of the medium.

“It is a pleasure and an honor to be working with Virginia Wesleyan College students,” said Glass Studio Manager Charlotte Potter, who will serve as an adjunct professor for Virginia Wesleyan. “Glassblowing is a team sport. That’s something we hope to impart to VWC students. There are things you can do on your own, but there’s so much more you can do with a few friends.”

At a recent special event and demonstration honoring the newly forged partnership, Potter deftly wielded a series of metal pipes tipped with glowing orange orbs of molten glass. With the help of several assistants, she skillfully demonstrated the beautifully choreographed ballet that is the glassblowing process.

The partnership between Virginia Wesleyan and the Chrysler Museum is an expansion of the learning opportunities available to VWC students as well as a chance to engage in a community-based collaborative process.

“We are truly making history here,” said Virginia Wesleyan President Billy Greer. “This is not only a wonderful idea that brings together two dynamic institutions, but a cross-pollination that represents the essence of a liberal arts education. It’s a tremendous opportunity that will benefit our students and enrich the community as a whole.”
 
About Virginia Wesleyan College
Named a 2012 “Best College in the Southeast” by the Princeton Review, Virginia Wesleyan College is a small, private four-year liberal arts college focused on empowering students to become active learners and engaged citizens. In accord with the College’s United Methodist heritage, Virginia Wesleyan aspires to be a supportive community that is committed to social responsibility, ethical conduct, higher learning and religious freedom. The College is located on a picturesque 300-acre campus on the border of Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Virginia. For more information, visit www.vwc.edu or call 757-455-3208 or 1-800-737-8684.

About the Chrysler Museum of Art
The Chrysler Museum of Art is one of America’s most distinguished mid-sized art museums with a world-class collection of more than 30,000 objects, including one of the great glass collections in America, and a new Glass Studio. The Museum is located at 245 West Olney Road in Norfolk and is open Wednesdays, 10 a.m. -9 p.m.; Thursdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sundays, noon-5 p.m. The Chrysler and the Glass Studio are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, as well as major holidays. Admission to the Museum’s collection and Studio glassblowing demonstrations are free. For exhibitions, programming and special events, visit chrysler.org or call 757-664-6200.
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