Flame-Off Fuels Art Education for Local Youth
Giovanna Lossou, a senior from San Miguel H.S., uses a cold piece of metal to detach the still molten, newly formed paperweight from the rod. Once cooled, students keep their completed works.
photo: Kyle Wasson
After quickly evolving into one of Tucson’s hottest gatherings, the 13th Annual Flame-Off returns this month to the Sonoran Glass School (SGS) at 633 W. 18th St., nestled between Downtown and Sentinel Peak. The competition on Friday, Feb. 7 showcases 12 artists–many local, some international–during a two-hour torch working competition where, like every year, the biggest winners never touch the stage.
At the end of the night, Tucson’s under-served youth are the real winners. Hundreds of which, ages five to 20 who attend participating schools, will continue to receive funding towards learning and eventually creating glass-works in SGS’ shops; partially supported by the Flame-Off’s proceeds–garnered from ticket sales, a live auction and a two-day online silent auction of the competing artist’s creations.
“The most important part is promoting the glass arts, and letting people know that we’re here,” said Nick Letson, director of the award-winning Tucson Youth Development Program at SGS. “We want to show why we think we’re valuable to the community.”
Tucson’s own Micah Blatt, owner of Mr. Head’s Art Gallery & Bar and a previous first place winner, is one of 12 artists competing as both individuals and teams against the clock. The all-ages event brings together local food trucks, a flame shop-themed cash bar and four strategically placed high definition screens with a live feed of the on-stage action.
“It’s nice to return the competition to the school; we like to show people what we’re doing and there’s no better way than amongst all of the equipment.” Letson added.
Between balancing photography, graphic design, and public affairs, Letson plans and carries out the various youth development programs SGS offers; the newest experience being a week-long workshop graduating students from introductory mosaic and ‘warm-glass’ methods to the ‘Flame’ room, SGS’ highest level of glass creations.
“It’s important for a teenager to be able to get out of the classroom and see art, and see professionals making a living being an artist,” says Melissa Schwindenhammer, San Miguel Catholic High’s art instructor. “The glass medium is something we don’t have access to; it’s great exposing them to new media and new techniques. They’re taken totally out of their element.”
Last year, seniors from San Miguel High School, one of many schools benefitting from the program, compiled a 9-foot by 18-foot glass mosaic to be introduced as a campus beautification piece. Again this year, with the help of SGS, Schwindenhammer’s class will create something to be enshrined for future classes to aspire to.
However, without the donated materials, ranging anywhere from stained and broken glass to tools and mounting accessories, and costs fronted by SGS, these projects would not be possible.
Last month, from Jan. 21-23, Schwindenhammer and SGS delivered 34 students to all three studios (warm, hot, and flame shops) for what Letson calls the SGS Experience. The course allowed students to work from basic understanding of glass to eventually alongside the furnace in the flame shop.
In the flame shop, instructor Jill Justiniano guides San Miguel senior Daniela Duarte in one of the many exciting stages during her paperweight making process.
photo: Kyle Wasson
“I’m really excited about it,” Letson said. “As long as a school can get here, we want to give them a free field trip.”
Grants do not cover everything, Letson confirms. Yet, emailing and calling Tucson’s schools and art teachers have left him amazed at how hard it is to give their services away. All of the schools involved in the Youth Development Program are within walking distance from SGS since many institutions lack appropriate funding to even make the trips possible.
As is with any non-profit organization, the financial challenges are amplified by an outright expensive medium.
“Our gas bill last month alone was in the two-thousands; you can see how expensive everything can start to become,” Letson said with a chuckle.
Receiving a matching grant from the National Endowment for the Arts means SGS must raise $20,000 to receive the endowment’s $20,000. And with help, they do.
There are of course benefits of returning the event to SGS’ headquarters; one being ticket sales and host fees, a majority of their past losses. And second, the freedom of inviting spectators into a shop setting, showing how they make playing with fire friendly and approachable on a daily basis.
“That’s why events like this are so important,” says Letson. “Which, obviously we need all of the staff, equipment, and facilities to work in order to even bring in the classes.”
For now though, Letson and the undermanned, yet enthusiastic staff at Sonoran Glass School plan to keep making glass art accessible with what they have.
“This kind of experience changes you, no matter what you end up doing in the world,” said Schwindenhammer of the SGS initiative. “It’s great that there are programs like this, but even better to have people out there funding them.”
Flame Off 2014 is Friday, Feb. 7 from 6:30 p.m.-11 p.m. at 633 W. 18th St. Tickets, $15, are available at SonoranGlass.org. Questions can be answered by calling (520) 884-7814 or emailing info@sonoranglass.org.
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