RAGSfest 2012
An annual gathering of Art Glass Retailers for education, inspiration and recreation.
For more information on how YOU can attend this year's RAGSfest contact:
Bonnie Wentz, Membership Chair (717) 334-0906
Denny Berkery, Vice President (608) 271-2490
History of RAGSfest
In August 2003, an historic event took place in Asheville, NC. An educational conference was held that offered a wide array of affordable classes, roundtable discussions, and social dinners. Hosted by Gary Newlin of A Touch of Glass, this was the first ever event of it's kind. Gary arranged for teachers, accommodations, restaurants, site seeing tours, travel, and scheduled everything for almost two weeks of education, cleverly disguised as fun.
What made this event unique? Only the owners of retail stained glass stores could take advantage of the opportunity. Aimed at teaching the teacher to add diversity to the class schedule and increase the bottom line, the event was conceptualized, organized, and achieved by Gary Newlin and other volunteers from Retailers of Art Glass and Supplies (RAGS), a not for profit organization for stained glass retailers.
RAGSfest 2012
(Note - If you're a member looking for the registration page, please review your emails or the web forum posts to find the registration site details.)
What will be new at RAGSfest 2012? Lots of stuff! We'll post the classes we're offering to our members as soon as possible.
We'll have lots of professional members sharing their teaching skills this year, supporting each other, and providing other members with the information they need to both create new projects and teach them effectively.
Why is RAGSfest such a great event?
TEACHERS TEACHING TEACHERS
These classes are professionally taught with the object being to train you - the teachers.
The more exciting workshops a store can offer, the more customers that store will attract.
RAGSfest classes are affordable. Everyone taking a class at RAGSfest will take home a plethora of new ideas and techniques to pass along to their fortunate students in future workshops.
RAGSfest 2012 Class Details:
A Day at the Beach Day At The Beach - Mermaids, Starfish and Other Ocean Delights (one day class) In this class for Intermediate Glass Beadmakers, we will explore how to add movement to your sculptural beads and what better way than using beach and ocean beads as inspiration. We’ll focus on heat control while learning additional sculptural techniques. We'll make a sculptural starfish with graceful arms to practice adding movement to your glass beads and how to build up and out from a base of glass using technique and heat control. And we'll also create a lovely mermaid bead while we work on making the bead appear to have a bit of movement, heat control, surface decoration, how to make hair canes, and a simple upper torso and face. If there is time, we'll also make other beach and sea related beads that reinforce and build on what you're learning in this class. When we're done, you will have enhanced your beach and ocean repertoire and of course your sculptural soft glass skills too!
Advanced Fusing A two-day class of advanced fusing.
Beginning Bead Making
Box Casting Stack or Box Fusing with a Variety Techniques Experience the fun of using paints, micas, foils, DichroSlide, Glassline Paper, decals, and wire in a stacked fused box or 3-D inclusions such as small, thin premade castings from molds such as Colour de Verre castings, Freeze ‘N Fuse pieces, Vitragraph stringers, or anything else you might like to bring to class to use in a deep box casting. (Glass inclusions need to be 96COE.)
Color Mixing for Beginners Using A Torch We know, that there are times when we want a very specific color of glass to use in our art piece, but are not sure exactly how to get it. Join glass artist Marcy Lamberson for a 2 hour class on how to layer and mix colors within the 104 COE range to get that elusive shade. We'll be melting, mixing, layering and having a lot of fun in this class using Blue Moon torches. And don't worry if you haven't used a torch before, we'll cover those basics and safety too. This is a fun class for friends. As everyone tries different color combinations, you can compare and save samples for your future reference as well. No experience needed...just a love of color and desire to experiment!
Coral Sea Bowl
Craquel Me Up
Creative Mold Making
Deep Drop Ring class-I'd expect it to be 2 half day classes mostly to work around firing the projects. Day 1: talk about layout, and temps a bit, build your blank to full fuse, remove and do the drop ring firing also Day 2: cut the rim glass off, cold work the rim On edge plate class. designed this class to make use of all the clear scraps we have been producing. Day1: Morning, discuss class format. Start cutting glass, assembling on the kiln shelf. Talk about molds, temps. Fuse once, then slump.
Edge Plate
Enameled Copper Leaves for beginners
Flash Me Flashed Glass Stage Blasting During this class students will stage blast two 6” square pieces of flashed glass. One will use a photo-resist process and the other will be hand cut. Using Fremont flashed glass also has the potential of being used in fused glass projects. The students will have an etched piece on flashed glass that they could use in various projects. The photo is a sample done on a double flashed piece and was used in a leaded glass window. The student pieces will vary according to their choice of design.
Foiled Tube Light
Fritography
Fused Collage Glass In this hands on workshop students will use glass paint, frit, wire, vitrograph stringer, and layers of glass to create a 6x8 cast collage tile. You will learn to layer design elements that allow you to capture imagery, words, poems, quotes and phrases in glass. The processes taught will teach you how to create a depth in your work that continually draws the viewer in.
Fused Collage Glass - In this hands on workshop students will use glass paint, frit, wire, vitrograph stringer, and layers of glass to create a 6x8 cast collage tile. You will learn to layer design elements that allow you to capture imagery, words, poems, quotes and phrases in glass. The processes taught will teach you how to create a depth in your work that continually draws the viewer in.
Marketing Marketing Discussion: “One Size Fits All, or Does It? Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our daily duties that we completely ignore our Marketing goals. At other times, we spin our wheels trying to incorporate all the processes and techniques that we hear about. The marketing flavor of the week may not taste the same to everyone, nor will it have the same results for every company. In this discussion we will chat about how to find the right marketing style for your company. We will talk about the decision making process and hear from the attendees about the different marketing efforts that have worked.
Mixed Media Bracelet Does not involve torch work.
Murrini Making and Pulling Stringers (Filati) for Beginners Do you make art that could use some special murrini or stringer (aka "filati") in the perfect color, but you have little or no experience on the torch? This class is designed for you. Join Atlanta glass artist and teacher, Marcy Lamberson for a 2 hour introductory class to teach you how to use the torch and make simple murrini and pull stringer in different thicknesses. We'll explore a couple of styles and Marcy be including lots of tips and tricks to make you successful. We'll cover the basics including torch safety, and get right to work, so you will be taking home the product of your new found skills. It's so much fun being able to make exactly what you want, for your art piece. And although you will be learning techniques with a specific range of colors, feel free to bring in your art piece that you want to match, so Marcy can help you find what you need for future murrini making and stringer work during Blue Moon's open torch times. No experience needed...just a desire to stretch your technique levels and extend your knowledge.
Torch Enameling Metal Beads
Traditional Painting Easy Beginning Traditional Painting Part I – Half Day So, you think you can’t paint! You are soooo mistaken. Not many of us are accomplished fine art painters; however, painting using Ruesche paint is really simple to accomplish. A fused 6” X 6” glass piece from Peter McGrain’s “Pear” design will be furnished to you in class so you can apply his method of Vitri Fusaille to paint the basic lines and details, and the finished piece will appear to have been painted in the traditional method of many colors of paints and numerous firings. However, this will only require one color of paint and one firing to complete the first half of this class. Part II – Half Day After the first firing of your practice painting, you will shade the piece and add more details for the projects second firing. We will then talk about additional firings you may wish to accomplish when you get home. Also we can use the Ruesche black outlining paint to easily produce accents such as facial features and other details to stained glass projects without a lot of fuss and muss.
Unique Mud Fused Sculpting with “Mud” Using this very “Unique” texture medium, you will create fun and dynamic images on glass. This Mud technique allows you to create sculptural effects on glass, terra cotta, wood etc, with just a few simple strokes. You will learn how to sculpt with a brush and you will create two fused 4” tiles. With a little practice and a few teaching secrets, you will amaze yourself and hopefully be able to incorporate the Mud process as a class at your store. No experience necessary for this class, as techniques learned may be applied to more than just fusing projects!
Vitrograph Glass Inclusions A hands-on class that explores the limitless possibilities of creating your own vitrigraph glass inclusions. Learn unique techniques to create one-of-a-kind glass that can add dimension and detail to your art. Have you ever wondered what you could create to make your artwork stand out among the rest? Well, this is it! Vitrigraph glass is a manipulation of hot glass being pulled out through a hot kiln. Using Bullseye glass, you will experience pulling techniques, pot filling and preparation, use of tools and studio safety. Not only will you learn how to control solid Vitrigraph glass, you will also learn how to blend color combinations and manipulate shapes that only you can imagine. In-class samples and a media presentation will ignite ideas and creatively show how to use this glass to add intricate details of color and texture to all types of fused glass projects. Discussion topics will include how to successfully accomplish firings of vitrigraph glass in your work with emphasis on the principles of design. Students will leave with the Vitrigraph glass that they make in class from two separate pulling sessions and a new found enthusiasm for Unique Vitrigraph glass in their art. Students bring: safety glasses, leather gloves, cutting tools and wear natural fiber clothing, close-toed shoes. All long hair must be pulled up.