As part of the 25th Anniversary celebration of the Washington Glass School and Studio, we invited longtime artists, students, and extended family members to share their memories of the people, projects, and moments that helped shape our community.
Nancy Kronstadt has been part of the Washington Glass School family for more than two decades. Since first discovering the studio in 2002, she has been a student, artist, supporter, and friend. Her reflections capture the spirit of those early days on Half Street SE, the joy of creative discovery, and the lasting power of an artistic community.
We are honored to share Nancy’s words below.
Washington Glass School 25th Anniversary
By Nancy Kronstadt
I first discovered the Washington Glass School in the Fall of 2002 when I stumbled upon their booth at the Adams Morgan street festival. It was a beautiful, sunny day and the colorful glass display cast reflections everywhere. Intrigued, I spoke with several artists about the fused glass processes and went home with the upcoming class schedule. A week later, I called and signed up for the Beginning Glass Lovers Weekend.
The studio on Half Street SE was somewhat primitive, although I didn’t realize it then. (Standard procedure was to fill a pitcher with water and carry it to the belt sander to fill its trough before using it.) Over the following years, I spent many Saturdays there, either in “Open Studio” or in classes — Beginning Fusion, Advanced Fusion, United Colors, Bowls Bowls Bowls, Drop through Drapes, and Glass Weaving – to name a few. Before I retired, those Saturdays at the studio became my designated afternoons of peace. I would leave my stress at the studio door and walk in excited to work on a creative, absorbing project.
Throughout these years, the guys — Tim, Michael and Erwin — have supported my efforts, offering guidance and encouragement and helping me troubleshoot plans for a piece before I began (and sometimes after something had failed). In return, I donated a curly lock of hair to one of Tim’s pieces and took on the studio’s basic bookkeeping.
Since retiring, I have spent more time at WGS. Unlike my earlier years, when I mostly worked alone, the past six years have been spent in a wonderful shared studio environment, surrounded by the support, critique and friendship from the amazing group of resident artists. The Cedar Hill Medical Project was the perfect opportunity for the artists of WGS to work together to create something truly beautiful and special.
My work does not follow a single theme; it grows from a simple wish to create something pretty and special. For more than 20 years, WGS has given me an environment that quietly and consistently encourages me to create.
Nancy