Glass for Greater Good merges art with giving

About 13 years ago, River City Works started an event called Friday Night Blows, where glassblowers would come together monthly for a public glassblowing demo, while creating pieces to benefit a local nonprofit.
 
River City Works is no more, but out of it spawned a collective of artists called Queen City Glass Arts, who wanted to keep the event going.
 
Now, as a collaborative effort with Brazee Street Studios, the event—rebranded as Glass for Greater Good—returns to a hot shop this Friday from 6-9 p.m at Brazee.
 
“Glassblowing is so theatrical and so wonderful to watch,” says Sandy Gross, Brazee Street Studios’ owner. “So it’s an opportunity for us to almost do a performance—some theater—and at the same time raise awareness.”
 
At Glass for Greater Good, which will now take place on the second Friday of each month (Bockfest is in the works for January), the artists will craft toys, which they’ll then donate to St. Vincent de Paul’s Angel Toy program.
 
The public is encouraged to gather at Brazee, check out local artists’ work, watch the demonstration and bring an unwrapped toy that SVDP volunteers will distribute to children in time for the holidays.
 
Gross says collaboration is so important and that anytime it becomes a focus, communities improve.
 
“For me, art is about another language and helping people see beauty, and working together,” Gross says. “And any opportunity where you can do all these things at one time is pretty special.” 

Do Good:

• Support St. Vincent de Paul by donating.

• Attend Glass for Greater Good Friday from 6-9 p.m., and consider bringing a toy to support the Angel Toy program.  

• Like Brazee Street Studios and Queen City Glass Arts on Facebook.

By Brittany York
Brittany York is a professor of English composition at both the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University. She also edits the For Good section of SoapboxMedia.