Annual Conference Vote

Notice of the Annual Business Meeting American Glass Guild, Inc.

To be held at the American Glass Guild's Annual Conference – July 13, 2024

Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting of the Members of the American Glass Guild, Inc., (AGG), held in each fiscal year, in conjunction with our Annual Conference, for the purpose of electing our Board of Directors for the next fiscal year. The Nominating Committee has recommended five (5) candidates to serve on the Board of Directors; Roberto Rosa, Brianna Van Vorst, Jean Alexander, Tony Servinete, and Bee Stumpf. A Director’s term begins at the Board meeting held just after the Annual Meeting of the AGG Membership. The vote will take place during the conference on June 13th, 2024.

Nomination Statements

I am pleased to be nominated for a seat on the Board of Directors of the AGG. I’ve had a lifelong love for the craft since first visiting the studio of a dear family friend as a child, and eventually pursuing an apprenticeship with him. Eventually I enrolled in the Mason Gross School of the Arts, at Rutgers University, where I received my bachelor’s degree in fine arts. I founded my own studio, Princeton Stained Glass Co, in 2002, and worked on artworks and residential commissions for many years. Throughout these years, I also worked as a teaching artist, serving with Young Audiences of NJ, and other similar agencies, bringing arts programming into communities and school throughout the tri-state area. In 2012 I was introduced to Tom Garcia, founder of The Gil Studio, Inc, in Brooklyn, NY. I joined his staff as a glazier and glass painter and began to deepen my understanding of restoration and conservation of historic stained glass, while simultaneously maintaining my own studio, located in Jersey City, NJ. In 2019, Garcia retired, and we arranged for the transfer of the business to me. In time, I merged the studio with my own, and have been at the helm ever since. My first attendance of an AGG event was at Bryn Athyn, but the first full conference was at Corning. As my stained glass network and world has continued to grow, so has my interest in learning about and sharing knowledge about our field with others. As a longtime educator, I recognize that the AGG community has dramatically broadened my understanding of our discipline in a relatively short time, and I hope to join in that effort, and to contribute to that same broadening for others.

As someone who has been involved in glass art for 30+ years, I've realized the importance of education in this unique art. I have evolved in my knowledge of glass painting with the many classes I have taken over the years, and in recent years have gotten to know more about fusing glass. I see many people on stained glass social media groups with questions on how to do things correctly or advice on how to fix a problem they had. It shows the dire need for education and that we need to support each other. You can never stop learning from others! I always enjoy the AGG conferences and listening to the speakers and going to the workshops. We also have support through our social media outlets and GlassZoom. I'm proud to be a part of the AGG, and to showcase the many benefits we have of passing the knowledge to others and supporting those in need.

I am honored to be considered for re-election to the American Glass Guild’s board of directors. I currently hold the position of AGG President for the 2022-2024 term. I have been actively involved with the AGG since 2008. I first served on the board from 2017-2021 and returned in 2022 after a one-year hiatus. I have taken on previous roles as the auction chair for 2018-2019, and conference co-chair for 2021. I have also participated as a conference speaker, workshop instructor, exhibition participant, volunteer, scholarship recipient, and auction donor.

I began my stained glass career as an apprentice in 1998 at The Art of Glass in Media, PA, working primarily in the conservation and restoration of historical windows. I eventually became the studio manager, and my responsibilities expanded to include research and documentation as well as bench work. In 2014 I opened my own studio, where I focus on conservation and restoration, with occasional commissioned work and personal studio artwork in stained glass. I am a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in jewelry and metals. I am keenly interested in the science, philosophy, and history involved in restoration work, and I have found the AGG invaluable for supporting these aspects of the discipline.

I have witnessed firsthand over the years the many benefits of AGG membership, and I am pleased to help keep the organization moving forward so that the stained glass field can benefit. The collective knowledge and experience of our members brought together through the annual conference, and online tools such as the discussion group and Glass Zoom events, is an invaluable resource for all to share. When my term as president concludes, I hope to stay involved as a board member to help the AGG continue this important work.

I am honored to be nominated for a position on the American Glass Guild’s board of directors. I have been actively involved with the AGG since 2010 or so, serving on the Auction Committee as Chair, as Webmaster, and 2023 Conference Chair. I’ve also been on the board previously for 6 years, and collaboratively led our organization's move forward into a more and more technologically dependent age, helping to advise and update our resources and assistance for the current time.

I have been lucky when it comes to glass; my stepfather Wayne Cain owns his own studio, Cain Architectural Art Glass, and has been working in the field since 1972. I‘ve worked with him since the age of 12, beginning with puttying windows, soldering joints, cutting lead, and beveling glass. I worked for Cain Art Glass for almost ten years as an adult, and now I currently operate my own business, Vitrea Dei Studios, where I primarily work in restorations, commissions, and freelance glass painting and design work and have been for 7 years.

I will dedicate my time and talents to the AGG because I want to see the organization continue on for my generation of artists and peers, and for those generations before and after. This is why I’ve agreed to be nominated to the board once again, because I see the mission and purpose of the Guild as more important than when I first began to volunteer; to encourage and support education, foster a culture of quality, and build a community around the art we all love. I believe technology and the internet will continue to play a pivotal role, and I look forward to continuing to assist the AGG in that space (and others) once again as a member of the board of directors.

Submitted by the Nominating Committee:

Maria Serpentino, Chair

Pete Billington

Judith Schaechter

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Annual Conference Vote

Notice of the Annual Business Meeting American Glass Guild, Inc.

To be held at the American Glass Guild's Annual Conference – July 13, 2024

Nomination Statements

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