All That Glitters is Glass at Seattle’s October ‘Refract’ Festival

Seattle is the leading hub for glass art in the United States, and that’s reason to celebrate. Refract: The Seattle Glass Experience returns for its eighth year to share the city’s love for the art form, from flameworking, fusing, and kiln casting to neon, mosaics, and jewelry making. “Refract is for people like you who have never blown glass before, who don’t know anything about the medium, and they’re just like falling in love with it for the first time,” says Taryn Coles, assistant director at Chihuly Garden and Glass. “Then there’s also old souls, like us, who come and we still love it because everyone gets together.” All are welcome to join in the fun Oct. 15 to 18, with over 80 arts events citywide, many of which are free. Chihuly, Godfather of Glass Ikebana and Float Boats, 2012. © Chihuly Studio. All rights reserved. First, a quick tale about how Seattle came to be the vibrant glass art scene it is today. It starts with Dale Chihuly, a native Washingtonian, who was instrumental in elevating glass from craft to fine art. In 1968, Chihuly went to work in the Venini glass factory in Venice, where he witnessed the team approach to glassblowing. After returning home to Washingto...