(Laurelville) -- After 25 years of being featured at the Circleville Pumpkin Show, Jack Pine created the Glass Pumpkin Festival in 2020 as a way to help guests, artists and vendors displaced by last year’s Pumpkin Show cancellation. Jack Pine Studio announced that its 2nd Annual Glass Pumpkin Festival returns Friday, September 24 through Sunday, September 26 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Jack Pine will soon unveil the highly collectible 2021 Pumpkin of The Year, which is a complete contrast to last year’s design. Crafted from luminous white glass with gleaming silver strands, these festive pumpkin sculptures are illuminated by a confetti of colors. This year’s pumpkin inspires joy and celebrates the resilience demonstrated over the past two years. Details are available at JackPineStudio.com.
In addition, Jack Pine and his team of artists want to support the artists and culture bearers of New Orleans who have been so dramatically impacted by the recent devastation of Hurricane Ida. Thus, Pine will donate 10 percent of all Pumpkin of the Year sales to New Orleans’ charity Feed the Second Line. Feed the Second Line allows donors to provide food, shelter assistance and more directly to our national treasure of the artists and musicians of New Orleans’ rich culture, particularly its Mardi Gras and Second Line artists and traditions.
“We had such a wonderful turnout last year, we wanted to continue and build upon this fun and artistic experience,” said Glass Artist Jack Pine. “Hundreds and hundreds of unique hand-blown glass pumpkins of every color and size are spread across the field in our outdoor studio to celebrate art and the colors of the season by allowing fans and guests to support creatives, both in our own community and those who are struggling right now in New Orleans.”
Pine added that he designed this year’s Pumpkin of the Year to truly reflect the joy of creativity of Mardi Gras and of supporting others.
As part of community-wide efforts to slow the transmission of COVID-19, and to ensure the safety of visitors, artists and staff, advance parking reservations are required and only 75 guests will be admitted for each two-hour time slot. Guests can reserve their $5 parking spot in advance of the show and will receive $5 towards the purchase of any Jack Pine pumpkin. Additional non-reserve first come, first serve parking will be available for $5.
With several acres of land serving as Jack Pine’s outdoor studio, along with a vibrant indoor gallery and live demonstration studio, there is plenty of space for people to socially distance as they browse and watch the blaze of color and flame as gifted glass blowers transform molten masses to dazzling works of art. Details and reservations are found at glasspumpkinfestival.com.
An artist’s market with nine fine craftsmen and women from around Ohio will feature everything from beautiful birdhouses to stoneware, pottery, metal sculpture, stained glass lanterns and miniature glass pieces on display and for sale on the sprawling studio grounds. Pumpkin ice cream, donuts and rolls will complete the sensory experience, along with food vendors serving bourbon chicken, Texas tenderloin sandwiches, tacos, funnel cakes and more.
Jack Pine grew up in southern Ohio, studied at Columbus College of Art and Design and then refined his skills at the famous glass houses of Seattle. Drawn to nature and inspired by its organic forms, he returned to his Ohio roots to perfect his art in the woods of the southeast Ohio’s Hocking Hills. Jack Pine Studio is located in the heart the Hocking Hills at 21397 OH-180, Laurelville, OH 43135. With several acres of land serving as an outdoor gallery, along with a vibrant indoor gallery and live demonstration studio, guests can watch the studio’s gifted team of glassblowers at work with plenty of space for social distancing.
Demonstrations take place daily and the studio and gallery are open for shopping and viewing Monday-Thursday 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., Friday-Saturday 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. In addition to stunning pieces crafted by Pine and his team, the gallery also features the work of other talented artists from across the U.S. Details, online shopping and class registration are offered at jackpinestudio.com.