We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alice Gebhart a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alice, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
I was a public school art teacher for many years, and although I enjoyed my work, I was not truly fulfilled. As an educator, I found little time to create my own work. I was a painter for many years but when I learned about glass fusing and making art in that medium, I wanted more time to create. I worked around my teaching scheduled and completed a portfolio of work that gained attention. I exhibited when I could: weekends, school vacations and summers. I was also offered to teach my technique at glass studios nationally and in the UK but I also had to schedule these “gigs” around my public school schedule. After doing this for several years, and with my husband’s support, I took the jump! We moved from our home and bought a piece of property that had a small studio/shop on the main thoroughfare with an adjacent, very tiny home.
After 13 years as shop owner/glass artist/glass instructor, I am making a modest living. I love working all hours and wish I took this leap much sooner in my life.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am a native Rhode Islander, born and bred into an artistic family. My dad was a painter and my grandfather was a wood carver. I was surrounded by the energy that a creative family had to share. Encouraged as a child to draw, sculpt, and paint I attended various art classes starting very early in life. My dad was my first teacher and I became a proficient oil painter under his guidance.
It is important to me as an artist to combine the joy of creating with a satisfaction in the outcome. I loved the painting process but was really not satisfied with my finished pieces. With my dad’s artistic spirit as a springboard, I experimented with a variety of media over the years including printmaking, ceramics, and ultimately found my journey into glass.
My first experimental designs for glass creations were derived from little paper collage landscapes I had assembled during a college design class. These little sketches were inspired by simple tree shapes and winding highway roads. The colors were vivid, the shapes were simple and they were transformed into my first attempts at fusing with glass. Early in glass, I invested in a tiny glass kiln and a student pack of glass of varying colors. I taught myself this process! There were no fused glass schools in my area of the country so I learned online through an online bulletin board. Through that board I met others who helped me develop and critiqued my work. They recommended I branch out, so I travelled to Portland, Oregon where the fusible glass is made and attended a conference to meet my “teachers” in person.
As a full time glass artist and shop owner, my glass studio is open to the public. I’d like to think I have an impact on bringing fused glass to Rhode Island. I now teach beginner glass classes in my studio/shop and sell functional glass along with my kiln formed glass landscape for which I am most known.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
First and foremost: buy art from a living artist! Not only are you making the investment in an art piece, but you are keeping fine art an important part of our culture and community.
Overall, original art plays a vital role in enriching and enhancing society by fostering creativity, cultural expression, and intellectual engagement. It adds depth and meaning to human existence.
Here is the kicker, when I say art, I’m not just talking about a piece you hang on the wall. What about the dishes you eat off of; the clothes you wear; how you decorate your home?
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I was always a somewhat introverted person, I believe most artists are. We are not taught how to market ourselves and that has been detrimental to succeeding as an artist in our culture. That being said, the internet has helped change that for the introverted artist. It is easier for me to share my work online rather than in person.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.AliceGebhart.com and www.HeritageGiftsandGlass.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alicearts/ and https://www.instagram.com/heritagegiftsandglass/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AliceGebhart5580/ and https://www.facebook.com/heritagegiftsandglass
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-gebhart-b689b4168/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@glassartist.teacher/videos
- Yelp: https://biz.yelp.com/biz_info/7EwmaEYBnr9ujpX2X9fDiw