About Sally

Sally Prasch
P.O. Box 428
Montague, MA 01351
Email Sally

Sally Prasch is perhaps the perfect blend of advanced technical skill and intuitive creativity. Her background is in both scientific glassblowing and fine art. She began her career at the age of 13, with Lloyd Moore working as a part-time apprentice at the University of Nebraska and later as a Glassblowing Instructor for the City of Lincoln Recreation Department. She took workshops from some of the best glassblowers of the time, including William Bernstein, Ray Schultz, and Lino Tagliapietra.

Sally attended the University of Kansas from 1977 to 1980 and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art in Glass (Furnace glassblowing) and Ceramics. After college Sally worked in a hot shop and started her glass art business that is still active today. Sally started attending the Glass Art Society Conferences in 1978 and continues to participate by giving demonstrations and by serving on the Glass Art Society Advisory Board. In 1985, Prasch received her Certificate in Scientific Glass Technology from Salem College in New Jersey. Soon afterwards, she obtained a position with AT&T doing large quartz work for the semiconductor industry.

Sally continued her studies and, in 1986, received a degree in Applied Science from Salem College. Later that year she got a job as a Scientific Glassblower and Glass Instructor at the University of Massachusetts where she taught scientific glassblowing and the properties of glass to graduate students in Chemistry and Physics. She has been a member of the American Scientific Glassblowers Society and has participated in seminars on such subjects like Vacuum Technology, Quartz technology, and Glass Sealing.

She soon began to receive recognition for her artistic work and was selected for the Corning New Glass Review in 1993.

Sally Prasch's current work is characterized by the combination of her technical skills and a strong art esthetic. She places other-worldly figures in glowing globes filled with rare gasses and constructs portraits of friends from broken shards picked out of the glass trash barrels. One item she is well known for are goblets made with coiled stems so that they bounce when handled. Her latest work incorporates cast bronze with glass.

Perhaps Prasch’s greatest fulfillment comes from teaching. She has taught flameworking workshops at Urban Glass in New York City, at the famous Niijima Glass School in Japan; Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA; Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC; Pittsburgh Glass Center, Pittsburgh, PA; Grove Gas & Light Co, University of CA, San Diego, CA; Ingalena Klenell’s Studio, Sweden and many more.

Work History

  • 2016-2023 Scientific Glassblower and Instructor; University of MA/Amherst, Amherst, MA
  • 2020-2023 Scientific Glassblower and Glass Instructor, University of VT, Burlington, VT
  • 1977-2023 Owner of Prasch Glass
  • 2005-2019 Scientific Glassblower and Instructor (CHE 533); Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
  • 1986-95 Scientific Glassblower and Glass Instructor, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
  • 1985-86 Scientific Glassblower, AT&T, Lee’s Sumit, MO
  • 1982-84 Independent Glassblower, Worcester, MA
  • 1981-82 Glassblower, Cureil Glass Studio, Omaha, NE Assistant Scientific Glassblower for Lloyd Moore, University of Nebraska
  • 1970-77 Apprentice Scientific Glassblower and Teaching Assistant for Lloyd Moore, University of Nebraska Lincoln NE

Education

  • 2006-11 Graduate sculpture classes with Mary Giehl, Syracuse Universiy, Syracuse, NY
  • 1997: Workshop in Advanced Flameworking with Cesae Toffolo Rossit, The Studio, Corning, NY
  • 1996: Computer Training Courses for Small Businesses, Amherst, MA
  • 1985-2020: Seminars through the American Scientific Glassblowers Society: Small Business, Vacuum Technology, Fire & Explosion Hazards, Quartz Technology, Glass Sealing
  • 1994: Workshop in Copper Wheel Engraving with Harold Gross, Studio Access, Corning, NY
  • 1993: Workshop in Advanced Flameworking with Cesae Toffolo Rossit, Pilchuck Glass School, Seattle, WA
  • 1986: Associate Degree in Applied Science, Salem College, Carney’s Point, NJ
  • 1985: Certificate in Scientific Glass Technology, Salem College, Carney’s Point, NJ
  • 1982: Workshop in Glass with Finn Lingaard and Carl Powel, Pilchuck, Seattle, WA
  • 1980: Bachelor of Fine Arts, (Glass and Ceramics), University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
  • 1979: Workshop with Lino Tagliapietra, Pilchuck Glass School, Seattle, WA
  • 1977: Courses in glass with Ray Schultz, Kearney State College, Kearney, NE
  • 1976: Workshop in glass with William Bernstein, Naple Mills School, Naples, NY
  • 1970-76: Part-time Apprentice, Lloyd Moore, University of Nebraska

Awards

  • 2022: Award of Excellence - For Extraordinary Contributions in Scientific and Artistic Glass
  • 2019: Appriciatioin of Dedicated Service as Symposium Co-Chair
  • Full Scholarship to attend The Studio, Corning, NY
  • 1993: Full Scholarship to attend Pilchuck Glass School, Pilchuck, WA
  • 1992: Corning for New Glass Review
  • 1988: Corning International Glass Music for Outstanding Performance
  • Kimble Award for Excellence in Glassblowing

Teaching and Lectures

  • 2022 - Lecture and Demonstrate - Featured Artist - International Flameworking Conference, Salem Community College, Penns Grove, NJ
  • 1992-2023: Flameworking Instructor, Urban Glass, Brooklyn, NY
  • 2021 - Zoom - Demonstrate - Glass Denizili Bienali, Turkey
  • 2021- Zoom - Lecture and Demonstrate - Creators & Makers - International Society of Glass Beadmakers
  • 2020 - The Art, Science and Sound of Glass - Dowd Gallery, SUNY, Cortland, NY
  • 2005 - 2019 - Scientific Glassblowing Instructor (CHE 533), Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
  • 2002 -2022: Flameworking Instructor, Pittsburgh Glass Center, Pittsburgh, PA
  • 2001-2019: Flameworking Instructor; Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA
  • 2018: Scientific Glassblowing Instructor: University of Montana/Western, Dillon, MT
  • 2017: Keynote address, International Glass Bead Society
  • 2017: Demonstrate, Glass Art Society
  • 2013 - 2015: Glass Instructor, Demo, Denizli Turkie
  • 2012: Co-Chair for the International Scientific Glassblowers Exhibition, Corning, NY
  • 2011: Glass Instructor, Demo, Kobe and Tokyo, Japan
  • 1991-2022: Glass Instructor, Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC
  • 2001-2017: National Bottle Museum, Ballston Spa, NY
  • 1999-2022: Flameworking Instructor, Salem Community College, Carney’s Point, NJ
  • 1995-2022: Flameworking and Neon Instructor, Penland School of Crafts, NC
  • 1997-2010: Flameworking Instructor, Worcester Craft Center, Worcester, MA
  • 2005: Flameworking Instructor; Ingalena Klenell's Studio; Sweden
  • 2008: Glass Art Society Portland Conference, demo
  • 2001-2002: Flameworking Instructor Horizons to Go Program, Tuscany, Italy and Ireland
  • 2000: Post Conference Workshop, Urban Glass, NY
  • 1999-2002: Flameworking Instructor, Grove Gas & Light Co at the University of California, San Diego, CA Glass Instructor
  • 1998-2002: Flameworking Instructor, Public Glass, San Francisco, CA
  • 1995-2001: Flameworking Instructor, University of Michigan, Dearborn
  • 1998-2002: Demonstrate for the Society of Glass Beadmakers, Corning, NY & Alexandra, VA Pre Conference Workshop, Hands on Glass Studio, Corning, NY
  • 1992-2001: Flameworking Instructor, Urban Glass, Brooklyn, NY
  • 1998: Flameworking Instructor, Peacock Rose Glass Studio, San Francisco, CA
  • 1998: Glass Art Society, demonstrate during conference and post conference workshop, Seto, Japan
  • 1996-1997: Resident Flamework, Instructor, The Studio of the Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY
  • 1996: Flameworking Chair of the Glass Art Society Conference, Set up 10 Workshops, and 30 Demonstrations
  • 1995: Flameworking Instructor, Niijima Glass Center, Japan
  • 1973-1982: Flameworking Instructor, City of Lincoln Recreation Department, Lincoln, NE

Selected Bibliography

  • Toffolo Cesare "Lampworking the 20th Century to the Present" Grafiche - Venezia 2019
  • The Penland Book of Glass. 2009
  • New England Home. Master of Art and Science. page 64, April 2010
  • Glass Knocking at the Door of Art. Korean Craft Promotion Foundation, 2010
  • Oldknow, Tina. 25 Years of New Glass Review. The Corning Museum of Glass, 2006.
  • Kieffer Susan. 500 Glass Objects / A Celebration of Functional and Sculptural Glass. Lark Books, 2006
  • Shrader, Valerie Van Arsdale. "1000 Glass Beads / Innovation and Imagination in Contemporary Glass Beadmakinig." Lark Books 2004
  • McLaughlin, Jean W. The Nature of Craft and the Penland Experience. Lark books, 2004
  • Mears, Elizabeth. Flameworking / Creating Glass Beads, Sculptures and Functional Glass, Lark Books
  • Kohler, Lucartha. Women Working in Glass Atglen, PA : Schiffer Pub.Ltd 2003.
  • Yelle, Richard Wilfred, International Glass Art / by Richard Wilfred Yelle. Atglen, PA : schiffer Pub., 2003.
  • Crook, Morgan and Fishman, Jacob. The Neon Engineers Notebook. Northbrook, IL : Lightwriters Neon, 2002. 189p. Limited to 1000 copies,
  • Dunham, Bandhu, Formed of Fire Selections in Contemporary Lampworked Glass.
  • Dunham, Bandhu Scott. Contemporary Lampworking : a Practical Guide to Shaping Glass in the Flame. 1993 pre-publication ed, . Prescott, AS : B. S. Dunham, 1193. 1v. (various pagings) also 1995 ed., 1997, 2002 and 2003.
  • Strattman, Wayne. "Neon Techniques: Handbook of Neon Sign and Cold Cathode Lighting." / edited by Wayne Strattman. 4th ed. Cincinnati : ST Publications, Inc., 1997.
  • Yelle, Richard Wilfred.. "Glass Art from Urban Glass." Atglen, PA : Schiffer 2000.
  • "In Context : Sally Prasch," Glass, no. 62, sprng 1996, pp. 42-45

Exhibitions

  • 2021: Curator - Hampton Gallery, University of MA/Amherst, "Formed with Silica"
  • 2021: Curator - Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA - "Glass Lifeforms 2021"
  • 2021: Leverett Art Center, Leverett, MA - " Oh Beautiful Glass III"
  • 2021: Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, Brattleboro VT - "Glasstastic"
  • 2019: Leverett Art Center, Leverett, MA - " Oh Beautiful Glass III"
  • 2018: Leverett Art Center, Leverett, MA - " Oh Beautiful Glass II"
  • 2018: Urban Glass, Brooklyn, NY "Apparatus: The Art of Scientific Glass"
  • 2017: Leverett Art Center, Leverett, MA - " Oh Beautiful Glass"
  • 2017: Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, Brattleboro VT - "Glasstastic"
  • 2016: The Sprinkler Factory, Worcester, MA - "Show us your Mask"
  • 2016: The Corning Museum of Glass, Corning NY, Glass Art Fashion Show
  • 2016: Corning Gaffer District Visual Design Program, Corning, NY - "LUXUS"
  • 2016: Cedar Arts Center, Corning, NY - "Lifeforms"
  • 2015: Cape Cod Museum of Art, MA - "Clearly, Glass as Sculpture
  • 2015: Brockport State University, NY - Tower Fine Art Center - " A Studio Glass Movement Continuum"
  • 2014: National Liberty Museum, NJ- "Lifeforms"
  • 2013: Brattleboro Museum and Art Center, VT - "Kids Art"
  • 2013: The Hodge Gallery at Pittsburgh Glass Center, PA - "Lifeforms"
  • 2011: Brattleboro Museum and Art Center, VT - "Glass in All Senses"
  • 2010: More Fire Glass Studio (Rochester, NY) – “Turned On”
  • 2009: Exhibit A (Corning, NY) – “Luminous Evidence”
  • 2007: More Fire Glass Studio (Rochester, NY) – “Over the top Rewired”
  • 2006: More Fire Glass Studio (Rochester, NY) – “Over the Top”
  • 2004: The Mint Museum of Craft and Design (Charlotte, NC) – “The Nature of Craft and the Penland Experience”
  • Guilford Handcraft Center (Guilford, CT) – “Biennial North American Glass Show”
  • 2001: West End Gallery (Corning, NY) – “Passing the Torch”
  • 2000: Center of the Earth (Charlotte, NC) – “Biennial North American Glass Show”
  • Mostly Glass (Englewood, NJ) – “Fauna & Flora”
  • Museum of Neon Art (Los Angeles, CA) - “Traveling Light”
  • 1999: The Alfred Berkowitz Gallery at the University of Michigan Dearborn (Dearborn, MI) – “Flamework at the U of MI-D”
  • Mostly Glass (Englewood, NJ) –“Naked Glass”
  • 1998 – Centro Vetro (Venice, Italy) –“Venezia Aperto Vetro 98”
  • 1997 &1998: Mostly Glass (Englewood, NJ) – “The ABC of American Glass”
  • 1997: Craft Alliance (St. Louis, MO) – “Survey of Flameworking”
  • Philabaum Glass Gallery (Tucson, AZ) – “Regions of the Flame”
  • 1996: Society for Arts and Crafts (Boston, MA) – “Out of the Flame”

Professional Organizations

  • American Scientific Glassblowing Society
  • Northeast Section of the American Scientific Glassblowing Society
  • The Glass Art Society
  • Glass Music International Society
  • International Society of Glass Beadmakers