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Glass Pumpkin Patch

Shop the Arboretum’s annual sale for exquisite, blown glass art celebrating the beauty of autumn.

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The 13th Annual Glass Pumpkin Patch opens on Friday, October 13, 2023, and runs through Sunday, October 15, 2023. It will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily and will take place on the West Lawn and Staff Lot on the East Side of the Arboretum. Entrance to the event is included with admission to the Arboretum. Please note that this is a ‘rain or shine’ event. 

The event has several components: 

  • Glass Pumpkin Patch Pre-Sale Event: from 10:00 a.m. to 12:59 p.m. on Friday, October 13. Visitors can view and explore the collection of glass pumpkins before the sale kicks off.
  • Shop at the Glass Pumpkin Patch: starting at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 13 through 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 15. Glass pumpkins are only available for sale on these dates and during these hours.
  • Glass blowing exhibition: Watch artists dramatically turn bits of glass into stunning one-of-a-kind molten pumpkin masterpieces during the glass blowing demonstrations, where you can browse the artwork and meet the artists from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 13 through Sunday, October 15.

Guests are invited to stop by and watch daily demonstrations by featured glassblower, Shannon Jane Morgan, along with many other artists, as they dramatically turn bits of glass into stunning molten pumpkin masterpieces (see times above). Narrators will take them step-by-step through the process as these talented artists demonstrate this ancient art form, explaining the processes and tools used to create these stunning autumnal beauties.

Guests can also visit the Halloween tent to find enchanting and frightful works of art to decorate both home and garden this “spook-tacular” season!

 

Sponsored by

Glass Blowing Exhibition

  • Friday, October 13: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, October 14: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, October 15: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Come witness the beauty and diversity of this magnificent rainbow-colored collection of more than 7,000 hand-blown glass pumpkins and other autumnal designs.

Enjoy the unique style of each participating artist’s work—their use of varied techniques and color combinations make each of these gallery-quality pieces a one-of-a-kind design!

Browse and admire during the exhibition, then return during the sale hours to make purchases.

Glass Pumpkin Sale

  • Friday, October 13: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, October 14: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, October 15: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Glass Pumpkin Sale kicks off with an enthusiastic count-down at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 13, and continues through its closing on Sunday, October 15 at 5:00 p.m.

Glass pumpkins are only available for sale on these dates and during these hours.

Member Preview Event

Thursday, October 12

Tickets will be available Tuesday, September 5.

Be among the first to explore a dazzling display of more than 5,000 one-of-a-kind glass pumpkins in traditional and unusual colors, shapes, and sizes at the annual Glass Pumpkin Patch Member Preview event on Thursday, October 12. Each glass pumpkin is hand blown to reflect nature’s brilliance and all items are available for purchase at this exclusive preview event.

This is a separate ticketed event for members and donors. Event tickets include early access to shop the patch, one glass of wine or beer, coffee, cider, soda, and a cookie. This event is for adults 21 and older.

Glass Pumpkin Patch Co-Producers

Shannon Jane Morgan

Sacramento, California

A primarily self-taught artist widely known for her colorist approach, Morgan has been working with hot glass for the past 25 years. She has worked with the Arboretum each year since 2011 to develop this member-favorite event. Morgan has overseen educational glassblowing classes during Glass Pumpkin Patch week, along with performing live demonstrations.

Kyrana Michaelson

Sacramento, California

Following a passion for bridging the gap between nature and art, Michaelson’s journey in glassblowing started by assisting Shannon Morgan during glassblowing demonstrations over ten years ago. Since then, she’s been busy behind the scenes, co-producing The Glass Pumpkin Patch with Morgan. She’s also known as the “Voice of the Patch” for her informative narration of the glass demonstrations and extensive knowledge of the artists.

2023 Glass Pumpkin Patch Artist List

Michael Amis

Shirley, Illinois

Amis designed and built a glassblowing studio for Kokomo Opalescent Glass, where he worked as a studio director, designer, and gaffer until he opened his own studio in 2007.

Ekin Deniz Aytac and Joshua Davids

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Ekin Deniz Aytac and Joshua Davids are a husband and wife team of artists working in glass. They manage Glass Art Kalamazoo, a nonprofit public access glass studio. Their work is exhibited in internationally renowned galleries, museums, and private collections.

Aaron Baigelman

Lake Forest, Illinois

Baigelman started blowing glass at the age of 11 and has studied with several world-class glass sculptors. In 2014, he launched Baigelman Glass with his wife and fellow artist, Heather Baigelman.

N'Kosi Barber

Chicago, Illinois

N’kosi Barber is an illustrator and sculptural glass artist from the South Side of Chicago. Barber is a Project Fire instructor and peer educator who began with the program in 2016.

Amanda Cosgrove-Paffrath

Racine, Wisconsin

Introduced to glassblowing in high school, Cosgrove-Paffrath co-owns Hot Shop Glass and Funky Hannah’s Beads & Art. Her work can be found in Europe, South America, and the United States.

Brock Eddleman

Bloomington, Illinois

Eddleman has explored a variety of glass techniques, including furnace-worked, soft glass, blown glass, and torch work. He has recently learned the art of millefiore and is incorporating it into his work.

Gigi Erickson

Eagle Mountain, Utah

Erickson started glassblowing in 1990 and studied in Corning, New York, with notable artists. Pumpkins are one of her passions; she also creates many other objects in hot glass.

Dave Gribbins

Beecher, Illinois

Gribbins has built a career on glass art. He earned an MA in sculpture and currently teaches sculpture, glass, ceramics, and printmaking at Governors State University. He continues to make glass with George Tessman.

Jeremy Hansen

Racine, Wisconsin

Hansen dreamed of becoming an artist as a child and pursued his passion at Alfred University in New York where he earned a degree with a dual focus on ceramics and hot glass.

Charlie Manion

Alfred, New York

Trained as a scientific flamethrower, Manion transforms music, sound, found materials, and glass into something new. He is currently pursuing a masters degree in sculpture at Alfred University.

Kit Paulson

Penland, North Carolina

Paulson has taught in the United States and Germany, and her work has been published in the New Glass Review. She currently serves as a resident artist at North Carolina’s Penland School of Craft.

Amanda Pierce

Bloomington, Indiana

Pierce has interests in glassblowing and casting, as well as in sculptural and functional work with a variety of materials including metal, wood, marble, and concrete.

Jeff Simmons

Kokomo, Indiana

Simmons is the director of Hot Glass Studio. He draws on over two decades of experience working with the medium to create both custom and production work; he is an independent artist based in Indiana.

Daniel Sviland

Waukegan, Illinois

Co-owner of Hot Shop Glass in Racine, Wisconsin, Sviland has created art with glass since the age of 12. He has worked with and learned from several great glassblowing artists

George Tessman

Highland, Indiana

A former Marine, Tessman rediscovered his passion for the arts, particularly hot glass, in 2000. He opened his own studio in 2003 and his work is favored by jewelry designers and collectors in the United States and abroad.

Matthew Urban

Normal, Illinois

Urban owns and operates Furnace Urbini Glass Works in Illinois where he creates his own line, as well as commissioned work for other artists and designers.

John Van Koningsveld

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Van Koningsveld began blowing glass in 2005. He owns a studio that specializes in stained glass, bronze sculpture, and blown glass work.

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