Gateway art teacher Christine O’Malley with a tray she created during her training. (Photo submitted)
HUNTINGTON – Gateway art teacher Christine O’Malley unlocked a new passion during a week-long training at the Snow Farm art center in Williamsburg—fused glass. Also known as “kiln glass”, the process involves cutting and using colored glass, “frit” or crystallized glass, slumping molds and a standard kiln in order to produce jewelry, bowls, trays and other beautiful artwork.
“I was in the studio most nights until 9 or 10 o’clock,” O’Malley said. “And I had to pay an extra $100 because I made twice as many items as the workshop fee covered. I just couldn’t stop!”
She returned with a vision for bringing this medium to her art classes at the junior high school next year. Gateway has a kiln, so the largest expense is already covered. “Some of the materials that we used at Snow Farm—like asbestos paper—cannot be used in a school. But we can still produce this work using slump molds,” she explained.
At issue is the funding needed to purchase the tools and start up materials for the program, which O’Malley estimates at about $500. “Once we get started, we can sell some of the work in order to sustain the program and purchase more materials,” O’Malley said. She has a budget for art materials for the school year, but it will not cover the materials needed to start this new component; it must cover all of the consumable materials for the school for the entire year. “It is amazing how quickly the supply money goes,” she noted.
O’Malley’s options are to apply for funding through the Gateway Education Foundation for start-up costs, or pass the fees onto students. “I hate to charge the students for this. It feels as though we are always collecting money from them and it’s a lot for people living out here.”
The Gateway Education Foundation formed in 2011 to support the students, classrooms and schools of the Gateway Regional School District. Through their Funds for Learning program, teachers can apply for funding to cover items that are not able to be supported by the budget.
“I know my students would love doing this,” O’Malley said.
Snow Farm is a craft center that holds workshops for adults in a range of fine handcrafts, including glass blowing, clay, textiles, welding and wood turning. They also run a summer program for young people.
Anyone wishing to make a tax-deductible donation to the Gateway Education Foundation can send a check c/o 12 Littleville Rd., Huntington, MA 01050. On-line donations may be made with a credit card at the foundation’s website: http://gatewayeducationfoundation.yolasite.com/ .
