The Miami River, that is.
The ISGB Gathering will be at the Hyatt Regency in Miami FL this year, right on the River and the Bay.
I’ve never been to Miami, so this is kind of exciting. I want to take whatever tour goes around to all the classic Art Deco and Mid-Century Modern architecture.
I’m excited on so many levels. Last year, I was the biggest wallflower of all. I did not feel like I had accomplished much as far as creative glass work. I felt awkward and unsociable. Although I did learn a lot, I don’t feel like I got nearly as much out of the experience as was available. Between the death of my dad late the previous year, and then having surgery and being laid up and not working at the torch — well, I just wasn’t in my skin properly at all.
Everything has shifted this year. I’m quite happy with my recent work, and with the work I’m putting into technique and creative expression. I feel better mentally and physically than I have for a long time. It will be a tight squeeze financially, but with the flight taken care of by Frequent Flyer miles, it’s much more do-able. Also, they feed us twice a day at the event!
Upon reading the contributing artists and the sessions they are giving, I’m almost jumping out of my skin! There’s someone doing a stringer demo using a hothead!! Hardly anyone addressed hothead issues last year, and it looks like I’ll be using one for the foreseeable future. So yay! Another demo is on encasing for 3D effects, for which I’ve wanted to learn better technique for a long time. Lots and lots of soft glass demos, as opposed to last year when about half were boro. So: YAAAAAY!
One free day in Miami: woo hoo! Gotta figure out what to do with my free time and not spend too much money. But I may have to do something underwater oriented, maybe snorkeling in the Keys? Well, we’ll see.
Oh, and: I had enough FF miles with American to do this trip first class. I’m pretty psyched about that as well, since the flight is sooooo looooong.
Another factor is vacation time. We probably aren’t going to Burning Man (in favor of a polar bear excursion to Churchill in November), so taking a couple of days off won’t be that big a deal.
So I’ll pack my summer dresses and bathing suit, and bon voyage July 23, returning July 27. Missing Of Montreal and King Tut at the de Young, but so it goes!
