Art Department's Glass Pumpkins Blow Community Away
Towards the end of every year, the Santa Monica College Art Department raises funds by holding their annual Glass Pumpkin Sales and features beautiful handmade glass art from both students and staff.
Santa Monica College student, Alexis Daniels blows a big puff of air into the pipe to shape her glass bowl. Daniels has been taking glass sculpting classes at SMC for the last two years, and previously for ceramics. SMC Glass Sculpture classes can be found under Art 43 A and B. Oct. 13, 2022. Santa Monica, CA. (Ee Lin Tsen | The Corsair)
With less than three months until the new year, the festive season has rolled around and many are on the hunt for that special gift for loved ones. Several students, staff, and community members around Santa Monica College (SMC), have found beautiful handmade gifts amongst the annual Glass Pumpkin Sales held by the SMC Art Department.
The SMC Art Department has been holding its annual Glass Pumpkin Sales for more than 10 years. This year’s sales took place throughout October, in three different locations: Oct. 9, at Palisades-Malibu YMCA, Oct. 13, adjacent to the Core Performance Center at SMC, and Oct. 15, at the Virginia Avenue Park Fall Festival.
Terri Bromberg, SMC Glass Sculpture class instructor, was present at the Oct. 13 sale and shared how each pumpkin was special and one-of-a-kind.
“They’re all handmade, they’re all unique,” Bromberg said. “Each time one of the glass artists starts a pumpkin they decide what colors to add, what kind of patterns, how much glass to gather, and there are so many possible combinations that they are all unique pieces.”
30% of all sales collected will be donated towards the SMC Art Department and the remaining balance goes back to the artists. The artists consist of students and staff who spend their time, effort and money in making the pumpkins.
“We give a scholarship to one student to go to Pilchuck Glass School. We pay for guest speakers to come into the classroom and give demonstrations,” Bromberg said. The instructor added that the funds also support the art program in buying tools and glass for students.
With the SMC College Fair simultaneously ongoing at the main quad, the Art Department’s sparkling stall attracted all kinds of buzz, from both community members and outsiders.
Linn Wile, a resident living a stone's throw from campus, found out about the sale through a flier and made a short walk over to check it out.
“It’s beautiful, wish the sun was shining and it would be even prettier,” Wile expressed while browsing through the multicolored table of glass pumpkins.
SMC student Clover Levinson did some early Christmas shopping, and picked up a shiny pair of blue earrings for her grandmother. Levinson explained that it was the perfect fit for her artsy grandmother.
For SMC counselor Maria Martinez, coming to the Art Department’s Glass Pumpkin Sales is an annual tradition. Martinez has been buying glass pumpkins ever since her son was in kindergarten.
“I come every year to buy pumpkins for my son’s teachers,” Martinez said, revealing that they were gifts of appreciation. This year, Martinez’s son is in 7th grade and she plans on buying six pumpkins.
The SMC Art Department only offers glass-sculpting classes in the Fall and Spring semesters. They have had glass artists come from a variety of skill sets and ages, and some students are as young as 17, while others are in their sixties and seventies.
