SPARC Throws Another Cool Party for The Holidays

South Pasadena Arts Council Scores A Hit with Popular Ornament Party at Bullseye Glass

PHOTO: dmLemattre | SouthPasadenan.com | Bianca Richards gets the holiday party rocking with raffle tickets

What with board members and volunteers from the worlds of music, art, theatre, film, photography and dance, it’s no wonder SPARC parties tend to have that spark of je ne sais quoi. Such was the case once again at their completely sold out Holiday Ornament Party held at the gorgeous studios of Bullseye Glass and Judson Studios.

PHOTO: dmLemattre | SouthPasadenan.com | Council members Bob Joe, Marian Khubesrian, SPARC CEO Howard Spector, City Manager Stefanie DeWolfe, Mayor Richard Schneider and SPARC founder Lissa Reynolds pictured in the Bullseye Glass showroom in South Pasadena

Said City Council Member, Marina Khubesrian, “I had heard how much fun it was last year, so I knew I didn’t dare miss it this year!” She was joined by fellow Council Member Bob Joe and Mayor Richard Schneider along with City Manager Stephanie De Wolfe and a hundred or so party goers. South Pasadenans mingled as they ate and drank to the cool, Christmas tunes of Taylor Plenn on the sax, afterwhich they were invited to the work studio to create two incredible and wholly unique, glass ornaments. Some guests were so into it  they spent an hour putting their works together. One could choose several shapes, sizes and colors of glass beads and “sticks” to artistically glue onto either a round or Christmas tree shaped ornament. It was indeed a creative and festive atmosphere.

PHOTO: dmLemattre | SouthPasadenan.com | Party goers hard at work on their ornaments

The second ornament consisted of different sizes and colors of mostly square pieces of glass that you would layer which, after “baking”, will result in a multicolored smooth, glass ornament. It’s an incredible process and everyone is waiting with anticipation to see how their creations turn out.

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PHOTO: dmLemattre | SouthPasadenan.com | Kelsey Peterson works on a glass ornament in the Bullseye Glass studio

Bullseye Glass Company is a manufacturer of colored glass for art and architecture based in Portland, Oregon with a Los Angeles studio here in South Pasadena. They have a strong commitment to research, education, and promotion of glass art and to that end offer classes and open studio times.

Bullseye Glass manager, Misuda Cohen, explained to the crowd “we have this showroom so that artists can come in to see, feel and touch the glass. Everything you see here is handcasted and formulated for kilnforming and our studio is where we conduct classes from intro level, as in never touched glass, all the way up to advanced workshops with masters in the kilnforming art form and techniques.” She went on to say, “we are happy to be here in South Pasadena and to contribute to arts in this community and to support SPARC.”

PHOTO: dmLemattre | SouthPasadenan.com | A Bullseye Glass artisan explains the process

On the heels of the resounding success of their box art party, SPARC founder, Lissa Reynolds, tells us, “the ornament party sold out in three days! It’s a thrilling time for SPARC right now and it’s wonderful to see South Pasadenans really embracing and engaging with the arts in our community.”

PHOTO: dmLemattre | SouthPasadenan.com | Bullseye Glass showroom manager Misuda Cohen enjoying the holiday revelry

Judson Studios, historic Highland Park creators of stain glass art who now operate next door to Bullseye, was also open for the party so people floated from ornament making to socializing in the glass showroom to seeing some of the giant, stained glass pieces that Judson artisans are working on including some of the pieces from the recent installation of an immense window at Church of the Resurrection in Kansas City.

PHOTO: dmLemattre | SouthPasadenan.com | Bricks of colored glass displayed in the Bullseye showroom

Once again, SPARC’s raffle items were sought after treasures that made the winners very happy campers! Going home with big ticket items were Cynthia Bennett, Gretchen Robinette, and the Anita Tang Family.

What an incredible holiday season it’s been, South Pasadena. Thank you SPARC for illuminating the arts in our community!