Upcoming Events at Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts
Check this page for the most up-to-date information concerning Foci MCGA’s glass events located in Minneapolis, MN! Upcoming parties, visiting artist talks, community meetups, exhibition receptions, and sales will all be featured and regularly updated.
Stained Glass Activity at the American Craft Fest 2026
Foci MCGA is thrilled to be a part of American Craft Fest St. Paul and will be offering a free, hands-on stained glass activity at our booth both days of the event!
Sheet Glass Showcase: Mosaic, Kiln, & Stained Glass Open House 2026
Learn about mosaic, kilnforming, and stained glass processes from local artists during this summer open house! Visitors are welcome to participate in a community glass mosaic project.
Glassblowing Demos & Shopping at the MN State Fair
Glassblowing demonstrations and locally made glass for sale at Foci MCGA’s booth at the Minnesota State Fair! Find us in the West End Market of the fairgrounds August 27, 2026 through Labor Day September 7, 2026!
Artist Talk: 2026 Bicycle Glass Scholarship Recipients
Join us at Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts on Tuesday September 29th, 2026 from 6:30pm-8:00pm for an artist talk featuring our 2026 Bicycle Glass Scholarship recipients including Evalin Becker, Leah Perrine, and Rachel Phoenix! Each artist will share their glass work with a brief presentation, followed by a Q&A.
About the Scholarship: The Regional Glass Artist Travel Scholarship Sponsored by Bicycle Glass supports glass artists in the Upper Midwest by providing financial assistance for professional development opportunities beyond their home region. The award is intended to foster artistic growth, skill-building, and meaningful exchange within the broader glass community, values shared by Bicycle Glass. Foci MCGA extends sincere thanks to our 2026 guest juror, Chad Holliday, for generously sharing his time, insight, and expertise in reviewing applications and selecting this year’s awardee.
Gratitude to Our Sponsors: This scholarship is made possible through the generous support of Bicycle Glass Co, and anonymous community members. Their commitment to investing in artists and strengthening the regional glass community plays a vital role in sustaining opportunities like this. Foci MCGA is deeply grateful for their continued advocacy and support of emerging and established glass artists alike. Congratulations to all of the awardees on receiving the 2026 Regional Glass Artist Travel Scholarship. We look forward to following their travels and sharing updates from their experiences!
2026 Scholarship Recipients:
Evalin Becker - Minneapolis, MN
Bio: Evalin is a second-generation stained glass artist and painter who focuses on restoration work and currently teaches leaded glass at the Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center. Growing up in her mother’s stained glass studio, she learned from her mother’s coworkers and later studied painting under her mother’s guidance, experiences that continue to inform her professional practice and teaching today.
Proposed Travel / Opportunity: She will attend John Reyntiens’s workshop at Pilchuck in July 2026, drawn to his integration of modern and traditional stained glass approaches. Through the workshop, she aims to expand her technical skills—particularly in sandblasting and hot casting—while building community and learning alongside other stained glass artisans.
Statement of Impact: She seeks to move beyond conventional expectations of traditional stained glass while remaining grounded in the historical knowledge gained through restoration work. By expanding her technical repertoire, she aims to push the boundaries of what stained glass can be within her own artistic practice.
Leah Perrine - Minneapolis, MN
Bio: Leah Perrine has developed her practice through a combination of art market experience, exhibitions, and formal training, including an upcoming show at St. Catherine’s University and coursework at Pilchuck Glass School. She currently works as a production glassblower at a glass lighting company in Minnesota, where she strengthens her technical skills daily. Her growth is grounded in both consistent hands-on practice and an expanding understanding of contemporary glass practices.
Proposed Travel / Opportunity: She will be attending Fabiano Zanchi’s class in Venice in May 2026, where she will learn Venetian glass techniques while collaboratively building a chandelier. The workshop aligns with her long-standing interest in integrating lighting into her glass practice and would further develop her technical and conceptual understanding of illuminated glass.
Statement of Impact: Through this class, she will learn the wiring process and construction of a three-armed Venetian chandelier, strengthening her technical control, precision, and heat management in complex glassblowing processes. These skills would support her goal of building a professional career in glass by refining craftsmanship and integrating traditional Venetian techniques into a personal, expressive style.
Rachel Phoenix - Minneapolis, MN
Bio: Rachel Phoenix is a glassbending neon artist whose work explores the interplay of matter and energy, including glass, neon gases, electricity, and flame. Since beginning her neon practice in 2022, she has participated in multiple courses and workshops, completed commissions, and exhibited in six curated or juried shows, while also integrating neon into experimental installations. Her broader artistic practice spans sculpture, mixed media, and time-based work, supported by grants and community engagement, reflecting a commitment to both technical skill and the ongoing reinvention of neon as an artistic medium.
Proposed Travel / Opportunity: She will attend a multi-day neon cursive lettering intensive in March/April 2026 at Lightwriters Neon in Chicago, taught by director Zoelle Nagib. This opportunity was chosen to gain specialized skills in neon lettering, which are not available in the Twin Cities or other nearby studios.
Statement of Impact: The lettering class will help her master essential neon bends and expand her skills with crossfire and cannonfire torches, complementing her prior experience with ribbonburner techniques. Developing lettering expertise will broaden both her creative and commercial opportunities, allowing her to integrate text into her abstract and sculptural neon work.
'Kilnforming in the Upper Midwest' Exhibition Reception
Explore our nonprofit studio’s newest glass exhibit, Kilnforming in the Upper Midwest at Foci MCGA! This juried exhibition celebrates contemporary kilnformed glass by artists living and working in Minnesota, Wisconsin, & Iowa!
Mother’s Day Glass Activities
Celebrate Mother’s Day with Foci MN Center for Glass Arts!
Doors Open Minneapolis
Our nonprofit, public access glass studio will be participating in Doors Open Minneapolis 2026!
Glass Community Potluck for Members, Students, & Local Glass Artists
Welcoming all Foci MCGA community members: glass artists, past and present studio members, and glass students. Come together and share a meal over glassy chats!
Art & Entrepreneurship: Artist Talk and Q & A with Hennepin Made Co-Founder Jackson Schwartz
Glass artist and Hennepin Made co-founder Jackson Schwartz shares lessons from 20 years in the field and strategies for building a creative livelihood.
Spring Into the Glass Studio: Open House 2026
Foci MCGA welcomes spring and its community into the studio, for renewal, creativity, and connection. Gather and enjoy a variety of demonstrations by local artists that explore all glass processes our studio has to offer!
MiNHi England Artist Talk & Exhibition Reception for ‘Streptomyces’
Join us at Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts for the reception and artist talk for our solo glass exhibition Streptomyces by MiNHi England. This reception is an opportunity to meet a professional glass artist and hear them speak first-hand about how and why they create their artwork. Light snacks and beverages will be provided.
The Grand Uffda: 2026 Annual Celebration & Auction
Join Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts for a night of art, culture, and giving back! Bid on unique pieces in our Glass Art Silent Auction made by local and national artists, see hot glass up close and celebrate the creative spirit with a glassblowing demonstration by Minhi England, accompanied by music and delicious food/drinks!
Valentine’s Day Glass Activities at Foci MCGA
Reserve your seats for exclusive Valentine’s Day glass art activities at Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts!
2026 Member Exhibition Reception
Come celebrate the first exhibition of the year! If you’re able, bring a dish to pass! For the first time since Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts’ moved to its new location in the the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis five years ago, we are hosting a Member Exhibition!
Grant Writing for Artists with Springboard for the Arts
Learn the essentials of grant writing along with resources for searching and structuring your grants during this free workshop for artists by Springboard for the Arts!
Design & Dazzle: Holiday Glass Marketplace 2025
Join us at the glass studio to holiday shop for locally-made art, enjoy free glassblowing demonstrations, or register to design your own custom glass ornament! Receive a free glassy gift with your gallery purchase of $30 or more!
Mobile Glassblowing Studio Community Discussion: Virtual Meeting
Welcoming community members to discuss our mobile glassblowing studio plans! Join us for a virtual meeting this winter as we put together our plans for the future of Foci MCGA’s Mobile Glassblowing Studio!
Glassblowing Demonstrations & Holiday Shopping for Small Business Saturday
Join us at the studio for free glassblowing demonstrations throughout the day and to get some holiday shopping done early - all while supporting local art and artists! Free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided.
Visiting Artist Talk & Glassblowing Demo with Zachary Layhew
Join Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts for an visiting artist lecture and glassblowing demonstration by Zachary Layhew!
Glassblowing Demonstration with Einar and Jamex de la Torre
Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts is excited to announce our upcoming glassblowing demonstration in collaboration with the Cafesjian Art Trust Museum featuring artists and brothers Einar and Jamex de la Torre! Tickets are required due to limited capacity.
Glass Pumpkin Patch 2025
Explore a spectacular array of handcrafted glass pumpkins, participate in seasonal glass art activities, or view free glassblowing demonstrations at Foci MCGA! Our handcrafted glass goods are perfect for early holiday shopping or treating yourself to something special.
Minnesota State Fair 2025
Glassblowing demonstrations and locally made glass for sale at Foci MCGA’s booth at the Minnesota State Fair! Find us in the West End Market of the fairgrounds August 21, 2025 - Labor Day September 1, 2025!
Stained Glass Conservation in Practice: Conservator Lecture by Ali Wysopal
Join us at Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts to learn about the field of stained glass conservation with local conservationist Ali Wysopal!
Stained Glass Activity at the American Craft Fest 2025
Foci MCGA is thrilled to be a part of American Craft Fest St. Paul — the summer’s best opportunity to discover handmade objects by up-and-coming makers from across the region. Foci MCGA will be offering a free, hands-on stained glass activity at our booth both days of the event.
Studio Open House & Glass Demonstrations
Join us at Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts for our Spring Open House on Saturday May 31, 2025 from 1pm-4pm! This event is a great chance to visit our nonprofit studio, view different glass art techniques in process by local artists, ask questions, and see what might be a good fit for you! Expect to see glassblowing, stained glass, kilnforming, flameworking, neon bending, and coldworking processes!
Glassblowing Demonstration & Stained Glass Activity for the Seward Commons Social
Free stained glass activity and glassblowing demonstration at Foci MCGA! Redesign Inc is hosting this neighborhood social to proivde the opportunity to meet your neighbors and join us at the Verna and Focus Arts Buildings.
Mother’s Day Glass Activities
Reserve your seats for hands-on Mother’s Day glass art activities at Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts! We will be offering stained glass, beadmaking, and glassblowing experiences.
Prior registration is required. Only available on 5/11/2025.
Exhibition Reception, Artist Talk, & Neon Demonstration with Visiting Artist James Akers
Join us in the Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts gallery for an exhibition reception and walk-through with the artist for Embracing Fallibility. This is an opportunity to meet a professional glass artist and hear them speak first-hand about how and why they create their artwork. Free and open to the public.
Glass Community Potluck 2025
Welcoming all glassworkers, past and present studio members, students, etc! Come together and share a meal over glassy chats! Optional activities for participants include a game of Magic Stick in the Hot Shop, a glass swap, and a table to place free used materials or supplies.
Reception & Gallery Walk-through for ‘Echoes: A Solo Exhibition by Lynn Bierbaum’
Join us in the Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts gallery for an exhibition reception and walk-through with the artist for Echoes: A Solo Exhibition by Lynn Bierbaum. This is an opportunity to meet a professional glass artist and hear them speak first-hand about how and why they create their artwork. Free and open to the public.
Valentine’s Day Activities at Foci MCGA
Reserve your seats for exclusive Valentine’s Day date night glass art activities at Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts!
