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Celebrate Resilience: Annieglass

Join Annieglass’s 40th celebration at 1pm on July 29 at 310 Harvest Drive in Watsonville.

Annieglass: The Film

Picture this - a dream in glass, nurtured over four decades, now captured in a film that's as elegant and translucent as its subject matter. The film is called "Resilience: The Story of Annieglass", and it’s all about the mesmerizing journey of Annie Morhauser, the brilliant mind and steady hand behind Annieglass.

Born from the cinematic wizardry of Swan Dive Media, a video content studio hatched right here in Santa Cruz by the duo Joel Hersch and Michael Daniel, the film debuted on the Cabrillo College big screen last October. Why then? Well, because Annie Morhauser was being celebrated as the 2022 Artist of the Year by none other than the Santa Cruz County Arts Commission. No biggie? You of little faith.

Celebration

Now, here's where it gets interesting. Annieglass is not done celebrating. In fact, they're just getting started. They're throwing a public shindig to honor their 40-year journey, a journey that began in the Old Sash Mill back in 1983 and has now found its way to Watsonville in 2023. They're calling all glass enthusiasts, art lovers, and party-goers to come together on July 29 at 310 Harvest Dr in Watsonville. The magic starts at 1:00pm and keeps going until 4:00pm. So, don't forget to mark that calendar!

Picture more - an open house filled with entertainment, the delicious aroma of food, irresistible dancing, soul-stirring music, and fascinating demonstrations. And to top it off, free tours. Yeah, you heard it right, free tours. Come join the extraordinary Annieglass team, their beloved family, and a sea of friends, as they raise a glass (or two) to this monumental milestone. Trust me, you wouldn't want to miss this party for the world!

About Annieglass

So, you know how most of us fumbled through life in our twenties trying to figure out which pizza topping best defines us? Well, Annie was out there breathing life into molten glass and turning it into art. In 1983, armed with a freshly minted degree from the California College of the Arts, Annie dove headfirst into the universe of glassmaking. With creativity bursting at the seams and a burning passion in her heart, she founded Annieglass.

So what's Annieglass all about? Imagine the most exquisite, durable, and unique glassware you've ever seen. Now, add a sprinkle of 'made-in-California' charm, a generous dollop of handcrafting, and a whole lot of revolutionary glassmaking techniques. That's Annieglass for you. It's an alchemical wonderland where art meets utility and each piece is as much a functional glassware item as it is an expression of human ingenuity.

Here's where things get really interesting. Annie didn't just want to make beautiful glassware. She wanted to make beautiful glassware that would last, that could stand up to the rigors of daily use and still look spectacular. So, she developed her own unique process of glassmaking - called "slumping" - where sheets of flat glass are melted over molds in high-temperature kilns, producing pieces that are sturdy yet stunningly delicate to the naked eye.

Annie's passion, creativity, and innovation have earned her a spot in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and countless others. Her work has not only transformed tabletops across America, but has also shaped the way we think about glass art.

Annieglass is more than just a company - it's a testament to the human spirit, to the idea that if you pour your heart and soul into what you love, you can create something truly extraordinary. For the last four decades, that's exactly what Annie Morhauser has been doing. And folks, if that's not an inspiring story, I don't know what is. So, here's to the magic of turning sand into glass, and dreams into reality. Here's to Annieglass!