On the edge of EMERGE 2012 – yes, slackers, your entries are due this week! – I can’t resist a trip back in time to the first iteration of this little competition / exhibition.
The exhibition was held at Bullseye’s original Pearl District Resource Center. It was also juried there once works had been received.
It was 2001.
It was called WG@BE that year (and the next). A coming together in real time and real place of an Internet community – hence the eventual “e-merge” moniker – for the purpose of exhibiting and reflecting upon works in kiln-glass made by users around the (at that time mostly US) world who until the event had largely only met via electronic bulletin board.
It seems a lifetime ago. And it seems like yesterday.
The RC staff installed the show. That year a majority of work was in the fused and slumped bowl format.
Jurors included Bullseye staffers (we put an end to THAT after the death threats. Kidding.)
Anything that wasn’t a bowl was scrutinized with TSA eyes.
Kidding aside, it was Oct 2001. We were all seeing the world in a new light.
WG@BE marked the start of some wonderful careers.
The opening reception saw a crowd from across the country descend on Portland.
Beribboned friends. What WERE they all for? (The ribbons, not the friends)
Els – unforgettable – with her splendid color and design sense.
It was – clearly – a good time.
It was a FUN evening where lasting friendships were made. Thanks for the walk down memory lane, Lani!! The 3 ribbons were because we were each finalists at that first WG@BE, attending HGH but I can’t remember what the third was for.