Glass Axis Moves to New South Side Studio Space

 

Columbus, OH – November 21, 2022 – Glass Axis will move its glass studio from Franklinton to the South Side of Columbus during Summer 2023.

The move stems from a “potential redevelopment of their current studio at 610 W. Town St into mixed-use, mixed-income housing in the next couple of years”. Preliminary plans showed Glass Axis being a part of this new building space, taking up the street level space, but with overall decreased square footage. When the development team was presented with some of the unique building and space needs a glass studio would require, it quickly became apparent that Glass Axis could not afford to stay in a lease scenario in this new building space, even considering downsizing and working with less square footage. While they have enjoyed the support and participation in events associated with the Franklinton Arts District, the new move heralds a chance for Glass Axis to finally lay down permanent roots in a space. Since 1987, this will be the fourth move within Columbus city limits.

 

Like many arts organizations in Columbus, Glass Axis withstood the trials of the 2020 COVID pandemic. Through funding options available from local funding agencies and small business recovery programs, the organization is enjoying an unprecedented level of financial stability. Aggressive fundraising will still be required. Planning for a move like this, which will require numerous specialized considerations, is one that the Glass Axis staff feels ready to undertake.

 

Executive Director Melody Reed says of the move “While yes, this started out as a daunting scenario, we’re choosing to look at it as a unique opportunity to dig our roots deeper into the Columbus arts & cultural community, and secure all of the opportunities we offer to Columbus artists.”

This new studio space, located at 2117 S. High St., will share a building with Regalia Metal Products. Regalia president, Ken Gay, owns the building and will become the landlord to Glass Axis. This area of Columbus is enjoying its own renaissance, much to the dedication of small business owners in the area such as Ken. Larger projects serve as an anchor for the area like The Fort (Fortner Upholstery). New plans were just released for development of the area west of S. High St, east of I-71 and north of SR-104, that will add up to 1,000 residential units and various retail opportunities for the area. Glass Axis is excited to be a part of the new beginning for this area of Columbus and hopes to make it their forever home.

​

Founded in 1987, ten students and graduates of The Ohio State University Glass Program came together under the name Glass Axis. The group built a portable glass blowing studio and traveled all over Central Ohio teaching glass art. Five years later, the organization, established a permanent glassmaking studio in what is now Columbus’ Arena District. After stints in two different Grandview locations, Glass Axis made yet another move to a larger space in the East Franklinton area in 2014. This space serves as a comprehensive glass-making facility, encompassing molten glass, casting, fusing, neon, stained glass, cold working, and torch working.  The studio offers state-of-the-art facilities to more than 50 glass artists in all stages of development, hundreds of classes and public programs each year, exhibition and retail space, high school and college internship programs, and a work credit program to help foster and retain artists in the studio.

 

Glass Axis’ mission celebrates the art and science of glass. It embraces both a dedication to glass as a fine art that has been the group’s hallmark since 1987, and glass as scientific exploration of chemical and physical change, which helps demonstrate the important converging of art and STEM as learning components. All this serves the #1 organizational priority: Education. Glass Axis is a destination for vibrant possibilities. Open to all, it is the place people come for freedom to learn, experiment, grow, create and share. This organization encourages creativity, provides opportunities for artists of all ages, and fosters a sense of community for visitors, members, and artists.

For more information, contact Executive Director Melody Reed at (614) 291-0122 or email melody@glassaxis.org.