This past year has taken us through unimaginable loss, forced learning, grief, and revelation. Hilltop Artists has survived, but we have all been changed.
Yet when we were feeling the most challenged and afraid, we were just moments away from inspiration.
Maybe you felt that way too – if you were struggling, you could find solace in our social media posts featuring our Hilltop Artists Alumni Team at work. For us, we just had to check our feeds or stick our (masked) faces into the hot shops to find hope.
Your support ensures we can continue with our work.
This is the magic of a well loved community organization: 26 years later, in the midst of a worldwide emergency, we’ve grown programs and served not only middle and high school age students, but also our courageous alumni.
We want to share hope and inspiration with you through the experiences of three Hilltop alums: Lynx, Zach, and Luis.
We chose these three artists not only because they’re incredible, but also because they have each been selected to receive a scholarship this summer from Crafting the Future, an artist-led organization that works to provide equitable opportunities in the arts.
Hilltop Artists is a proud partner of Crafting the Future and can’t wait for our artists to enjoy new experiences thanks to this opportunity.
MEET LYNX
Lynx joined Hilltop Artists’ summer program at 12 years old and continued in After School, and at Silas (formerly Wilson) High School. Lynx was drawn to flameworking.
Tony, our After School Program Manager at Silas, encouraged Lynx’s passion by teaching them beadmaking and sculpting. Jason, our Hot Shop Manager at Jason Lee, supported Lynx as they took on ambitious fusing projects.
With years of practice at Hilltop Artists, Lynx’s skills are prodigious. They are known for making delicate little Christmas trees, whimsical miniature sculptures, fun pendants, and cute earrings. They continue to grow their repertoire and have a great sense of humor about their work.
“There’s always something to learn, you’re never done learning when it comes to pretty much anything. I try to get the hang of it, push it forward a little farther, see where I can take it, if it doesn’t go one direction, I take it another direction.
“If I keep an attitude like that, I won’t ever be bored or feel stagnant. If you appreciate what you’ve learned, but see how you can further it, you always have something to work on.”
In reference to continuing with Hilltop Artists they said, “I love the growing opportunity. The alumni team is a job, but not a job [it’s an apprenticeship]. It’s not like if I mess up I get fired; it’s a craft and there’s always room for learning and to hone skills. It’s a group of people with all different levels of experience who can all help each other.”
Lynx will be taking a torch class at Penland School of Craft in North Carolina with their Crafting the Future scholarship. Lynx hopes to hone-in detailing skills in order to create innovative miniature sculptures. It’s an opportunity to find and develop their own niche.
“I’m looking forward to being around other glass artists from around the country. Right now I get the perspectives of artists that I have grown up with, I’ve known them forever, I know how they work, so although I still learn new things, this will be really different, being thrown in with a bunch of brand new faces and meeting artists with skills that are different than mine. It will be a serious sponge moment.”
MEET ZACH
Zach became a Hilltop Artist in the summer before 8th grade, Greg was his first instructor. He remembers being captivated by simply how hot the glass was, it was like nothing he’d ever experienced.
“At first, it really is just about breaking your mom’s rule of never playing with fire, and having this really unique opportunity”. He was really excited to just get in there and see what he could do. “And if you stick with it, you will see how much it impacts you”.
Zach graduated from high school in 2020 and has been virtually attending Western Washington University, where he’s studying manufacturing engineering. Zach has also been creating with a laser cutter and a 3D printer; he’s been brainstorming ways to integrate the different mediums, wanting to bring his art and engineering together.
Zach considers all the Hilltop instructors to be his mentors and Tony has been a particular inspiration. “Tony will hold your hand for a little bit, and then he lets you go, encouraging you to go for it. It’s like jumping into the deep end, but because Tony believes in you, it helps build your confidence.”
Hilltop Artists helped Zach develop patience, communication skills, and teamwork. He also enjoys mentoring, which he started doing as early as 9th grade. Together, alums Zach, Mishawn, and Jasper taught hands-on workshops at the Museum of Glass, and many folks – from children to grandparents – returned to work with them again and again.
“Hilltop Artists has a deep impact on everyone who goes through the program. Supporters make something as simple as buying a color that a kid likes happen, and then that brings the kid in. Even if they’re having a bad day, they get to go home with a piece that has their favorite color in it. And that brings them back the next day, bringing them further into the program, guiding them and helping them through school and through problems. At Hilltop, there’s an outlet to talk to people and build connections. It helps a lot.”
Zach will also be going to Penland School of Craft in North Carolina this summer, thanks to a scholarship from Crafting the Future.
MEET LUIS
Luis became a Hilltop Artist in 8th grade and learned flameworking from Greg and glassblowing from Jason. He always loved making art and glass soon became his main creative outlet.
After years on Team Production, Luis became an instructor. “I like joking around with my colleagues and collaborating… [someday] I’d like to open my own studio where I can teach adult classes in flameworking.”
Luis loves the meticulous and detail-oriented nature of flameworking and finds the process very rewarding. In that meditative zone of concentration and calm, once Luis starts, he can’t stop until he completes his project.
When Luis teaches, he tries to make sure his students have as much information up front as possible in order to keep them safe, and to help them create a perfect bead. He’ll then keep an eye on their process and step in to guide them if they’re missing something.
He loves to see how his students react after they complete their first project: some get so excited that they can’t wait to make another, and others are terrified and exhausted once they’ve reached the end. For those who are scared, Luis works with them to rebuild their confidence so they can try again. Luis has expanded his teaching skills by working with other young people at his church, and he has been teaching them to make beads too.
“Hilltop Artists is a safe place where kids can come and blow glass, relax, make friends and talk with teachers. If they want to make art they can, if not, they can find other ways to get involved and help out.
“If a student doesn’t feel safe at home or just doesn’t want to be at home, this is a fun place for them to hang out with friends and to do something that they can’t do anywhere else.
“Lots of kids stay with us as long as they can. Some come in early and stay late during the day, and some, like me, try to stay connected with Hilltop for as many years as they can.”
This summer Luis will be attending the Educator’s Retreat at the Touchstone Center for Crafts in Pennsylvania, thanks to a scholarship from Crafting the Future.
While we show appreciation and draw inspiration from these Alumni stories, we must also remember that the work is ongoing.
While we were able to connect with and serve many young artists over this last year, just as many of our students struggled with basic needs (housing, food, healthcare, and transportation), and we have also struggled to maintain connections with many who were cut off from the lifeline of in-person learning.
We anticipate yet another unprecedented year in 2022: we must recognize the systemic inequalities that threaten the safety and well being of the youth in our community and come together to support them and heal.
Donate today and help us reach our Spring goal of $50,000.
Thanks to you and the support of everyone who invests in Hilltop Artists, we have the privilege of teaching and learning from Hilltop alums like Lynx, Zach, and Luis.
Please give generously so we can continue to uplift our current artists, as well as the hundreds we will welcome this Fall. Help us to continue growing, caring, and learning together.
