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Photography courtesy of Third Degree Glass Factory
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Photography courtesy of Third Degree Glass Factory
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Photography courtesy of Third Degree Glass Factory
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Photography courtesy of Third Degree Glass Factory
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Photography courtesy of Third Degree Glass Factory
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Photography courtesy of Third Degree Glass Factory
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Photography courtesy of Third Degree Glass Factory
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Photography courtesy of Third Degree Glass Factory
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Photography courtesy of Third Degree Glass Factory
If you’re on the hunt for a unique gift that supports a local artist, visit Third Degree Glass Factory (5200 Delmar) this weekend for the second annual Holiday Pop-up & Seconds Sale. On Saturday from 10 a.m.–4 p.m., peruse glasswork and other crafts from 16 local artists.
The event started in 2020, when foot traffic to Third Degree had pretty much dried up during the height of the pandemic, so the sale was a way to support artists, explains gallery director Jen Fuller. “We have artists of all skill levels," says Fuller. "Some have been blowing glass for a long time, and some have not.”
Expect to see a wide variety of work for sale Saturday. Some artists are bringing work from the backlogs in their basements, and some are making new work for the sale. It’s a casual and approachable event—think art on tables, not displayed in fancy vitrines. “We don’t put expectations on our artists of what to bring," says Fuller. "It’s going to be a range of little things and big things. We have items that range in price from $25 to a couple thousand dollars.”
One of the biggest draws around this time: glass ornaments, often a great gift. Also expect to see jewelry and small sculptures. And if you’re a think-way-ahead type, glass pumpkins will be available for next fall.
Fuller says it’s entirely possible that there will be artists working in the studios that day, which is fascinating to watch. Besides traditional glass-blowing, artists might be making kiln-formed glass or doing flame work, and the staff is happy to show visitors around.
Third Degree is the only public-access glass-blowing studio in St. Louis. The artists rent studio time, and the gallery sells their work, with most of the sale price going to artists. Says Fuller, “It’s been a really nice, symbiotic relationship that we’ve been facilitating for almost 20 years."
