Fenton Art Glass Collectors convention unites members from coast to coast
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There are 114 members of the Fenton Art Glass Collectors of America gathered this week for their 47th convention at the Marietta Shrine building, 249 Pennsylvania Ave., in Marietta.
Events started Tuesday and run through Thursday.
"There are members here who live five minutes away in Williamstown and ones from California, Arizona, Florida, Colorado, Massachusetts and Maine," said board member Claire Kauffung. "Most people have driven in. No one wants to risk breaking the glass they bought to take home."
Kauffung and her husband, Alan, came from the Cincinnati area, and although she has been collecting Fenton glassware for a long time, she is the happiest to see 40 new members who are participating in their first Fenton convention.
"That's astounding. We were all worried when the plant closed," she said. "But it's encouraging to me after collecting 28 years to see the interest and excitement are still there, and it's younger people who are getting involved."
There are some "members only" activities slated, but a number of others are open to the public, along with 30 display tables.
Today:
¯ 8:30-10 a.m.: George Fenton and Nancy Fenton, members of the longtime Williamstown family business and tourist attraction, along with Dr. James Measell and Dave Fetty.
Measell was a member of the Fenton staff and is an expert on glassmakers, she said.
Fetty is known as Fenton's Master Craftsman.
"He retired in 1998 but they called him back and he worked until the plant closed," Kauffung said. "And he's still making glass, now at Henderson Hall. And he's 86 years old!"
Fetty is also known as "King of Hearts" because of a certain style of glass he made.
¯ 10:15 a.m.: Glass identification seminar featuring the same four persons.
"It could be five pieces or 50 pieces that people bring in," Kauffung said. "You never know what the turnout will be."
¯ 12:45-2 p.m.: Roundtable discussion and questions and answers time with Fetty.
2-3 p.m.: Fenton Trivia.
¯ 3-4 p.m.: Seminar with glassmaker Frank Workman.
Thursday:
¯ 8:30-10 a.m.: Viewing of a 1976 video featuring Frank Fenton.
¯ 10:15-11:15 a.m.: Seminar on Fenton rarities given by Miriam Boyle, a board of directors member and well-known expert on Fenton glass.
¯ 12:45-2 p.m.: "An exciting announcement," Kauffung said, and that will conclude the Thursday activities that are open to the public.