Tandem Glass, a glass-blowing studio in Dresden, will host an open house on two days this month, with a percentage of sales going to the Maine Crafts Association.
Husband and wife Charlie Jenkins and Terrill Waldman opened Tandem Glass in 2007. This will be their eighth open house.
“It’s not just about shopping or consuming, it gets to be about much more,” Waldman said.
“We end up introducing people who have lived in Dresden their entire lives to each other,” she said.
The Maine Crafts Association, the beneficiary of the business’s fundraising, supports craft artists by providing educational, marketing, and retail opportunities.
The association “has some really incredible programs and they work hard with their membership base, so I can really see those dollars that we raise going far,” Waldman said.
In the past, Tandem Glass has raised funds for the Good Shepherd Food Bank and the Maine Crafts Association. This year, they wanted to dedicate the funds solely to the arts.
One of the draws to the open house is seeing the artists at work.
In the couple’s Dresden studio, they become mesmerizing to watch as they work together instinctively, in choreographed movements, to finish every piece.
“What we do is completely choreographed and dance-like,” Jenkins said. “A lot of it comes from the practice of staying out of the way while one person is making something.”
This year’s open houses will take place from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7 and Saturday, Dec. 14 at 6 Eagle Lodge Lane, off Middle Road.
The events will feature eight artists from a wide variety of mediums, as well as live music. Different artists will be featured at each open house.
The Dec. 7 event will include Karina K. Steele, wood; Allison McKeen Art, prints; Hannah Niswonger, ceramics; Chicken Scratch Jewelry; Laura Currier, knits; Jon Ho, ceramics and prints; Julie Havener, jewelry; and Copper Tail Farm, with goat cheese, soap, fudge, and caramels.
The Dec. 14 event will include Jamie Wing, prints; Jody Johnstone, wood-fired ceramics; Bloom Studio, jewelry and prints; Yikes Studio Enamels, enamel jewelry; Purplebean Bindery, book binding; Dennis Curtis, wood turning; The Potter’s House, ceramics; and Kathleen Peralka, pastel paintings.
“We have such an incredible array of (artists) this year. It makes me so happy that we have people of such a skill set that are willing to travel out to us, spend the day, and take part in this event. It’s really an honor,” Waldman said.
On both days, 10% of all Tandem Glass sales will go to the Maine Crafts Association.
Two local breweries, Sasanoa Brewing Co., of Westport Island, and Side by Each Brewing Co., of Auburn, will sponsor the open houses and donate beer for the cause.
The events are free. Visitors can purchase a cup by Tandem Glass to enjoy the guest brewers. Food will be available and guests are welcome to bring food to share.
Waldman and Jenkins welcome anyone who cannot attend the open house to call the studio at 737-2781 and arrange another time to watch them create glassware.
