The long-awaited renovation and expansion of the Perry Glass Studio is finally here. Open since 2011, the 9,200-square-foot glass-making and artist studio is an anchor to the NEON District, providing a constant funnel of new and experienced artists into Norfolk’s art scene. The last few years brought significant renovations, including a 24,000-square-foot expansion, bringing the total capacity to 33,200 square feet. What began as an experiment to complement the Chrysler Museum’s world-class glass collection turned into a significant draw for Museum visitors. The popular glassblowing classes, combined with community partnerships, resulted in rapid growth.
As the Studio’s scope expanded over the years, bringing in hundreds of working artists through apprenticeships and workshops, the NEON District grew up alongside it. The creative energy brought in by new multidisciplinary artists fed the early years of the NEON as those artists spread into the neighborhood making neon public art pieces, took up residence at Glass Wheel Studio, volunteered their time to beautify public spaces and gave birth to the NEON Festival. There is no NEON District without the Perry Glass Studio.
Browse the NEON District’s public art collection for Perry Glass Studio-led projects:
- Keep Glowing, Kimberly McKinnis
- Labor of Love, Hannah Kirkpatrick
- Wild Alley, Hannah Kirkpatrick and The Governor’s School for the Arts
- Progression, Robin Rogers
- Neoning, Joan Biddle
- Cementiscope, Charlotte Potter, Hannah Kirkpatrick, Joan Biddle, Kristi Totoritis
- We Can Create What We Can Imagine, Julia Rogers
- Space Explorations, James Akers
