Hartwick Alumni, Artists, Launch Community Glass Studio

Alison Dodge ’05, assistant director of AccessAbility Services, wanted to bring her love of glassblowing a little closer to home.

“Opening a community glassblowing studio has always been a dream of mine,” she said. “The closest glass studio is Corning, but we wanted to give these artists someplace a lot closer to do what they love.”

Working with Erik Halvorson, resident artist, and donor Paula Friedman, Dodge opened Lotus Glass Studio in Milford in late August.

Alison Dodge '05, Erik Halvorson, resident artist, and donor Paula Friedman

Alison Dodge '05 working in the Lotus Glass Studio

Glass artist working in Lotus Glass Studio

“We wanted to create a place where artists could rent time, host workshops and sell their work.”

Alison Dodge '05

Assistant Director of AccessAbility Services

Dodge, who had majored in art, was working in marketing and communications at the College when she met Friedman, then 69, who was auditing Halverson’s glassblowing class.

“You always have a partner in glassblowing and Erik asked me to partner with Paula,” said Dodge. “We were both from Long Island, we both loved getting out in nature and we began getting together outside of class.”

Still close friends, Friedman and Dodge purchased the property in 2018 with the intention of setting up the studio in one of the property’s outbuildings. Halverson built all of the equipment and Dodge is in charge of marketing.

Their opening weekend in August brought back many friends, including Luke Richards ’22, Tim Irwin ’10 and Zach Hollinger ’12.

Chris Rochelle ’99, now a team leader at the Corning Museum of Glass, has also visited the studio.

Dodge sees Lotus Glass as a place to support Hartwick students and fellow glassblowing alums. “We can bring in alumni to do workshops,” she said.

“And we want to offer internships so students can learn the business side of being an artist, including marketing and running a studio.”

Alison Dodge '05

Assistant Director of AccessAbility Services

September 26, 2024

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