Trajectories

It is thought that the art of making glass beads as decorative objects began around 3500 BC. The ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians were among the first to discover the liquid magic of sand and fire that resulted in the formation of glass. In 12th century Venice, new developments in glass composition and technique were employed and glass blowing and bead making turned into such a profitable enterprise that its secrets were protected by the threat of death.

The contemporary art glass bead movement began in the late 20th century in Europe and America with a few individuals who were either fortunate enough to have access to materials and techniques through the realm of scientific glass blowing, or had taught themselves the art of glass working through research and experimentation.

In 1953, a small group of American glass beadmakers assembled in Prescott, Arizona, the original location of the Bead Museum, where a juried show of contemporary glass beads was on exhibit. They formed the SGB, or Society of Glass Beadmakers, an organization dedicated to promoting the art of glass beadmaking, mentoring new artists, educating the public on this mysterious and little known practice, and furthering its appreciation as a valid form of art.

The SGB has grown into an international organization with over 1,000 members and has been re-named the ISGB, or International Society of Glass Beadmakers to reflect its worldwide membership. In 2006, The Bead Museum celebrated its 20th anniversary and Gabrielle Liese’s passionate commitment to promoting the appreciation of the historical, cultural, and artistic significance of beads.

To mark this momentous occasion and to celebrate the special relationship between the two organizations, The Arizona Bead Museum and the ISGB proudly present the juried exhibition Trajectories.