Cohn-Stone Studios Hosts 2014 Glass Pumpkin Patch, Now thru 10/26

Marking the 25th year of its perennially popular annual glass pumpkin patch and sale, internationally acclaimed Cohn-Stone Studios has announced that the 2014 event will be its last, as the artists of the studios turn their attentions to special projects and commissions, ending a quarter century of pumpkin production. For two and a half decades collectors, decorators, nature lovers and others have flocked to the Bay Area's own Cohn-Stone Studios for its annual Glass Pumpkin Patch and Garden to be held this year for the final time all four weekends in October beginning today, October 3 and continuing October 4 and 5; 10, 11 and 12; 17, 18 and 19; and 24, 25 and 26-Fridays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thousands of new, one-of-a kind, handmade works of glass art will fill the award-winning garden and workshop of Richmond including unique glass pumpkins, gourds, squash, fruits, flowers and garden art all displayed in lush and mature California-style garden and working studios. The glass pumpkins and other stunning works of glass art are perfect for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and fall décor and the final 2014 event will be the last chance for the public to acquire glass pumpkins from the studio that started it all. Glass-blowing demonstrations will be given during the month (check website for schedule) and this fun fall event is suitable for all ages. For more information, visit www.cohnstone.com .

Michael Cohn, Molly Stone and their staff of artists are hard at work creating original pumpkins for the 2014 sale and once they and existing inventory are gone, the Studios will no longer produce the popular art glass pieces.

Cohn and StoneMolly, founders of Cohn-Stone Studios reflect on 25 years of glass pumpkins: "It was an extremely difficult decision to make this year our last producing pumpkins. We have cherished every moment of each year creating new pumpkins and most important, the relationships we have embarked upon and sustained with hundreds of collectors, glass enthusiasts and friends. We will dearly miss creating pumpkins but look forward to other exciting and challenging projects."

Art and Collecting on a Nature Walk

The winding garden paths and beds of the Cohn-Stone glass pumpkin patch feature thousands of one-of-a-kind glass pumpkins, squash, fruits, leaves, vases, flowers and other hand-made works of art from the 2013 and 2014 collections and a selection of coveted, one-of-a-kind prototypes and test models inspired by nature. Returning favorites include sparkling crisp red apples, plus glistening pears, peaches, tomatoes, strawberries and pomegranates; Wild botanically theme sculptures in the garden including giant glass sunflowers and mums for fall; acorns of all sizes and autumn leaves Attendees will have a chance to choose their family heirloom of the future to take home and cherish for generations.

The studio, workshop and lush garden of Cohn-Stone Studios will be open to the public in October celebrating original art glass creations for autumn. Cohn-Stone Studios in Richmond, CA, began making original glass pumpkins, squash, gourds and other nature-inspired art glass for décor and garden art in 1989, igniting an international trend in art glass. Cohn-Stone remain the originals and innovators in this trend.

The public will get a glimpse into the alchemy, magic and beauty of glassblowing with some of the country's most accomplished and acclaimed glass artists. Cohn-Stone Studios pioneered art glass pumpkins, which have been their signature line for two decades, and they were the first studio to design and produce them. With the Autumn season in mind, specially featured will be Michael Cohn's and Molly Stone's acclaimed line of exquisitely crafted glass pumpkins, from small 3"--available only at this Studio event-to large, life-size, museum quality pieces. The pumpkins will be displayed the Studios' beautiful garden, a lush green oasis tucked behind the studio in the unlikely heart of a Richmond industrial district. The artists will share the excitement of molten glass through demonstrations of the process of blowing the glass pumpkins. Shoppers can browse and pick their favorite pumpkin in the garden.

The pumpkins and other items produced by Cohn-Stone Studios are highly sought-after for their exotic forms ranging in size from a few inches in diameter to dramatic giants more than 15" across, and especially their colors and finishes. Pumpkins come in colors ranging from traditional orange to turquoise, reds, greens, bronze, pastel hues, dappled, multicolored and more. New colors and patterns will be introduced this year at the exclusive studio event. Exquisitely beautiful gold luster stems and leaves give each piece an individually unique artistic character. All are completely hand-crafted and finished, each one taking hours of passionate work to blow, shape, polish and finish.

Cohn-Stone's Acclaim Stretches Beyond the Bay Area

Art collectors, gardeners and nature enthusiasts love the impressive array of Cohn-Stone's nature-inspired glass art including pumpkins, gourds, leaves, flowers, fruits and other works of art at venues around the country. In the fall of 2008, Pennsylvania's world-famed Longwood Gardens, the former DuPont Estate, presented a large-scale exhibition of Cohn-Stone's art glass pumpkins and nature-inspired garden art to record-breaking attendance. "This was the most successful exhibition and education event I can remember at Longwood Gardens," said Karl Gercens, Longwood Gardens Conservatory Horticulturist and Fall Exhibitions Curator. "I could hear people literally gasp at the beauty of the installation when they entered-there was such an emotional reaction. We have all kinds of exhibitions, displays and education events here, but this was different-it was the first time that people were able to take a piece of Longwood home with them, and many came back multiple times to see the art glass in the garden again and again. It made our visitors look at Longwood in a whole new light." Cohn-Stone presented a spectacularly successful site-specific installation of unique glass creations at the famed Atlanta Botanical Gardens, which ran for nine months in 2010. In 2011, Cohn-Stone's work was featured in a major solo exhibition at the Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, OH.

About Cohn-Stone Studios

At Cohn-Stone Studios nature, inspiration, technical mastery and science come together at the hands of accomplished artists who create transcendent works of glass that inspire collectors, museums and galleries around the world.

Like the cycles of nature, works of art in glass emerge organically in the Studios from seasons of design, growth and production; from the seeds of an idea found in nature to mature pieces available in limited editions to the public. Cohn-Stone's award-winning and widely collected works are inspired by natural forms like leaves, fruit, flowers, birds, the human figure, shells, patterns and more.

A unique feature of Cohn-Stone Studios in the San Francisco Bay Area is a California art garden on-site, where inspiration flows to the minds of the artisans, and glass art finds its way back into the garden. The Studios and garden are opened twice a year by coveted invitation, sought by collectors and gardeners alike.

Since 1980, Michael Cohn and Molly Stone have shared a love of nature, process, materials and design as well as a commitment to creating artworks of the highest quality and innovation. Their Studio is one of the nation's foremost producers of award winning designer vases, decorative art pieces and one of a kind works of art. Their work has been exhibited throughout the U.S.A., Canada, Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, Japan and South America. Their works are included in numerous museum, corporate and private collections worldwide.

Cohn-Stone glass represents a profound exchange between nature and art and each piece is destined to become a cherished heirloom for generations.

The October 3/4/5, 10/11/12, 17/18/19 and 24/25/26 studio event is open to the public free of charge. The Studio will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and demonstrations will be given throughout the month (check website for schedule). For more information about the event and the studios, call Cohn-Stone Studios at (510) 234-9690 or visit www/cohnstone.com.

Photo Courtesy of Cohn Stone Studios