Art on Fire to benefit the Pittsburgh Glass Center was held at the Maverick in East Liberty on Friday night.
“We had to change the venue this year because of the pending construction on our building, which is part of our big expansion,” explained executive director Heather McElwee.
The glass art auction and strolling dinner had more than 400 guests admiring the live and silent auction items and planning their bids.
A glass blowing demonstration was set up outside with a tent that included a bar and plenty of hors d’oeuvres. Inside the lobby, the famous glass pumpkins were on display and ready for purchase.
“This is my first time chairing this event,” said Cass Zielinski, who co-chaired with Tom Byers. “This is a very important event for the center because it accounts for a very big majority of the funds needed for operation.”
Zielinski was the first student to take a workshop at the center 21 years ago. “After that I got addicted to the material and just haven’t stopped since,” he admitted.
The top items in the live auction were by guest artist Janusz Pozniak and local sculptor and poet Vanessa German. Rounding out the top three was a piece by Kathleen Mulcahy, who founded the glass center with her late husband, Ron Desmett.
Fired up and helping to raise $250,000 were: glass center founding board member Karen Johnese with Daniel, Kathe and Jim Patrinos, Pat and Alan Siger, Allegheny County executive Rich Fitzgerald, Richard Parsakian, Amy Morgan, Wendy and Peter Mars, Tricia Kassling, Susanne Wilkinson, Larry Leahy, Sara Innamorato, Kevin Marpoe, Minnhi England and John Sharvin, Ricardo Maiz and Debbie Mattioli with Karl Salatka.
First Published: September 21, 2022, 10:00 a.m.
