See Schack Art Center exhibits inspired by Pilchuck Glass School

EVERETT — You probably have seen artist Dick Weiss’ huge stained glass window installations at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Perhaps you know him because he graduated from Everett High School in 1964, or maybe he’s familiar because he taught at the Pilchuck Glass School in north Snohomish County and is a regular at the William Traver Gallery.

Now you have an opportunity to learn more about Weiss and some of his fellow glass artists at a new show that he curated for the Schack Art Center.

Don’t wait long, though, because the show — Painted Glass: A Northwest Perspective — is up only through Nov. 5.

For the Schack exhibit Weiss selected an accomplished group of Northwest artists and friends, including Susan Stinsmuehlen-Amend, Robert Carlson, KéKé Cribbs, John de Wit, Walter Lieberman, Paul Marioni, Richard Marquis, Robbie Miller, Charles Parriott, Ginny Ruffner, Cappy Thompson and David Walters.

Several artists with their work in Painted Glass also are featured in a complementary exhibit — Pilchuck Prints — in the Schack’s mezzanine gallery. This print exhibit, curated by Pilchuck Glass School artistic director Tina Aufiero, includes 21 prints created in the school’s print shop by high profile glass artists such as Thompson, Lieberman and Weiss.

After high school, Weiss went off to Yale University where he graduated with a degree in psychology.

“The degree was probably a mistake, but young people make choices that aren’t always the best. As a child, I was inspired by the stained glass windows in the children’s room at the Everett Public Library. But as a college student, I wasn’t brave enough to be an artist,” Weiss said. “So I came home and got a job working for the railroad. Meanwhile, I took a stained glass class, which turned into a hobby, a passion, an obsession and then a profession.”

Most artists plug away for a long time before they know if they are any good or not, he said.

Weiss got the courage he needed when he landed at the Pilchuck Glass School.

“We were a community, like birds in a nest,” he said. “Now I’ve been a part of these dedicated glass artists for 40 years. The show at the Schack is about this tight group of people who paint on glass.”

Some of the artists are newer to the scene, Weiss said, but “they all produce incredibly cool stuff and the show has a good representation from bunches of decades.”

“I am pleased with this exhibit,” Weiss said. “The Schack is a jewel.”

In addition, look for the Pilchuck Emerging Artists in Residence show, which includes work by Nina Casson McGarva, Carina Cheung, Ayako Fukumitsu, Matilda Kastel, Namdoo Kim and Cooper O’Brien.

Also new at the Schack is an emerging young artists gallery exhibit — Interpretations — featuring art by Denney Juvenile Justice Center and Cocoon House students of Henri Wilson.

If you go

Schack Art Center, 2921 Hoyt Ave, Everett; 425-259-5050; www.schack.org; open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday; admission is free.