Deb Parsons, local artist and owner of Parsons Hot Glass Studio, was named the Lycoming County Historical Society ‘Volunteer of the Year’ at the 2024 annual meeting. Her association with the Museum spans several decades. Her most recent volunteerism brings the popular Ornament Sale to mind. She not only suggested but implemented our Sale, modeled after a similar initiative held in State College. Through her efforts, artists in 2018 and every year since were encouraged to create unique ornaments for our patrons’ Christmas trees or households. When she herself was the featured artist, a Christmas tree filled with whimsical elephants in Santa hats was an immediate sell-out, In each subsequent year, her popular ornaments have included glistening icicles, candy canes and jewelry which are immediately snatched up by eager buyers. She continues to organize this yearly event, which includes contacting and working with other local artists.
Deb has participated in the June Baskin Student Art Camp, often held at the Taber Museum. She has also served as a Guest Speaker during our Lecture Series. Deb’s husband Art is a willing participant in all that she does and has been instrumental in designing the set-up of the Ornament Sale.
Deb has been working with glass for four decades. Her passion for glassmaking began with Stained Glass, which eventually led to Fused and Cast glass. Having experimented with kiln formed glass, she wanted to expand her horizons as a hot glass artist. In 1991 a glassblowing studio in Corning, New York offered classes and her dream became a reality. For the next four years, Deb traveled to Corning immersing herself in sculptural blown glass, which gave birth to Lampworked glass in 1995. Parsons Hot Glass Studio offers glassmaking classes for ages ten to one hundred! Throughout her career, Deb has taught glassmaking at the Studio of the Corning Museum of Glass, public school residencies, off premise group presentations, art camps and art shows.