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Farley brings a woman's touch to glassblowing

FALLBROOK — Although Susan Farley is an accomplished glassblower whose work has been exhibited at galleries and art festivals across the country, it took her more than 20 years to fully begin practicing the medium that most defines her art. As a woman it proved to be very challenging to break into glassblowing.

“The first time I ever saw glass being blown was around 1974,” said Farley, who grew up in the San Fernando Valley and now lives in Fallbrook. “I was absolutely fascinated by it, but at the time there weren’t a lot of women working with glass, and no movement to speak of, so it wasn’t the most accessible medium. You had to apprentice at a studio abroad in order to learn how to do it.”

Farley, one of 38 new artists at the Winter Fantasy at the Sawdust Art Festival in Laguna Beach, has been an artist for as long as she can remember. Before glassblowing she embraced pottery, carving out a successful career in both that medium and commercial art design before moving to San Diego in the early 1990s.

At the Winter Fantasy, Farley will be exhibiting her own work, including her jewelry, which uses her handmade glass beads, and her Catalina Line, an aquatic series of starfish, jellyfish-adorned vases and other sea-themed pieces.

“I am really excited about being in the show because even though this is my first year I’ve wanted to do it for quite a while,” she said.

The 16th annual Winter Fantasy at the Sawdust Art Festival will run November 24-26 and December 2-3 and 9-10. Also offered is a real snow play field, holiday entertainment, three outdoor cafés, artist demonstrations, art activities for children and adults and daily visits with Santa. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For additional information, call (949) 494-3030 or visit http://www.sawdustartfestival.org.

 

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