Walk into the Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network (BARN) and you’ll find artists manipulating molten glass into delicate forms, weaving baskets using techniques passed down for generations, and crafting elegant metal and wood structures. This is where creativity comes alive every day.
Two significant events this fall and spring will showcase the creativity and community found throughout the region. In October, BARN’s Glass Arts Studio will participate in “Refract: The Seattle Glass Experience,” the Pacific Northwest’s largest glass art festival. Next spring, BARN will host Handwork Week 2026, bringing renowned artists from across America to our region for intensive workshops.
Regional glass excellence takes center stage
Torchwork demonstration in BARN’s Glass Arts Studio. Courtesy BARN
On Thursday, Oct. 17 to Saturday, Oct. 19, visit BARN’s Great Room to view “Reflections of the Pacific Northwest,” an exhibition of glass art made by BARN members and local artisans. On Oct. 19, Refract Demo Day, visitors can watch BARN glass artists create glass pieces through live demonstrations and participate in hands-on activities celebrating the beauty and diversity of glass. Refract at BARN is free, but registration is recommended for Oct. 19 activities.
“There’s something magical that happens when glass artisans come together in a space like BARN,” says Cynthia Jacobs, who leads the Glass Arts Studio. “In our studio, you might see someone making fused glass art right next to someone creating stained glass windows or working with torchwork techniques. Those conversations spark new ideas for everyone.”
The Pacific Northwest has earned recognition as America’s glass art capital. The region is home to many of the country’s most skilled glass artists, making it a significant cultural center for this art form.
Now in its seventh year, Refract has grown into a multi-city festival spanning over 60 events across Seattle and neighboring cities.
Glass vessels by BARN member and instructor Constance Ducar. Courtesy BARN
A national celebration of craft
Handwork 2026 instructors.
The Glass Arts Studio is one of 11 studio disciplines at BARN, many of which will join in “Handwork Week” – 10 intensive workshops with some of America’s most accomplished craftspeople from April 26 to May 1, 2026.
This workshop series is part of Handwork 2026, a national celebration of American craft during the country’s semiquincentennial year. BARN will be one of about 100 organizations across the United States to participate in this prestigious initiative led by PBS’s Craft in America and the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery.
BARN’s workshop lineup features distinguished artists from across the country, including Suquamish elder Randi Purser, Texas visual artist Alisa Banks, Montana glass artist Richard Parrish, New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Evison and others. The roster celebrates the voices and traditions defining American creativity, from indigenous techniques to contemporary innovation.
Registration for Handwork Week opens Oct. 3 at bainbridgebarn.org/handwork2026.
Building community through craft
BARN’s Commons bustles during the annual Holiday Bazaar, which showcases work by BARN members. Courtesy BARN
BARN’s strength lies in its impressive 25,000-square-foot facility and the community it has built. Since opening its permanent home in 2017, BARN has grown to serve over 1,400 members across 11 different studios, including Culinary Arts, Drawing and Painting, Fiber Arts, Glass Arts, Jewelry and Fine Metals, Media Arts, Metal Fabrication, Print and Book Arts, Tech Lab, Woodworking and Small Boatbuilding, and Writers’ Studio.
BARN aims to grow and inspire a creative community through craft, learning, and service.
“Craft has this remarkable power to bring people together,” says Grae Drake, BARN’s Executive Director. “When you put this many talented and diverse artists in one place, something extraordinary happens.”
The organization’s philosophy emphasizes accessibility: Everyone is welcome. Classes are open to anyone high school age and up. BARN offers financial aid to ensure that economic barriers don’t prevent participation, with reduced fees available for military and tribal members, students, teachers, and seniors. Programs welcome complete beginners and experienced artists, creating an environment where people of all backgrounds and skill levels work shoulder-to-shoulder in a supportive, energetic atmosphere.
This inclusive approach becomes particularly powerful during events like Handwork Week, where participants don’t just learn techniques—they become part of a larger conversation about creativity, heritage, and innovation in American craft.
Discover BARN classes and activities at bainbridgebarn.org.
