The winners have been announced! Thank you to everyone who participated, and to the judges who had the difficult job of selecting the winners. See you all for the next one in 2027!
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1st Place "We Do It" Rebecca Orella |
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2nd Place "Glass Warrior" Heather Burgess |
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3rd Place "Daughter of the Tempest" Sue Lawrence-Reeder |
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Honorable Mention "Reflections on Breaking the Glass Ceiling" Carmen Crofoot |
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The Amazing Glass Challenge will return in 2027. Stay tuned!
What is The Amazing Glass Challenge?
The Amazing Glass Challenge is a contest we host every other year. This contest centers around a particular item, concept, or theme that must be incorporated into the project.
It was started by Lucie Boucher, then owner of Stone Ridge Glass, with the Gray Glass Challenge. That year, entrants had to use gray transparent glass in their piece.
This year, we've chosen a theme that gives the artist multiple pathways to explore with their glass art. You interpret it how you choose:
Woman — Always the Warrior
2025 Judges:
Hope Lord - Secondary Art Teacher, 2021 Maine Middle-Level Art Teacher of the Year
Serena Sanborn - Education & Outreach, Waterville Creates
Sonja Frazer - Curator of Visual Arts, Maine Arts Academy
Details for Entering:
-Due Date is Saturday, November 1, 2025 by 5pm. Entries can be brought directly to Stained Glass Express any time before then and will be stored safely in our warehouse until being put on display on Monday, November 3.
-Entrants get an invitation for themselves and guests to attend the Champagne Reception on Saturday, November 15, at 4:00pm, where winners will be announced. (See details below about a special display in our Gallery during November!)
-Three prizes in all will be awarded based on numerical scores from the judges. Prizes will be winner's choice of Youghiogheny glass (fusible or non, in increments of 1/2 sq ft) as follows:
1st Place: 3 sq ft
2nd Place: 2 sq ft
3rd Place: 1 sq ft
Specific Rules:
1. Open to all avenues of glass art; copper foil, lead, mosaic, fusing, flameworking, blowing, cold-working. Interpret the theme as you understand it to create a piece of glass art.
2. Panels or hangings must be ready to hang. We quickly run out of room to lean things, so it is very helpful to us when projects have hangers (we can use our own chain if need be).
3. Multi-dimensional art must be able to be displayed on a table or be ready for hanging.
4. Lamps must be wired and ready for hanging or on a base provided by you.
5. Any entries that need to be hung MUST be under 40 lbs. Please talk to us about non-hanging entries that are over 40 lbs. so we are sure we can display them safely.
6. All entries will remain on display at Stained Glass Express until the end of November.
7. Entries should be titled, and pieces will be displayed only with their title and your name-no explanatory placards or signs.
8. Judging is done privately by a panel of judges chosen by Stained Glass Express. Judges are provided a scoring rubric and will evaluate each entry based on four criteria:
- Level of difficulty attempted
- Execution of techniques
- Use of challenge theme
- Overall aesthetic effect
Sacred Ascension
Because of Lucie Boucher's connection with the Amazing Glass Challenge, and because our theme was chosen in part inspired by a recent art show she was a part of, we are thrilled to have her work on display in our Gallery this November.
Desiree DuBois and Dr. Lucie Boucher created the sculpture Sacred Ascension to honor the 10 Baha'i women(warriors) who were executed in Iran on June 18, 1983, for their refusal to renounce their faith. More information about these women is available Here. Lucie will be at the reception and a short presentation about the sculpture will precede the contest announcements. #OurStoryIsOne
