Getting to know Glass Studio Manager Rachel Brace
This will be your fifth season at Ox-Bow. What keeps you coming back?
RB: Ox-Bow is such a special and unique place. It is truly one of the hidden corners of the world. Being surrounded by an artist community has been such a joy, where everyone can truly be themselves and take care of each other while we make art.
When did you start working with glass and what entrances you about that medium in particular?
RB": I started blowing glass when I was fifteen, but I have always been fascinated by the medium. Glass has a quality unlike any other, and behaves as though it is alive. Working with a material such as this is so rewarding, and there’s always more to learn.
Vases by Rachel Brace. Photo by Dominique Muñoz (Summer Fellow, 2024).
Beyond the studio, what are the most important parts of campus life for you?
RB: The setting of Ox-Bow has always been one of the major things I love about this place. Being surrounded by the beautiful nature of southwest Michigan is breathtaking, from the forest to the lake.
What do you hope this next year in the glass studio holds for you and the other artists that will step into it?
RB: I hope to continue to work with talented artists and continue to refine my own art. The community that has been cultivated here continues to thrive and welcome new ideas and artists.
Brace assists faculty member Victoria Ahmadizadeh Melendez in the studio. Photo by Dominique Muñoz (Summer Fellow, 2024).
This interview was conducted by Shanley Poole, Engagement Liaison & Storyteller in 2024. Banner image: Brace guides a student in the glass studio. Photo by Dominique Muñoz (Summer Fellow, 2024).