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GSA 2017 ANNUAL MEETING & EXPOSITION

Guest Program

Penrose Guest Hospitality Suite “glass art” is Dale Chihuly. And with good reason; the history of
Washington State Convention Center Northwest glass has Chihuly’s name woven throughout, from its
Hours: Sun.–Wed., 22–25 Oct., 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m. earliest beginnings. Glassblowing is built on mentorship, team-
work, and a wildly experimental spirit. Students come from
We warmly welcome all members of the GSA community to around the world to train here and have a life-changing experi-
Seattle! As part of that welcome, we offer registered guests and ence, so they stick around. As a result, it has built an incredible
Penrose Circle invitees a comfortable Hospitality Suite for rest community. Studios and artist have flourished. By the early
and relaxation while technical sessions are going on. As a regis- 1990s, the Pacific Northwest had become so well known as a
tered guest, you are welcome to attend your companion’s technical glass haven that talk of a glass museum began. In 2002, the
session(s), and you will also have admittance to the Exhibit Hall. Tacoma Museum of Glass opened its doors and in 2012 the
Activities in the suite include complimentary refreshments, enter- Chihuly Garden and Glass museum opened. This one-of-a-kind
taining and educational seminars, and local experts ready to space houses the most comprehensive presentation of Chihuly’s
answer your questions about Seattle. Local tours and activities artwork on public view. Learn about the history of glassblowing
will also be offered for an additional fee. We hope that you take in Seattle, this amazing community.
advantage of the tours to learn about the area from one of the
knowledgeable tour guides.

Seminars

Understanding Social Media
Sun., 22 Oct., 10 a.m., Penrose Guest Hospitality Suite

Learn the ins and outs of social media, from Facebook, Twitter,
and Instagram to hashtags. Guests will gain an understanding of
what these sites are about and how to best utilize them. For par-
ents, this seminar will provide insight to the connected world of
kids and teens, which can be challenging because many adults
don’t communicate online in the same way and are not necessarily
using the same social media. The goal is to help parents better
understand how their kids are using social networking and to pro-
vide them with tips and tools they can use to help them minimize
negative experiences and maximize the positive opportunities that
social media has to offer.

Washington’s Wine Industry Glass art by Dale Chihuly at an extensive exhibition at Kew Gardens, London, in
Mon., 23 Oct., 10 a.m., Penrose Guest Hospitality Suite 2005. Public domain Wikipedia Commons.

Washington State is the nation’s second largest wine producer and
is ranked among the world’s top wine regions. Nestled in the
Sammamish River Valley, Woodinville is a small community that
has become a haven for fine winemakers, with the perfect climate
for wine, ideal growing conditions, quality wines. In recent years,
Washington’s wine industry has become the fastest-growing agricul-
tural sector in the state. The number of Washington wineries has
increased 400% in the last decade, attracting millions of visitors to
Washington wine country every year and creating a multi-million-
dollar wine-tourism industry. In the meantime, California is pulling
out vineyards. A decade from now, there could be an interesting shift
in West Coast wine powers. Currently, one out of every four bottles
of wine sold in Washington is made in Washington. The other three
come from California, Europe, and the Southern Hemisphere. Will
Washington become the next Napa Valley?

Seattle Glassblowing
Tues., 24 Oct., 10 a.m., Penrose Guest Hospitality Suite

Seattle is known as the epicenter of American glass art. The
first thing most Seattleites think about upon hearing the words

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