October 18, 2010
Great Glass Pumpkin Patch sale is Oct. 23
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The 5th Annual Great Glass Pumpkin Patch, presented by students in the glass program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, takes over the Carbondale Town Square on Saturday, Oct. 23.
The sale starts at 10 a.m., and the students who made the pumpkins say they’ll stay until they’ve sold out. Prices range from about $10 to about $100 or more.
The glass pumpkin patch is similar to a regular pumpkin patch, with the obvious exception that these pumpkins won’t stand up to a lot of thumping. They do, however, have the advantage on longevity.
The sale is a major fundraiser for students in the glass program. Proceeds help buy materials and bring visiting artists to campus. Students in the program begin working on the pumpkins months in advance in order to have enough for the sale.
Fans of art glass can see more examples from the SIUC School of Art and Design glass program at the University Museum, where a current exhibit highlights the 40th anniversary of the program.