Intricate glass works by Southern Illinois University Carbondale May 2026 Master of Fine Arts graduate Nancy Yu (top) and third-year MFA student Julia Jenkins (bottom) were among several exhibitions by SIU glass program alumni and students at the recent international Glass Art Society conference. (Photos provided)
July 01, 2026
SIU Carbondale’s glass program’s strength is its ‘community mindset’
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Nancy Yu was attracted to Southern Illinois University Carbondale by the glass program’s strength and diversity.
A signal of the program’s continuing strength was clear in June as more than 35 current students and alumni attended the international Glass Art Society (GAS) conference at the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York.
Yu, who now lives in Sydney, Australia, said learning that Jiyong Lee, a professor in the School of Art and Design, was on campus, was important in her decision to come to SIU.
“I immediately wanted to go over to the U.S. and study under him,” said Yu, who earned her Master of Fine Arts degree in glass in May. “But it was also because of the strength and diversity of the SIU alumni that convinced me. I saw the younger generation of glass artists coming from the program or who were tied to it and I wanted to be a part of that.”
Yu has appeared the past two years in GAS exhibits. Last year, her “Crown of Glass: Yang Guifei” won first place in the “Evolution 2025: A Showcase of Emerging International Talent” exhibition. This year, Yu’s work in the “Connection: 2026” juried exhibition was part of her MFA thesis.
This year’s exhibition was “very strong,” Yu said.
“There were many intricate and challenging pieces from all different practices in glass as expected by the glass community. I am always amazed by the talent and diversity out there,” she said.
She said she was happy to see the SIU glass art community continuing active involvement in the GAS conference.
Julia Jenkins, a third-year MFA student from Washington, Illinois, was one of 19 students who were part of this year’s student exhibition, “Evolution 2026.”
Jenkins said she was thrilled to have her work on display.
“I have been experimenting with new ways of working with glass and insects and was overjoyed at the reaction it received from other glass artists,” she said.
Jenkins, who graduates in May 2027, considers herself a mixed media artist, with glass as her primary medium. She received her bachelor’s degree in glassblowing and graphic design from Illinois State University and, like Yu, said the opportunity to learn from Lee, whose strengths are precise coldworking and lamination, was important.
“I find the properties of glass very fascinating, and its potential even more so. Glass is one of the most temperamental yet versatile materials I have ever used, and that is what keeps me coming back to it,” Jenkins said. “Ultimately, the process of working with hot glass is what fuels my interest. There is always a new challenge that keeps me on my toes.”
Five SIU alumni also presented their creative works in the Glass Fashion Show, while other alumni participated in exhibitions, panel discussions and demonstrations.
‘Intense program’
Yu appreciated SIU’s program because of its intensity.
“I constantly felt like I was playing in hard mode the whole time,” said Yu, who lived in Carbondale while attending SIU. “Now that I'm back home and I have to start from base again, it doesn't feel as hard or daunting as one would expect. Jiyong really prepares you for the real world and I feel ready to open my own studio. I’m excited to share what I've learned and made with the art and glass scene in Australia.”
Jenkins said she was drawn to SIU because of the efforts put into the visiting artist and resident artist programs.
“Not only is it important to learn from multiple sources, but these programs help to create connections with other artists before going off into the workforce,” she said. “It provides pathways to possibilities and opens doors to future endeavors.”
“This program has not only pushed me to think more conceptually and given me the space to experiment and learn, but it also has provided me with practical knowledge of continuing to be an artist outside of the school setting,” Jenkins said. “Along with an understanding of fine arts, I am being pushed to apply for shows, grants, scholarships, and workshops outside of the school setting to further develop my skillsets. It is giving me experience as an art educator as well as a studio technician, which only helps aid future job possibilities.”
The strong SIU alumni and student involvement “says a lot about the quality and community we’ve built at SIU,” Lee said.
“While we may be a smaller program compared to some of the larger art schools with glass programs, we've had an incredible group of graduate students over the years who have gone on to do remarkable work,” Lee said.
Several factors for a strong program
This is the fifth SIU glass alumni reunion at the conference, and Lee makes a conscious effort to introduce current students with alumni. The intimacy of a small program is also a strength, he said.
“Students receive focused, individualized attention, and some of those close relationships don't end at graduation,” Lee said. “As an artist faculty, I've tried to stay active as a practicing artist myself, so I've been able to maintain genuine connections with alumni not just as a teacher, but as a fellow artist who's still out there making work.”
At this year’s GAS conference, for example, Lee presented technique demonstrations.
Building and maintaining that “community mindset” isn’t something extra the program does, “it’s central to who we are,” Lee said.
“When you have graduate students who are passionate, who continue their creative practices after leaving the program — and who feel connected to each other and to the program, it's natural that they start showing up together as a group at events like this,” Lee said. “I'm deeply thankful for that.”