If you have an affinity for glassware and pottery, chances are you’ve heard of Simon Pearce. This prominent Irish-American designer creates gorgeous pieces for everyday use. He’s worked with notable glassmakers all over Europe and even opened a U.S. factory in Quechee, Vermont. Situated on the scenic Ottauquechee River, the Simon Pearce flagship store offers a restaurant, bar, and a demonstration facility. Here’s why attending a Simon Pearce glassblowing event should be on your vacation itinerary.
Learn more about Simon Pearce glassblowing when you download our free vacation guide. It’s full of recommendations for fun things to do during your stay at GetAway Vacations!
How to Enjoy a Simon Pearce Glassblowing Workshop
Visit the Store
The Simon Pearce glass factory offers frequent glassblowing demonstrations for guests. Visitors can watch from the sidelines as master blowers create vases, candlesticks, bowls, and more. The first step is to gather the glass out of a 2,000-degree furnace, then pass it through a wooden tool called a block. The blowers breathe life into the glass before setting it in a mold. Even more fascinating is that the entire operation is run by hydropower; a waterfall in the river provides power for the glass furnaces as well as electricity for the facility.
On April 1, 2017, the shop held a “Meet the Makers” event where visitors could watch potters throw vases from the charming Crystalline collection. Also included was a complimentary cheese tasting and handcrafted liquors from Caledonia Spirits. Be sure to check the Simon Pearce Facebook page for more information on upcoming events! The store is open Monday – Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Check Out the Restaurant & Bar
Did you know that The Mill at Simon Pearce was voted one of “America’s Most Romantic Restaurants” by Travel + Leisure? Dining at the Mill is the perfect way to experience Simon Pearce’s handmade glassware and pottery after watching it come to life at the workshop. This eatery serves up creative American cuisine for brunch, lunch, and dinner with a beautiful backdrop of the river’s waterfall and covered bridge. It’s a beloved go-to for special occasions and casual lunches alike.
Don’t forget to stop by the bar before or after your meal. You’ll find a great selection of local beer, wine, and cocktails as well as some delicious small plates. Cheers!
Book Your Stay in Vermont with GetAway Vacations
Less than an hour from Quechee is one of the most popular vacation destinations in Vermont: Killington. This beautiful mountain town is the perfect place to unwind, and our homes have everything you need for a memorable getaway. Book your stay at Mountain Green Resort and enjoy access to the slopes right across the street, or stay on the mountain in one of our Sunrise Village rentals. Each boasts a convenient location, luxurious amenities, and beautiful natural surroundings. View our properties page to see what’s available and contact us today to make your reservations. We can’t wait to hear about your Simon Pearce glassblowing experience!
Find out how you can enhance your trip to Vermont with one of our vacation packages.
Situated in a historic 1892 Queen Anne victorian mansion, the Chaffee Art Center in Rutland, Vermont is just as beautiful as the artwork within it. The building features machine cut marble blocks, gothic windows, and a three-story tower, and its gallery offers a variety of spectacular pieces made by local Rutland artists. Just a quick 15-minute drive from GetAway Vacations, guests can spend an afternoon exploring the gallery, taking art classes, attending events, and more! Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy the Chaffee Art Center.
Take a Trip to the Chaffee Art Center
1. Exhibits
The mission of the Chaffee Art Center is to nurture the relationship between the arts and the community through exhibition, education, and collaboration. Upcoming exhibits at the center include a juried artist showcase from August 6 through September 23, Politics: Political Cartoons and College Art from October 1 through November 6, Surface Design Associates from November 9 through December 9, the Celebratory All Member Winter Showcase from December 15 through January 28, and an Animal Kingdom Gingerbread Construction Contest from December 14-30, 2016. Be sure to check their website frequently for exhibit updates!
2. Classes & Programs
From figure drawing and landscape art to slate carving and writing courses, the Chaffee Art Center truly has something for everyone. Throughout the year, guests can enjoy a wide variety of classes, camps, and educational programs that will get your creative juices flowing! One of the most popular workshops is the Sip and Dip painting class, where you can bring a friend and your favorite bottle of wine and follow along with an instructor to complete your own painting. All materials are provided, including paint, canvas, brushes, and smocks, and the cost is just $30 per person.
3. Art in the Park
Each year in the summer and fall, the Chaffee Art Center hosts Art in the Park, an exciting fine art and craft festival for locals and visitors alike. Voted one of the best arts festivals in the country, this renowned event features specialty food vendors, live music, craft demonstrations, and kids activities, and all donations go towards the Chaffee Art Center’s exhibitions, art education classes, and community outreach programs. The 55th Annual Art in the Park Festivals will be held Saturday and Sunday, August 6 & 7 and October 8 & 9, 2016.
Book Your Stay with GetAway Vacations!
After a wonderful day at the Chaffee Art Center, feel free to enjoy a delicious meal at one of the many incredible Rutland restaurants, then come home to our gorgeous Killington vacation rentals and relax! Nestled in the heart of the Green Mountains, our homes feature outdoor fire pits, grills, private hot tubs, and other amenities that will make your getaway unforgettable. Plus, there are tons of other fun things to do in Rutland, VT, including visiting the Castleton Downtown Gallery and the Hildene family home, so you can plan an entire afternoon of adventures after you visit the art gallery. We can’t wait to see you in Vermont!
For more information on the best attractions in VT,
request a copy of our free Killington vacation guide.
Without thinking too much about it in specific terms, I was showing the America I knew and observed to others who might not have noticed. —Norman Rockwell
The Norman Rockwell Museum @2015. All Rights Reserved.
Born in New York City in 1894, Norman Rockwell always wanted to be an artist. He found success early and earned his first commission before his sixteenth birthday. By age 22, Rockwell painted his first cover for The Saturday Evening Post, the magazine considered by Rockwell to be the “greatest show window in America.” Over the next 50 years, a total of 321 Rockwell covers would appear on the cover of the Post.
His works appeal to a broad audience in the United States due to their reflection of American culture. Among the most famous of Rockwell’s works are the Willie Gillis series, Rosie the Riveter, Saying Grace and the Four Freedoms series. He is also well known for his relationship with the Boy Scouts of America, since he produced illustrations for their publications for over 64 years. In 2008, Rockwell was named the official state artist of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The Norman Rockwell Museum, established in 1976, possesses a nationally recognized collection of his art. The museum commemorates Norman Rockwell’s Vermont years and the entire span and diversity of his career (1911-1978). The museum chronologically displays more than 2,500 Norman Rockwell magazine covers, advertisements, paintings, facts, and other published works.
Visit the Norman Rockwell Museum to view the popular magazine covers, advertisements, and illustrations- they are the heart of their collection.
Magazine Covers
With his art on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post, Rockwell became an American idol. His art was one of the main reasons the Post became America’s magazine. Rockwell and the Post became fixtures in American homes during the early twentieth century. Some of his most famous covers include, The Golden Rule, Retro Toasters and many more. The Saturday Night Post covers, which most people are familiar with, only represent a fraction of Rockwell’s art.
Advertisements Designs Exhibition in the Norman Rockwell Museum
Like most Post cover artists, Rockwell painted a great deal of advertisements. Advertisements today show the work of some outstanding photographers, but it is difficult to imagine a photo as engaging as a Rockwell paintings. Some of his most renowned advertisements include, Allen A stocking, Mazda lamp and Interwoven Socks.
Illustrations
In addition to his cover work and advertisement images, Rockwell also completed various paintings throughout his career. He often used photographs as inspiration. His most well known paintings include The Problem We All Live With, Triple Self Portrait, and The Runaway, all of which can be seen when you visit the Norman Rockwell Museum.
The Norman Rockwell Museum beautifully displays Rockwell’s development as an illustrator and links his work to the political, economic, and cultural history of the United States. Make sure not to miss out on seeing this renowned, classic American artist’s work first hand and visit the Norman Rockwell Museum the next time you’re staying with us at GetAway Vacations.