THE BRIGHT SIDE
The World’s Tallest Glass Tree is coming back to Yerkes Observatory.
This holiday season and this year it’ll be even taller. The tree, created by glass artist Jason Mack and producer Rob Elliott, will be 36 feet tall, eight feet taller than the world’s next tallest glass tree, in Murano, near Venice, Italy. Rob and his family live full-time in Williams Bay and are active members of the community. Jason’s studio is currently located in central Illinois but looking forward to moving here soon.
Organizers expect more than 20,000 people to come from around Wisconsin, Illinois, and beyond to help assemble the giant glass tree across two weekends in December. The glass, which comes from recycled glass bottles collected in bins in the surrounding area, is crushed and melted in a mobile glass furnace until it’s goopy like honey, at which point it is wrapped around a spinning tree-shaped steel structure. On Dec. 6 to 8 and 13 to 15, the World’s Tallest Glass Tree community-made art installation will be assembled by visitors and community members by placing the hot melted glass on the twirling tree frame.
Children and adults alike are invited to help put this magical piece of art together. On Dec. 15, a hand-blown five-foot glass star will be perched atop the tree during a ceremony. Once the season is over, Mack removes the glass from the frame and uses it to make 600-700 small commemorative glass trees. During the two weekends, there will be live glassblowing and woodworking demos, and steel sculpting, as well as a Winter Market selling handmade wares and art. There will also be holiday drinks and treats available. Admission is $5, but children aged 9 and under get in free.
Tickets include free parking at Williams Bay High School where a heated trolley ride will take you to Yerkes Observatory. A portion of proceeds from the event will go towards funding art and science education at Yerkes. Yerkes will hold tours inside in coordination with the festival schedule.
Place of the Week
Harbor Shores is ready for the holiday season and looks beautiful.
