Article and photos by Mary Ellen Graybill

On November 25, at their second Fourth Friday extravaganza at 452 Locust Street, a new art cultural center attracted over 50 creative people from Manheim to Marietta to enjoy a gathering of kindred spirits, warmed by the possibilities of a new art venue in Columbia.

Homage to Picasso,” David Gringle, artist. Cast glass and steel.

The glassworks show presented by Through the Fire Studios, is brought to Columbia by curator Professor Milt Friedly, professor of art at Elizabethtown College and the two staff teachers, his son Jeremy Friedly and Ben Ahlgrim. They are part of the Susquehanna Center for the Creative Arts.

“We were shooting for a space where we could put on shows that were the caliber of a university or museum (show),” said Jeremy Friedly. He and associates hope to continue the renovation of the first floor to double the space in the next months.

“I think (the building) was a furniture store, and then there was an electrician in this space, and a karate school,” he explained. Now the location houses the Susquehanna Center of the Creative Arts, with plans for the glass firing studio that will offer courses in glass design, shaping and coloring, and glass blowing, slumping and glass casting for all levels of students. There will be courses in ceramics, metal castings, printmaking and more – whatever comes in the door, said Jeremy. Accreditation for college courses is a goal.

Jeremy Friedly, co-founder of Through the Fire Studios, Inc. shares information about The Susquehanna Center for the Creative Arts

“We’ll have custom orders,” said Jeremy. “One of the main revenue streams we want to create is through the ‘make your own’ (approach) where people can come down and walk through creating their own piece of glass and kind of get a hands on experience.”

The idea is that the average person will be welcome to come in for a chance to make something to reflect on at home, same day, with no commitment to classes.

Glass is one of the youngest studio arts in America not yet widely practiced. Professional glass artist Chip Buckley who owns Buckley Art Studio in Lancaster said that Manheim, which was founded by a glass blower Henry Williams in 1762, will be celebrating its 250^th anniversary next year.

Through the Fire Studios Inc. plans to continue celebrating Fourth Friday celebration of the arts in Columbia and will feature glass blowing demonstrations. The latest show, curated by Milt Friedly, has many varieties of art in glass on   from the molded glass head by David Grindle, called “Homage to Picasso” for $1,750 to Milt Friedly’s “Coveted Foul Ball” in cast crystal for $800.  Ben Ahlgrim, one of the teachers for the new studio space, displayed a blown glass work called “BHO” for $695.

“I’m just totally amazed at a couple of these pieces here,” said Paul Roth, a musician who plays guitar at the Columbia Market House Fridays at 4-6 PM said he liked the spacious gallery for another reason.

“You’re not bumping into each other, and it would be a bad place to be bumping into each other; you could easily break things.”

“It’s good,” added physics teacher and fellow guitarist-singer Ned Somerville.

Wayne LeFever, a pianist and musician from Lancaster wants people to appreciate Columbia as an artist’s town. He said “This is better than Lancaster’s 1^st Friday, and 2nd Friday in Lititz!”

He added,” Columbians, don’t sniff at Columbia! It’s a river town and the river towns have a great deal to offer to artists, because they’re artist centers!”

Caitlin Vajdic, a senior year intern at Elizabethtown College, helped to install the show for her art professor Milt Friedly. She said “I really like constantly having my hands in the art scene, where at school I have down time. Here, it’s like I am in it constantly. It’s like I’m doing something artistic. Professor Friedly is wonderful! Definitely an inspiration!”

Among the guests attending “A Glass invitational” were Claire Lavin, owner of Marietta ArtHouse, and Wayne LeFever, of Lancaster.

The Susquehanna Center for the Creative Arts takes a 30% commission on all artist’s sales, and profit from the sales will be used to cover expenses, expansion ad funding for future gallery shows. New curators are welcome. Contact the studio for details about shows, classes and events.

“Come and enjoy the creativeness going on down here on Locust Street in Colombia, in a beautiful town, mysterious, and with lots of little unlit corners, “ invited Jeremy Friedly, the founding partner and CEO of Through the Fire Studios, Inc presenting the “hottest art in town.”

For more information contact Through the Fire Studios, Inc., 452 Locust Street, Columbia, PA 17512 – 717 575-6099 – Jeremy Friedly, founder, CEO – Ben Ahlgrim, founder, CFO – throughthefirestudios@gmail.com