UPIKE hosts stained glass workshops
0Written by Brian Dunn and Jarek Burke
Stained glass artist, Bill Heise, is hosting workshops at the University of Pikeville’s Weber Art Gallery. Heise, a retired soldier and school teacher, has always had a fascination with stained glass artistry and was encouraged to try it by his mother, who was also an artist. After retiring from the military, Heise started looking for a hobby. He had always liked the look and beauty of stained glass. He has now been crafting stained glass for four years. Heise regularly takes part in the Pikeville Farmer’s Market, displaying his art. He was introduced to UPIKE’s Dean Thomas Hess through a former student. Hess, impressed with his work, bought a UPIKE themed piece from Heise and invited him to host a workshop for the students. Eager to teach his craft, Heise accepted the offer and began planning his workshop. “I craft stained glass for the love of the craft and not for the money. I simply sell my crafts to buy more supplies, so that I can continue to make such beautiful artwork,” Heise said. You can look up Sunnydale Acres Stain Glass on Facebook to see the beautiful pieces Heise has created. He encourages people to message him for personalized pieces, from small hanging pieces to full-sized window murals. Heise also has an upcoming lecture on Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. in the Weber Art Galley. Heise currently has more than 20 students enrolled in his workshop, which will continue through the end of October. For more information on the workshop, contact Petra Carrol at PetraCarrol@upike.edu.