Since joining the Hilltop Artists Board about a year ago, I have attended several functions and have enjoyed meeting the students and others involved in their various programs. I love watching them as they work on projects, and I am always impressed with their concentration, their skill at working with the glass, and their seemingly endless creativity.

At the Hilltop Artists Night Out in early August, I was watching one young man work molten glass in the hot shop. I was approached by a woman who told me she was his mother. When I expressed how impressed I was by his ability to work with glass, it was quite evident that she was very proud of her son. She told me that it was his second year in the Summer Program, and that he was thrilled to be able to participate once again. She related a conversation she had had with her son in which he told her how important it was for him to be able to participate in the Summer Program and work with glass. He said that one day, when he was feeling particularly stressed out, he came to the session at HART and directed all his stress and emotion into his work with the glass. By the time the session was over, he had created a beautiful work of art and had forgotten what it was that was causing all that stress. He said that being able to work with glass allowed him to get outside himself for a while, giving him a different perspective on life. It was a tremendous testimonial to the transformative power of the Hilltop Artists programs.

That conversation intimately captured what the Hilltop Artists are seeking to accomplish through the various programs that are offered to these students. Middle school, in particular, is a challenging period in anyone’s life. Having an opportunity to channel some of the intense emotions that are experienced during that phase of life into a creative outlet is invaluable. Perhaps more important is the feeling of accomplishment and the self confidence that comes from such craftsmanship – it is quite evident on the faces of the students at glass sales and other events.

It has been a humbling experience to be associated with the Hilltop Artists. I hope that you will join me in continuing to support this organization and the creativity that is being generated on the Hilltop!

Scott Winship