Forging New Connections: GAS Travels Highlights

Now in its third year, GAS Travels brings glass enthusiasts to glassy locations around the world. From known glass hubs like Murano to less-known gems like Oaxaca, each of our destinations has showcased the incredible talent of artists in our community. GAS Travels was born from our desire to expand our support of glass institutions and artists around the globe.

Each of our trips has left our staff, board, travelers, and participating artists with new connections, new ways of thinking, and a deeper love for the community we all share. Here are just a few highlights from our GAS Travels trips!

Japan | April 2024

Our first GAS Travels adventure brought us to Japan to enjoy the company of glass aficionados, indulge in fantastic cuisine, and see the best Japanese crafts, all with the beauty of cherry blossom season surrounding us. We had a magical time with a mixture of longtime GAS supporters and new friends. Our WhatsApp group stayed busy with updates and photos for months after our trip–a trend we’ve seen with all our following trips!

Oaxaca | September 2024

Next, we journeyed to Oaxaca to explore the rich variety of crafts in that region.Our Oaxaca trip featured an entirely new group of travelers, including Carolyn Swan Needell, curator at the Chrysler Museum of Art. In addition to our attendees purchasing art directly from our featured artists, the Chrysler Museum made two acquisitions from artists featured on our Oaxaca trip: Cumular(ia)by Luisa Restrepo and Stone Planters by Diego Vides Borrell!

Australia | March 2025

March 2025 brought us Down Under on an ambitious tour that began in Sydney, and proceeded to Canberra and Melbourne, before culminating in Adelaide. You never know who you’ll meet or what connections you’ll make when you’re a part of GAS Travels: Danielle Rickaby and Bailey Donovan joined the GAS Board of Directors after participating as artists on this trip!

Italy | September 2025

Most recently, we spent seven glorious days in Italy, exploring one of the world’s most legendary glass destinations. In addition to getting previews of Corning 2026 presentations from Lucio Bubacco, Alessandro Boscolo, and Davide Salvadore, we marveled at the gorgeous bridges in Venice, journeyed into the Prosecco Hills, and more.

What’s next? At our Corning 2026 conference, we’ll be hosting a GAS Travels reunion, with lots of prosecco, of course! Our next adventure will bring us to the Nordic Countries this July as we explore Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. We can’t wait to see what surprises are in store for us. Want to join us on our 2027 trips? Stay tuned for an announcement coming this August.