Glassblowing is often associated with individual artistry, but in practice it depends on an orchestrated team effort. During the demonstration that day in the MassArt Hotshop, advanced studio glass students played an active role in the process, assisting Nancy and Katherine while observing their approaches. Assistants opened furnace doors, gathered molten glass, shaped forms, and reheated pieces in carefully timed sequences. The experience offered students not only technical insight but a deeper understanding of how collaboration drives successful outcomes in the hot shop. 

“As young artists, we are always looking to build new skills and learn from those who came before us,” said Milo Miller ’27 Glass. “When asked about the key to success, Nancy told us to, ‘Listen to all advice, no matter how confident you may be. Never let your ego stop you from gaining a new perspective.’ That message was more impactful to me than any demonstration. Nancy and Katherine’s dedication to the craft—and the generosity and humility they showed during their visit—left many of us speechless.”

Together, the group created a large-scale mushroom sculpture topped with a cluster of tiny mushrooms. The process unfolded on two tracks. While one team focused on building the substantial base and cap, others shaped and rolled miniature mushrooms in fragments of colored glass and gold leaf. These small forms were kept hot and refined before being incorporated into the larger piece. Swirling patterns emerged as layers of color were gathered and blown out, demonstrating how preparation and sequencing directly affect the final result.

“Pre-planning is key,” Nancy emphasized throughout the demonstration. Because glass remains workable only for a limited time, every step must be anticipated. Tools are positioned in advance, assistants know their cues, and each reheating is deliberate. The choreography is demanding, but it allows for precision and innovation within a narrow window of possibility.

For students, the workshop offered a clear view of professional practice—both the discipline behind the artistry and the importance of trust among collaborators. For Nancy, returning to MassArt was a meaningful full-circle moment, revisiting the same environment that first sparked her passion.

The day reinforced what makes glassblowing distinctive: it is a material-driven art form that requires collective effort, careful planning, and shared momentum. In the glow of the furnaces, students witnessed not only the transformation of molten glass into sculptural form, but the power of working together to bring a complex idea to life.

Discovering Glass and Finding Her Place at MassArt

When Tracy started at MassArt, she realized this was the place for her, even though she wasn’t exactly sure what she wanted to study, she knew she wanted to challenge herself. With this in mind she decided on the Glass Department, where she became inspired by both the technical precision and varied skills demanded by the medium.

Learning everything she could about glass blowing, casting, etching, and painting glass by hand,  she became fascinated with how light affects color and texture. She also realized glass could be more than an impressive museum installation: it could become part of the spaces people inhabit. 

Over time Tracy began experimenting with photography, prints, and found materials—especially windows and pages from old books. She saw the window as a powerful metaphor: a passageway, a reflection, and a frame for multiple perspectives.

Mentorship, Collaboration, and Professional Growth

Even with this kind of insight and dedication, Tracy’s path has been far from easy. After MassArt, she faced serious health challenges. She also began navigating professional spaces—architecture, fabrication, construction—that were not accustomed to collaborating with artists, especially a woman artist who was well informed about the intersecting processes. 

Calling MassArt “the deal of the century,” Tracy describes her experience as profoundly formative—not only for the education itself, but for access to Boston’s vibrant academic and cultural landscape and the connections she was able to pursue both while a student and after graduating. 

She credits her MassArt mentors—Dan Dailey, Alan Klein, and Susan Holland—with playing significant roles in helping her refine her craft and then navigate the professional art world after graduating. In fact, it was Dan Dailey who connected her with John Lewis, a renowned glass artist in California, with whom Tracy worked for several years, before returning to New England.

From Studio Practice to Public Art

Today, Tracy is the founder and creative director of Duende Studio, where she designs and develops large-scale installation projects while also continuing her art practice as a painter. Alongside these commitments, she serves as the Executive Director of Fall River Arts and Culture Coalition.

Her most recent and celebrated public artwork, “Equinox,” transformed the glass elevator tower at New Bedford’s MBTA station, connecting a pedestrian bridge to the Whale’s Tooth parking lot. The piece, created in partnership with Fennick McCredie Architects, the MBTA and MassDOT contractors, Oldcastle Glass manufacturers, and many dedicated installers, exemplifies the scale of teamwork required for successful public art. Supported by the New Bedford Economic Development Council, Arts & Culture of New Bedford, and the South Coast Commuter Rail MBTA, “Equinox” stands as a testament to community, craft, and creative vision.

Reflecting on the project, Tracy notes, “Nothing great is ever completed alone.” This sentiment captures both her humility and deep respect for the teamwork that is foundational to her practice.

With each new endeavor, Tracy continues to demonstrate the value of public art, and she has received many accolades for her work. She is proud of her ability to navigate the sometimes exclusive world of the arts, while collaborating with architects, builders and engineers. From the studios of MassArt to the streets of New Bedford, she continues to prove that creativity—when pursued with purpose—can truly transform our communities.

Brett S. Poza MA, ATR, MFA ‘19 is an artist, writer and registered art therapist who has lived most of her life in Massachusetts. Her artwork is comprised of large burned drawings and the stories she writes point to ethical conflicts through the use of surreal narratives.

From the moment I walked in, there was a special kind of energy in the air—the kind that only happens when MassArt alumni, students, and friends are in a shared space. The afternoon began with an artist talk, where Nancy shared stories from her time at MassArt and reflected on how those formative years still shape her creative practice today. It was wonderful to watch as she and longtime creative partner Katherine Gray described how they came to collaborate on this body of work, and their approach of merging traditional Venetian glass techniques with themes of identity, joy, and vulnerability. Their work reminded us all that creativity and play are deeply intertwined.

Exploring the galleries afterward, I was struck by how interconnected our community truly is. Just a few steps away, was BeLOVEd, an exuberant, colorful installation by Cicely Carew BFA ’05 Painting, whose work radiated energy and tenderness in equal measure. And across the way, Waste Not, Want Not: Craft in the Anthropocene, curated by Caroline Kipp BFA ’13 Fibers, explored the relationship between sustainability, materials, and meaning in contemporary craft.

Each exhibition had its own distinct voice, but together, they told a powerful story about who we are as makers and doers. Across disciplines and generations, MassArt artists continue to push boundaries, ask big questions, and create work that connects us—to each other, to our craft, and to the world around us.

Experiences like this are a wonderful reminder of what makes the MassArt community so special. Our alumni continue to inspire not only through their art but through their generosity of spirit and their willingness to stay connected, to show up, and to celebrate each other’s accomplishments.

I highly recommend checking out Nancy Callan and Katherine Gray: The Clown in Me Loves You, which is on view through March 1, 2026. Thank you to Caroline, Cicely, Nancy, and all the students and alumni who made the day so special. Your creativity and connection are what keep our community thriving!