After over 30 years of practicing his art, Antrim glassblower Alex Kalish still finds satisfaction in every piece he creates. 

“Glass is an amazing material to work with tactically. The act of making it, creating that final product, is still exciting for me. I’m really happy with that people have an appreciation for my aesthetic and are willing to go home with my work sometimes,” Kalish said. 

On Oct. 12 to 14, Kalish and fellow glass artist Gigi Laberge will host the second “Alex and Gigi’s Hot Glass Extravaganza” at Kalish’s studio at 35 Old Carr Road in Antrim. The studio will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Both Kalish and Laberge will demonstrate their art in the “hot shop open house.” 

The extravaganza, which is Kalish’ 13th annual open studio weekend, is an opportunity for the public to come into his workshop and see the artist at work. 

“We’ll be doing demonstrations all weekend, and it will be a great opportunity for people to see how this stuff gets made, ” Kalish said. “It is a lot cooler to see it in person than to see it on TV. It is entertaining.” 

Kalish specializes in hand-blown functional art glass, items such as water tumblers, champagne flutes, wine glasses, lamps, hummingbird feeders, bowls and vases. His work is available at various galleries in New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts,  as well as in League of NH Craftsman stores.

“We will have all kinds of glass items and jewelry available, both first quality and irregulars as well,” Kalish said. “Folks who are out and about on arts tours will see our signs this weekend; we hope they will stop in and take a look.” 

Kalish, who has been blowing glass for over 30 years, got his start as a Franklin Pierce University student in the 1980s. After graduating, he worked with another local glassblower in Antrim. He built his own studio, gradually moving to a second studio in Antrim, which he also built himself. 

“I just never stopped,” Kalish said. “It’s what I do.” 

The is the second year Kalish has teamed up with Laberge, a Henniker artist who creates fused and flame-worked glass items. Last summer, both artists were featured at a June 8 pop-art sale in Dublin. Both LaBerge and Kalish are juried members of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen and can be found at the organization’s annual August craft fair at Mt. Sunapee. 

LaBerge, who is also a painter, creates wearable art and designs as well as jewelry. A former tree farmer, Laberge is known for her “landscapes in glass,” which are inspired by New England scenery, including forests coastlines and mountains. 

LaBerge will demonstrate creating fused glass beads at the weekend show. Her products include glass holiday ornaments and sun gazers, beads and “wearable art” including earrings and pendants.

LaBerge’s work has been exhibited at the former Sharon Arts Center, the New Hampshire Institute of Art and the Maine Maritime Museum, as well as at the New Hampshire League of Craftsmen Gallery 205. 

For information, go to kalishglassdesign.com, gigilaberge.com/index.html or nhcrafts.org.