kerry's new digs

The Rochester art scene celebrates its artists and galleries at monthly First Friday open houses. Tonight was the first First Friday for glass jewelry artist Kerry Bogert, one of our favorites at JOOLZ. Kerry recently made the big move from her home basement studio to Studio #307 in Rochester's Hungerford building, located near the Goodman Street railroad yards.


In the early to mid-1900's, the Hungerford Building was a major manufacturing plant for the J. Hungerford Smith Co., which made "True Fruit" flavored syrups as well as the syrup for A&W root beer. It now houses small companies, individual apartments and art space. Tonight it was hoppin' with art patrons and I was one of them.



After climbing the three flights of stairs to Kerry's studio, I was greeted by cheerful balloons in the hallway outside her door. While I had watched the space come to life on Kerry's blog, it was so much more fun to see it in person.

On one wall was Kerry's great studio sign:

Kerry has had her hands full this week with kids down with the flu and school snow days, but she was there tonight, beaming with pride at being in her own space:

Extremely organized, Kerry has created her studio with care and style. Her glass rods are ready to be pulled from her self-designed "down spout" racks:

Her latest works are displayed in a wonderful old bookcase that she and her son painted a sophisticated black:

The necklace on the far left was created today, just in time for the open house:



And now her work table is cleaned off and ready for another day:

Just imagine all the colorful beads that will made at this torch, ready to be incorporated into another wonderful Kerry Bogert creation. Congrats, Kerry! - you're a shining star.