Wayne Manning bring Glass to Vass

Hey Y'all!

Thanks for taking a minute to help me support a stand-up human make his family's dream a reality. Wayne Manning has been a professional glass blower for over twenty years. He is academically trained and has worked with world-famous glass artists throughout the US. He has dreamt of running his own hot glass studio to share his love of this incredible heritage craft with everyone in the community. He aims to create a safe space that will be open and inclusive for all to create.

Several years ago, Wayne and his beautiful family decided to call Vass home permanently. Wayne teaches art at Union Pines High School and his wife teaches science at Midcentury. Their two boys have grown up around glass, and they both continue their father's traditions.

Moore County is richer because of this family's dedication to education and children in Moore County. Now, the Mannings are working towards introducing "Glass in Vass." Wayne Manning has found a space for his new hot glass studio at ARTworks Vass (a community staple for the last six years). Wayne and ARTworks make perfect partners as both support open and inclusive art programs that reach everyone in a community. Vass in Glass would be the first hot glass studio in Moore County.

I learned during their first fundraising event this past weekend at ARTworks Vass (while being given the opportunity to blow glass for the first time ever) that it is quite a financial and physical undertaking. They already have a space, so they are raising funds for the safety modifications to the room itself and purchasing the equipment necessary to run a hot glass studio. It turns out that they will need around 50k to make the studio a reality.

Having experienced the heritage art of glassblowing first-hand at ARTworks Vass, I believe Wayne offers this community an exceptional experience. His sons are a testament to the fact that the art of glass can teach patience, responsibility, teamwork, science, and art. They were incredible young men, and Wayne and his wife should be very proud of their family. It turns out that blowing glass is a perfect STEAM activity.

I was impressed with how grateful and humble Wayne and his family were about the community's support during this weekend's glass event. Those who attended agreed that Glass in Vass would be an incredible boon for both Vass and Moore County.

The other thing I heard while hanging out in the parking lot while waiting for my wife to finish was that many in the community wish to support Wayne in his herculean effort to bring the glass to us here in Moore County.

I was left wondering what I could do to help and decided it would be a perfect opportunity to fund me. So here we are...

My GoFundMe for Wayne Manning's Dream of a Hot Glass Studio here in Moore County.

Any amount we raise to support the dream will be appreciated, and it will be used in the most economical, creative, and environmentally friendly way possible, as Wayne has promised that one of his goals, in addition to being inclusive for all, is to create a studio that is environmentally friendly and sustainable.

Thanks in advance for your time and contribution to one man's life dream.