What can 3,300 kiln firings teach an artist? In this behind-the-scenes look at fused glass, Alison Thibault shares the role of observation, experimentation, and curiosity in her creative practice, along with the lessons hidden inside decades of kiln logs.

This week on the blog I’m reflecting on what it means to run a small business in a small seasonal community for twenty-five years, inspired by the opening of the 25th season of New Era Gallery and my friend Elaine Crossman. The piece explores the rhythms of island business life, the invisible labor behind creative work, and how places like galleries, studios, and small shops slowly become woven into the emotional landscape of a community. If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to continue creating and showing up year after year in a place shaped by both beauty and uncertainty, I’d love for you to read the full piece.