RAISE YOUR GLASS Andre Watson ' 09 performs glassblowing and flamework at the original Craft Center . The new Craft Center ' s Stankard-Graeber Studio is named in honor of esteemed glass artists Paul Stankard and David Graeber .
Based on her fondness for the Craft Center as a student , as an alumna , Kwok has been instrumental in helping the new Craft Center come to life and sees parallels between the iterations — as well as many opportunities on the horizon .
“ UC San Diego has always been cutting edge , and so was the Craft Center . It was part of our campus DNA and continues to be today . The modern term may be ‘ maker space ,’ but the spirit is the same , and the Craft Center 2.0 is just a level up — both literally and metaphorically . When it comes to opportunities and potential for impact , it ’ s taking things to the next level ,” says Kwok .
← This paperweight by a 1990s Craft Center artisan made an impact on Wendy Kwok ’ 99 . We ’ d like to find its maker — reach out to tritonmag @ ucsd . edu with any leads !
Worth the
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AS AN ART LOVER and neuroscience student in the 1990s , Wendy Kwok ’ 99 was a frequent visitor to the original Craft Center ’ s Grove Gallery . In the spring quarter of her freshman year , she remembers gazing into a glass paperweight at a sale . She was drawn into this intricate sphere , one of tranquility and wonder . To celebrate her first year of college , she purchased the paperweight for $ 10 — a significant moment for her in a lifetime of appreciating and collecting glass art .
“ I remember being mesmerized by the complex yet simple ball of glass that day ,” says Kwok . “ I have always been drawn to museums and art galleries , where you venture into worlds beyond your own . The Grove Gallery was my sanctuary when I was a student . I would like current students to be able to experience the same sense of wonder and personal tranquility through appreciating art or participating in craft making .”
When Kwok — a True Triton honoree and a trustee of the UC San Diego Foundation Board — learned of plans for a new Craft Center on campus , she recalled what that original space meant to her as a student and made a point to ensure the center would elevate the presence of craft on campus and
bring the student experience to the next level as well .
As Craft Center fundraising chair , Kwok launched an endowment to support Craft Center programs and to provide students with a wide range of free and low-cost opportunities to engage in classes , workshops and other events . “ I hope this endowment empowers students in all fields of study ,” says Kwok . “ The Craft Center provides a space for self-expression and wellness of the mind and spirit — a counterbalance to the academic challenges and pressures that students face .”
The Creatively Realizing Art and Fun Together ( C . R . A . F . T .) Endowment will match contributions made by other inspired supporters of the Craft Center . To learn more about the C . R . A . F . T . Endowment , visit : tritonmag . com / craftcenter
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