Story by Emory Waye, Managing Editor; Photos by Chandler Pittman

On Friday, October 3, I attended the annual glass pumpkin patch, hosted by the University’s glass-blowing program. The event was organized right outside the Marx Library and featured hundreds of pumpkins, handmade by students, faculty, and alumni. The sale started at 8 am and lasted until 4 pm. By the time I got there, at around 8:30 am, a huge checkout line had already formed, almost wrapping around the corner of the building. I was blown away by the support not only from students, especially that early on a Friday morning, but also from people of all ages. Couples, families, and elders all gathered to shop for these marvelous festive creations. The pumpkin patch serves as a fundraiser for the glass-blowing department here at South. The pumpkins came in a variety of colors, from the classic orange jack-o’-lantern to red, white, and blue pumpkins, representative of our school’s spirit. 

While the main focus of the event is the blown glass, other handmade arts can be featured as well. The sale also featured ceramics, fall-themed clothing, and a student booth. Brynn Bryant, a student majoring in sculpture, set up a booth of her own handmade prints to sell at the pumpkin patch. “A lot of people don’t know that anyone can sell at the pumpkin patch,” she said. You have to get approval from the department, but the event is not only limited to glass pumpkins. Brynn’s linoleum prints are made by carving a design into a block, rolling it in ink, and then transferring it to paper. The booth featured Halloween themed prints, as well as mystery prints that went for fifteen dollars. The prints can be found on her Instagram page, Brynn_S_Creations. 

South’s glass arts department is one of a kind. It is the only university in the state that offers an education in glass arts, which can be taken as an elective, major, or minor. The program offers a unique and personal experience with hands-on learning. More information on the glass program can be found at Glass | Department of Art & Art History or on their Instagram, @SouthAlabamaGlass