Did you know the Pacific Northwest happens to be the leading regional hub for glass art in the nation with more than 700 glass artists living in Washington? Cyrena Stefano, CEO at Seattle Glassblowing Studio and co-founder of Hot Glass Color and Supply, happens to be one of such talents. Learn about Stefano…
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Your biggest accomplishment and why: Moving my grandmother across the country at the age of 86. Packing up the house where she and my grandfather lived for 40 years and bringing her closer to family was a huge accomplishment. Family means everything to me and having her close so I can continue to help oversee her care during her final stage of life is very important to me.
First job: Intern at Biosphere 2 in Oracle, Arizona, which did not have an internship program but created one for me after they read my application and essay.
Favorite way to spend your free time in WA: I love to hike and regularly go exploring through Washington’s beautiful national and state parks. Rock climbing at Frenchman Coulee in Quincy is one of my top picks for an outdoor adventure!
Someone who inspires you and why: Dr. Edith Wallace. She was a Jewish refuge of Hitler’s Germany and Mussolini’s Italy who succeeded in completing degrees in medicine and philosophy during tumultuous times. She found her way to New York where she met Carl Jung who inspired her to change course for a career as a Jungian analyst who created a unique form of Art Theory incorporating dance and collage.
The biggest obstacle you overcame: As a child I was diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD. With the support of my family and school I realized that dyslexia should be considered as a different way of learning. Through alternative methods of learning I overcame this challenge and succeeded in pursuing a BS in Biology and Minor in Dance from the University of Washington.
Advise to someone pursuing a career in what you do: Success comes with flexibility, attention to detail and nurturing the human connection. Being able to embrace unexpected external situations that impact business, such as COVID, and finding methods to shift gears without hesitation is key.
Favorite quote: “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” –Jane Goodall
Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: I was a pre-med student at the University of Washington and was accepted to Bastyr University. At the time, I was learning to blow glass and fell in love with the medium which lead me to defer my acceptance. After deep contemplation, I made the choice to pursue a career in glass art.
What makes someone fabulous: Someone who is smart, charismatic, loving and kind; who has a distinctive personal style, a great sense of humor, and who makes you feel like you are the only person in the room. That’s fabulous!