North Star Glass Exhibition 2026
The 2026 North Star Glass Exhibition: Glass Painting is a juried regional exhibition celebrating excellence in traditional and contemporary painting on glass. Presented by Potekglass, the exhibition will showcase outstanding work by artists from across the Upper Midwest while highlighting the rich traditions and evolving possibilities of painted glass as an artistic medium. Selected works will be exhibited at the Flux Arts Gallery in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from September 4 - 20, 2026, in conjunction with the Stained Glass Association of America's On The Road program featuring renowned glass painter Indre McCraw of Judson Studios. Awards will recognize a Best in Show, 2 Merit Awards, and a People's Choice Award.
Opening Reception: September 4, 2026: 6-8 PM at Potekglass
Best in Show - $500 ($300 Cash and $200 Potekglass Gift Certificates)
Merit Award - $150 ($75 Cash and $75 Potekglass Gift Certificates)
Merit Award - $150 (75 Cash and $75 Potekglass Gift Certificates)
Closing Reception: September 20, 2026: 6-8 PM at Potekglass
People's Choice Award - $200 ($100 Cash and $100 Potekglass Gift Certificates)
Meet the Jurors
Indre McCraw-Belaris
Awards Juror
Indre McCraw has been a stained glass painter and designer for more than twenty years and is widely recognized for her expertise in traditional painted glass and stained glass conservation. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration and Art Education from Parsons School of Design in 1994 before beginning her professional career as a textile designer in New York City's fashion district.
In 1996, Indre became the third apprentice and a Kress Foundation Fellow in the renowned St. Ann's Stained Glass Conservation Program, where she had first been introduced to the field as an intern in 1993. While training in conservation and restoration techniques, she discovered a particular passion and aptitude for the highly specialized art of stained glass replication painting.
Throughout her career, Indre has recreated historic painted glass for significant cultural and architectural landmarks, including the Stanford White Cottage in Montauk, the Thomas Edison House in New Jersey, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Cloisters Museum, where she contributed replication painting for the Langon Chapel. Her original painted glass and design work can be found in prominent institutions including Princeton University's Ivy Club, Yale University, and Temple Beth Or in Maple Glen, Pennsylvania.
Today, Indre serves as a designer and glass painter at Judson Studios, one of the nation's most respected stained glass studios, where she continues to advance the tradition of painted glass through both her professional practice and educational outreach.
Steven Cowan
Exhibition Selection Juror
Steven Cowan began his stained glass career under the tutelage of his father at the renowned John Hardman & Co. in the United Kingdom, where he spent eight years mastering the traditional techniques of stained glass design, fabrication, conservation, and restoration. Building upon this foundation in one of Britain's most historic stained glass studios, Steven developed a particular expertise in the art of painted glass.
In 2009, he founded Master Glass Artists Ltd., through which he has created new stained glass windows for churches, public buildings, and private commissions throughout the world. In addition to his own studio practice, Steven regularly collaborates with other stained glass studios, providing specialized expertise in glass painting and traditional decorative techniques.
A respected educator and lecturer, Steven has taught advanced glass painting workshops for both the Stained Glass Association of America (SGAA) and the American Glass Guild (AGG), helping to preserve and advance traditional painted glass techniques for a new generation of artists. Through his work as an artist, conservator, and instructor, Steven has earned international recognition as a leading practitioner of traditional stained glass painting today.
Jacob Honer
Exhibition Selection Juror
Jacob Honer began his career in stained glass in 1995 as an apprentice in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Over the course of three decades, he has developed a reputation as one of the region's leading stained glass artisans, combining exceptional craftsmanship with deep expertise in both restoration and new commissions.
As founder of Honer Stained Glass, Jacob has trained and mentored a team of skilled artisans dedicated to producing some of the finest stained glass work being created today. In addition to leading his own studio, he serves as a Foreman at Gaytee Glass, one of the nation's most respected stained glass and architectural art studios, where he oversees a team of craftspeople and contributes to the execution of significant restoration and fabrication projects. His experience encompasses every aspect of the stained glass field, including design, fabrication, conservation, restoration, and project management.
Jacob has led restoration efforts on numerous significant historic and architectural projects, including state capitol buildings, cathedrals, churches, and other landmark sites throughout the United States. His studio has also undertaken the conservation and restoration of important works by renowned American stained glass artists such as John La Farge and Louis Comfort Tiffany.
Through his leadership and dedication to preserving historic stained glass traditions, Jacob continues to be a highly respected figure within the stained glass community.
