Artist Angles Self for New Path

around Laguna beach Photo courtesy Sawdust Art Festival Mary Hurlbut Longtime Sawdust Art Festival exhibitor Mary Hurlbut is retiring after 28 years as a stained glass

artist, and she celebrates her final

year of exhibiting at this year's News annual Winter Fantasy show which runs weekends through Dec. 14. In booth 242, you will find the last of Hurlbut's colorful handcrafted glass pieces.

Hurlbut grew up in Laguna Beach and dreamed of being an artist. She began her career in stained glass shortly after graduating from the Dominican College in Marin County where she majored in fine art. Hurlbut originally worked in oil painting, but after receiving her degree she took a stained glass class and discovered a new passion. Hurlbut was hired as an apprentice at a stained glass studio in the Bay Area, where she developed her skill as a stained glass artist.

Following her apprenticeship Hurlbut moved back to her hometown, met Sawdust brass sculptor Spence Hurlbut, fell in love, and married two years later.

It was Spence Hurlbut who first encouraged her to join him in exhibiting at the Sawdust Art Festival where he had been selling his designs since 1971.

Since 1981, both Hurlbuts have exhibited several consecutive years until last summer when her husband retired.

Hurlbut looks toward to developing another passion: photography.