The Holland Community Center has announced that its popular Glass Pumpkin Patch Fundraiser will return for the weekend of Oct. 21–23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at the Holland Community Center, 34250 N. 60th St. in Scottsdale.

This festive event will showcase over 1,000 whimsical, vibrantly colored glass pumpkins handmade by Gregory Tomb, an acclaimed local glass artist known for his intricate designs, a press release stated. These one-of-a-kind works of art will be available for purchase, with proceeds supporting the center’s efforts as a nonprofit organization committed to enhancing arts, education and community in the Desert Foothills region.

Tomb has been fascinated by glass art since childhood, when road trips with his family would often include visits to the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York. After studying glassblowing as an art student at Hartwick College, Tomb explored a variety of personal and professional interests, but glass art remained his passion.

He occasionally rented glass studio time over the years and began honing his craft as a production glassblower in a factory for world-renowned glass maker Simon Pearce, according to the release. In 2014, he started participating in juried art shows nationwide.

Tomb has been awarded “best in glass” and served as the featured artist at the Nassau County Museum of Art, the Hampton Fine Art Festival, the Stuart Art Festival and the Scottsdale Artfest. His colorful creations have also been featured in numerous museums and magazines.

In his work, Tomb incorporates classic techniques of furnace, fused, flame-worked and cold-worked glass, while also exploring new processes and ways to use glass and light. Additionally, he shares his passion and talent for glass art with others by leading classes across the country, from the Bay Area Glass Institute in San Jose, California to the town of Johnsburg, New York, where he serves as artist-in-residence. Tomb is currently building a glass studio in Cave Creek, Arizona.

Tomb was a former artist-in-residence at the Holland Community Center. Located in north Scottsdale, the Holland Community Center is a partnership dedicated to promoting arts and culture, treasuring the desert environment, assisting those in need and encouraging lifelong learning. Previously known as the Foothills Community Foundation, the Holland Community Center provides a diverse array of programs, including classes, fine art exhibits and performing arts events.

As a nonprofit organization, the center does not receive any funding from government entities and relies exclusively on the generosity of donors. To learn more about the third annual Glass Pumpkin Patch, visit hollandcenter.org/event/glass-pumpkin-patch/, or contact info@hollandcenter.org or call 480-488-1090.