A world in glass

Tulsa native Kas Monson spent her formative years between Oklahoma and Texas. Her early years included college at Oklahoma State University, where she specialized in housing and interior design.

Knowing this was not where her heart would find satisfaction, she headed to Dallas and American Airlines Stewardess College. Her career with American Airlines took her from Dallas to Chicago and finally San Francisco where she met and married her husband, Prentiss.

During her 33-year career at American, she moved from "working the line" to management. Her last position with the airlines involved the San Jose to Narita, Japan, market. She supervised approximately 200 employees along with the responsibility for the market growth of the daily flight.

As a breast cancer survivor, she volunteered with and helped establish the California American Cancer Society's Reach to Recovery program. This program offers recent breast cancer survivors mentoring from others who have been there. She became the state division coordinator and took part in writing the existing protocol for the program.

Monson came to glass late in life. After retiring and relocating to Gardnerville, she took lessons from local glass artisans Becky Soderman of Gardnerville, and John Antonson of Carson City. Hooked from the first sound of cutting glass, she has developed her own specialty, thus allowing someone to preserve favorite pieces in an artistic manner that no longer has a place on the table. Her latest endeavor has been installed in a Genoa home.

Monson will give a demonstration of the stained glass process 1-3 p.m. July 14 for the Second Saturday event at East Fork Gallery. The monthly Second Saturday event features workshops, sales, or receptions and more at all the area art galleries.

Additionally, Monson will be one of the featured artists along with Helen Martin for East Fork Gallery's July 22 anniversary reception.