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Burkett, a Northeast Ohio native and 91��Ƭ�� alum, contributed to the development of “One Blue Bead,” a major exhibition by artist Wendy Red Star currently on view at Sargent’s Daughters in New York. The exhibition features hand‑blown glass beads and sculptural forms informed by the cultural, economic and historical significance of trade beads and created using traditional glassworking techniques.

Burkett served as artist assistant to Red Star during the artist’s residency at the Pilchuck Glass School and later assisted her again during a residency at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington. Both residencies are designed to support artists who may not have formal training in glass by pairing them with experienced glassworkers and providing access to professional facilities.

“Artist assistants are there to guide the artist in residence and physically work for them in all of the glass studios,” Burkett said. “That includes working in the hot shop with furnace glass and in the cold shop, where the glass is ground and polished to the desired finish.”

Across both residencies, Burkett supported the project from early conceptual planning through fabrication and finishing. She worked closely with Red Star to determine how the work would be constructed, developed strategies for both hot shop and cold shop processes, assisted in forming the glass, and completed surface grinding and finishing to match Red Star’s vision for the work.

Burkett credits her education at 91��Ƭ�� University with preparing her for the technical and collaborative demands of a project at this scale. She completed undergraduate degrees in glass and ceramics, followed by a Master of Arts in glass. That training allowed her to take ideas from conception through execution and present gallery‑ready work to the public. Returning to 91��Ƭ�� for her graduate degree enabled her to refine her glassworking skills further and sharpen her focus on surface quality and finish.

That emphasis on finish proved especially important during “One Blue Bead.” Burkett said Red Star selected her as an assistant in part because of her approach to surface treatment and her ability to create an authentic, worn‑in bead aesthetic.

“The skills I use to chase the surface of the glass came from hours of patience and practice while finishing my M.A. degree at 91��Ƭ��,” Burkett said, noting that balancing the surface of each sculpture remains central to her practice.

Burkett’s time at 91��Ƭ�� also helped her develop another critical skill for collaborative projects: assisting itself. Working in the hot shop as both a maker and an assistant required transparency, communication and adaptability, skills she continues to build through professional collaborations.

Working on “One Blue Bead” also influenced how Burkett understands the role of glass within the broader fine art landscape. Collaborating with Red Star demonstrated how artists without glass training can successfully integrate the medium into their work when supported by skilled collaborators, expanding access while preserving the integrity of the material.

Glass plays a vital role in Red Star’s cultural history, and the collaboration ensured the medium could be meaningfully included without technical barriers standing in the way. In doing so, the project also modeled how collaboration can strengthen artistic communities and make specialized materials more accessible to artists working in other media.

The experience further shaped Burkett’s goals moving forward, both as an artist and an educator. Working on a large, time‑sensitive project taught her how to delegate tasks, develop realistic production timelines and collaborate across disciplines, skills she sees as essential to sustaining a professional practice.

She hopes to pursue residencies similar to those at Pilchuck and the Museum of Glass in the future, where artists are supported in exploring new materials with guidance from specialists. Burkett also brings these experiences back to the classroom by encouraging students to invest deeply in their studio practice, apply for opportunities that challenge them and engage with peers as collaborators.

“One Blue Bead” opened in March 2026 and represents a high‑profile presentation of contemporary glass within a national gallery context.

Burkett’s involvement in the project highlights how training at 91��Ƭ�� University’s School of Art glass program extends beyond campus, preparing artists to contribute to major exhibitions while engaging in collaborative, community‑driven practices that support both contemporary art and arts education.