What began in a small warehouse has grown into a Midtown Jackson creative sanctuary. By April 1976, the studio had moved to Millsaps Avenue, where it has remained ever since, anchoring the neighborhood's arts district. "My goal was to establish a business that could serve the Jackson area and the entire state of Mississippi," Andy recalls. The secret? Talented staff, relentless innovation, and an unwavering commitment to storytelling.

Nurturing Artistic Talent for Five Decades

Over the past five decades, Pearl River Glass Studio has served as a launching pad for exceptional talent. BeBe Wolfe, Ron Lindsey, Jerrod Partridge, and Joy Abedikichi—now a custom glass maker on the West Coast—all honed their crafts within these walls. "One of the secrets about Pearl River Glass Studio is the staff people that we have here," Andy says. "I've been really lucky to have such great, talented people around me." The studio has been more than a workplace; it's been an incubator for artists who've gone on to make their own marks across the creative landscape.

Perseverance Through Challenges

Financial pressures tested them repeatedly over the decades. There were moments—more than Andy cares to count—when keeping the doors open seemed impossible. Yet the studio persevered, in part because of its modest Midtown footprint. That original 2,000-square-foot space rented for just $200 a month, a rate that remained unchanged from 1976 until Andy eventually purchased the building. "I could always afford the rent," he notes. "That was one of the reasons we're still in business."

But survival required more than affordable rent. It demanded creative problem-solving in the field, adaptability to changing markets, and the courage to take calculated risks. "We've never done the same thing twice," Andy says, describing how every project demands innovation. It's this refusal to repeat himself—what a German glass master once called his lack of "style"—that has kept the work fresh and the clients coming back.

"We had a real clear picture that we wanted to be artists and we were going to do this art thing with glass," he reflects. "As long as we are trying to be creative and do something artistic every time we come out of the gate, that's what's kept us going."

Building a Legacy Through Education

Now, Pearl River Glass Conservatory carries that vision forward. Established in early 2024, this educational nonprofit welcomes students of all skill levels to learn fused and leaded stained glass techniques, preserving five decades of knowledge for future generations. With new ventures in ceramics and enamel work on steel, the studio's tradition of innovation continues.

Fifty years. Countless stories told in glass. One enduring Mississippi legacy.