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Pittsburgh Glass Center



Activity Type

Stained Glass Dragonfly

$115 MEMBER PRICE: $115
Calendar Next available session starts Jun 6, 2026 at 5 pm
PGC 159

Craft a whimsical glass dragonfly. In this introductory workshop, you’ll explore the fundamentals of stained glass. Under the guidance of a skilled instructor you’ll learn to cut, shape, and assemble glass into delicate wings. Then you’ll solder your creation with glass gems into a charming, decorative piece. A perfect project for beginners who love colorful, nature-inspired art.

 

Ages 14+

 

Flameworked Frit Pendants

$115 MEMBER PRICE: $115
Calendar Next available session starts Jun 6, 2026 at 5:30 pm
Turn fire and color into wearable art. In this introductory workshop, learn how to melt and shape solid glass rods over a 3,000°F torch. Guided by a skilled instructor, learn torch basics, add bits of colorful glass frit, create beautiful swirling patterns, and watch your pendant come to life.

 

Ages 14+

 

Due to the nature of hot glass, your items will be available for pickup 5 days after your activity.

Sculpted Glass Flowers

$135 MEMBER PRICE: $135
Calendar Next available session starts Jun 6, 2026 at 6 pm
PGC 148

Let your creativity bloom. In this introductory workshop, you’ll gather molten glass from the 2,100°F furnace and add color. Then guided by a skilled instructor, you will pull, shape, stretch, and sculpt it into colorful flowers.

This workshop is a fun introductory experience to hot glass sculpting. Each participant will craft two unique flowers, ideal for display, gifting, or brightening any space.

Ages 14+

Due to the nature of hot glass, your items will be available for pickup 5 days after your activity.

Sculpted Glass Paperweights

$135 MEMBER PRICE: $135
Calendar Next available session starts Jun 7, 2026 at 9:30 am
PGC 154

Turn up the heat and let your creativity take shape. In this introductory workshop, you’ll gather glowing molten glass from the 2,100°F furnace and add colors of your choice. Then guided by a skilled instructor, you will twist, pull, and sculpt it into one-of-a-kind paperweights bursting with color and personality.

 

This workshop is a fun introductory experience into hot glass sculpting. Each participant will make two fun and functional paperweights, perfect for your desk, shelf, or as a thoughtful gift.

 

Ages 14+

 

Due to the nature of hot glass, your items will be available for pickup 5 days after your activity.

TEENS ONLY! Plate Glass Printmaking

$55 MEMBER PRICE: $55
Calendar Next available session starts Jun 7, 2026 at 1:30 pm

Discover the art of printmaking with glass. In this introductory workshop, you’ll use cold shop etching tools to engrave your own glass plate and create a unique design. Be inspired by the season and opt to make one-of-a-kind Valentine prints! Once your plate is complete, you’ll bring your artwork to life with ink, transferring your design onto paper.

At the end of the workshop, you’ll leave with both your engraved glass plate and your printed works, ready to display, gift, or admire.

TEENS ONLY workshops are a great introduction to the world of glassmaking, just for teens. Teens will step into the PGC studios and explore the heat, color, and creativity of working with glass in the flame shop, hot shop, kiln shop, or cold shop– alongside other teens. Teens can come solo and make new friends who share an interest in glassmaking, or sign up with a friend to share in the experience.

Looking for a more in-depth experience? Check out our afterschool SiO₂ classes, full-day MOLTN workshops, or summer boot camp for even more hands-on glassmaking fun.

 

PGC is committed to facilitating access for all young people. We offer full- and half-tuition scholarships for middle school and high school students based on application strength. No previous glass or art experience is required. Our only prerequisites are enthusiasm, curiosity, and eagerness to learn.

 

APPLY NOW for a youth scholarship at this link.

Blown Glass Suncatchers

$135 MEMBER PRICE: $135
Calendar Next available session starts Jun 7, 2026 at 5 pm
PGC 128

Catch the light in glass. In this introductory workshop, you’ll gather molten glass from the 2,100°F furnace and add color. Then guided by a skilled instructor, you will blow and shape it into stunning glass suncatchers.

 

This workshop is a fun introductory experience to hot glassblowing. Each participant will create two unique suncatchers, perfect for hanging in a window or adding a touch of sparkle anywhere.

 

Ages 14+

 

Due to the nature of hot glass, your items will be available for pickup 5 days after your activity.

Narratives through Fundamentals

$1,050 MEMBER PRICE: $1,050

with Jason Forck

Calendar Next available session starts Jun 8, 2026 at 9 am

This class will explore cane working and glassblowing fundamentals as a framework for developing personal ideas and concepts. Using basic blown forms as a foundation, you will learn a range of technical processes including pulling cane and murrine, roll-ups on collars and bubbles, and the creation and use of both duro and veil cane.

Through demonstrations and hands-on practice, you will investigate how pattern and color can be integrated into blown forms. You will be encouraged to push beyond conventional applications of cane, experimenting with unconventional uses to develop narrative and new ways of thinking through making. This class is ideal for students interested in strengthening their technical skills while using glass as a vehicle for idea-driven work.

Evening Open Studio
Studios are open until 9:30PM for students to practice. Depending on the class, process, and techniques, this time might be highly suggested by instructors for students to use. In other classes, this time might be considered optional.

For more information, please review Summer Intensives

Learn more about Jason Forck at www.jasonforck.com

Non-Traditional Pâte de Verre

$1,050 MEMBER PRICE: $1,050

with Evelyn Gottschall Baker

Calendar Next available session starts Jun 8, 2026 at 9 am, runs for 1 week

One of the greatest challenges in kilnformed glass is capturing intricate detail in finished work. This hands-on five-day class introduces students to non-traditional Pâte de Verre techniques—an innovative approach to working with glass paste at low temperatures without the use of investment molds. You will learn how to recreate real or imagined objects in striking detail, while also exploring methods that lend themselves to expressive abstraction.

Through demonstrations, discussion, and guided practice, you will explore:

  • Silicone Molds – Make replicas of small objects using two types of silicone molds: one with common household caulking, and another with two-part pourable silicone rubber.
  • Freeform Sculpting – Shape glass paste directly using simple tools such as palette knives, creating unique forms without molds.Color Samples – Create and test color swatches, learning how low-fire schedules affect color maturity and how to achieve desired visual outcomes.
  • Exploring Binders – Experiment with three different binders, comparing their strengths and weaknesses for various applications.
  • Dry Working – Develop methods for refining detail, smoothing surfaces, and preparing pieces for successful firing.
  • Cold Working – Develop methods for cleaning and refining surfaces after firing.
  • Technical Discussions – Gain insight into low-fire kilnforming challenges, including managing shrinkage, balancing thin and thick areas, fusing schedules, and kiln support strategies.

By the end of the course, students will have a toolkit of practical techniques for shaping glass paste into forms rich with texture, depth, and detail—equally suited for realism or abstraction.

Advanced beginners are welcome, however they must have some understanding of firing schedules and heat work in a kiln.

Evening Open Studio

Studios are open until 9:30PM for students to practice. Depending on the class, process, and techniques, this time might be highly suggested by instructors for students to use. In other classes, this time might be considered optional.

For more information, please review Summer Intensives.

Learn more about Evelyn Gottschall Baker at www.glassfractions.com





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