PGC 507 Make glass during our monthly Hot Jam!

Join us on the first Friday of each month for our Hot Jam and open house with live glassblowing and flameworking demonstrations. Check out the gallery, explore the studios, shop for glass art, and now make your own glass!

Make-It-Now Fused Glass Suncatcher

Make a unique glass decoration. In this introductory experience, you'll combine colorful pieces of glass granules (frit) and thin colorful glass rods (stringers) to create a decorative glass suncatcher of your own design. Once you design it, we’ll fire it in a kiln with a hook for hanging.

Registration is suggested, but not required, for Fused Glass Suncatcher. Walk in seats are subject to availability.

Registration is not required for Hot Jam Open House.

Make-It-Now experiences offer a quick, hands-on introduction to the colorful world of kilnformed glass. In the kiln shop, you’ll learn from a skilled local artist how to design and assemble your own glass creation using glass frit and stringers. In less than an hour, explore how layers of glass come together to form vibrant patterns and images of your own design. Perfect for beginners, these quick experiences let you discover the beauty of working with glass at your own pace and with no heat.

Ages 5+

Adult supervision is required for any children under 14 years old.

Due to the nature of hot glass, items cannot be taken home the same day they are created. All items made in the kiln shop must be heated and fused in the kiln, then cooled slowly. Items are available for pick-up after 5 days. Shipping can be arranged on site the day of your activity.

Carve out some fun with molten glass pumpkins. 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 blow and sculpt it into beautiful pumpkins with curly stems. This workshop is a fun introductory experience into hot glassblowing. Each participant will make two blown pumpkins, perfect for harvesting compliments at home, gifting to a loved one, or adding a decorative touch to any space.

Ages 14+

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

Ready to turn up the heat on your glass skills? Whether you’re brand new to flat glass or have taken a workshop or two, this in-depth 6-hour introductory workshop will help expand your technical know-how and creative techniques. You’ll learn glass tool fundamentals and glass cutting techniques while gaining an understanding of glass compatibility, fusing and slumping techniques, mold materials, firing schedules, and kiln theory. By the end of the day, you’ll have a set of functional glass items (plates, bowls, and platters) in the kiln and an appreciation for the alchemy of kilnformed glass. 

Note: Class time includes a 30-minute break for lunch. Lunch is not provided, but we do have a refrigerator on site if needed.

Ages 14+

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

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. 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 work, ready to display, gift, or admire.

Ages 14+

Create glass explosions of color. In this full-day beginner flameworking workshop, learn to melt and shape glass rods over a 3,000°F torch and transform them into implosion pendants, sculptures, or magnets. Guided demonstrations will teach you the compression technique, while providing hand-on support to help you shape several stunning pieces. You will gain a solid foundation in studio safety, torch operation, essential sculpting techniques, and experience the joy of working with molten glass.

Come ready to let your imagination explode in glass.

Note: Class includes a 30-minute lunch break. Lunch is not provided, but a refrigerator is available for student use.

Ages 14+

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

If you've ever wanted to try glassblowing, this is the workshop for you. This 5-hour workshop offers an introduction to the art of glassblowing. Designed for beginners, you will gain hands-on experience in the hot shop, and learn essential techniques for gathering, shaping, and manipulating molten glass straight from the 2,100°F furnace.

After learning to gather, you'll sculpt a paperweight and then progress to additional glassblowing techniques, enabling you to craft a variety of glass objects throughout the day.

Instructors provide step-by-step guidance to ensure a safe and productive learning experience.

Warning! Hot glass is immersive and captivating. Once you start working with it, you may not want to stop.

Note: Class includes a 30-minute lunch break. Lunch is not provided, but a refrigerator is available for student use.

Ages 14+

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

Bring some whimsy to your garden. In this introductory 4-hour workshop, you’ll create a charming gnome garden stake for your indoor pots or outdoor garden. Under the guidance of a skilled instructor, you’ll learn essential stained glass techniques including cutting glass, copper foiling, following a pattern, soldering, and assembling as you make a two-dimensional garden stake.

It’ll be gnome-tastic fun from start to finish, and you’ll leave with a whimsical piece ready to brighten your greenery.

Ages 14+

Symmetry can be used as a fundamental design tool. Symmetry is used by man and nature as a device to add continuity, balance, and harmony to a chaotic universe. Its use in art and design, consequently, attains an aesthetic of order and familiarity.

In this five-day class, you will explore principles of advanced pattern forming in fused glass. Ian will share the techniques he has perfected to produce accurate linear geometric glass artworks.

Using pre-formed Bullseye colored glass striped sheets, you will expand your knowledge and experience of kilnforming and coldworking techniques to produce intricate patterns which utilize symmetry and geometry to create hypnotizing mandala-like patterns.

You will be guided through the creation of Bullseye glass striped sheets which once fired will be deconstructed and reassembled. Learn how the arrangement of tone and color can enhance the optical properties of the pattern design and how to lay out the pattern using principles of four-fold symmetry. Utilizing these concepts and techniques, you will create a 25cm x 25cm glass tile.

In addition, the class will produce a small square tile, utilizing Ian's latest method of production. This tile will be used to introduce a new surface finishing technique involving hand polishing to a fine satin finish.

You will be guided through all aspects of the class, but intermediate glass cutting skills are required since the class involves a lot of glass cutting.

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 Ian Chadwick at www.ianchadwickglassart.co.uk