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Hot Shop Winter Sampler
Double the fun, double the creativity. In this festive introductory workshop, you’ll make two distinct glass creations. You’ll gather glass from the 2,100°F furnace and add color. Then guided by a skilled instructor, you will create one festive blown glass ornament and one sculpted snowperson.
This workshop is a fun introductory experience to hot glass sculpting AND hot glassblowing. Each participant will make two unique seasonal creations, perfect for decorating or gifting.
Due to the nature of hot glass, your items will be available for pickup 5 days after your activity.
Flame 1: Introduction to Flameworking
PGC 1 Flameworking is the art of melting, manipulating, sculpting, and blowing glass over a tabletop torch. This introductory 8-week class will cover safety, torch operation, and a variety of solid sculpting practices using borosilicate glass rods. Weekly demonstrations will teach new tips, tools, and the color applications needed to melt glass and create unique works of art. You can expect to learn how to sculpt pendants, marbles, animals, leaves, flowers, and small sculptures. The instructor will also provide one-on-one troubleshooting. No experience necessary..
Class tuition includes 2 hours of open-studio time to be used during the 8-week course period. This will help you become familiar with the studio and learn the process of studio rental beyond class hours. Open Studio is held on Monday Nights 5:00pm - 9:00pm.
Ages 14+
Kiln 1: Fusing and Casting
Are you curious about the kiln Shop? In Kiln 1, you will gain a broad understanding of the vast possibilities of kilnformed glass exploring both fusing and casting techniques. You will learn how to cut sheet glass and work with a variety of other materials to melt and shape your designs creating an array of functional and decorative pieces.
Then, get a bit more dimensional with an introduction to cast glass. Using a found object, you will learn how to reproduce the object in glass. You will also gain an understanding of kiln programming and the properties of glass. No experience is necessary.
Ages 14+
Flame 1: Introduction to Flameworking
PGC 1 Flameworking is the art of melting, manipulating, sculpting, and blowing glass over a tabletop torch. This introductory 8-week class will cover safety, torch operation, and a variety of solid sculpting practices using borosilicate glass rods. Weekly demonstrations will teach new tips, tools, and the color applications needed to melt glass and create unique works of art. You can expect to learn how to sculpt pendants, marbles, animals, leaves, flowers, and small sculptures. The instructor will also provide one-on-one troubleshooting. No experience necessary..
Class tuition includes 2 hours of open-studio time to be used during the 8-week course period. This will help you become familiar with the studio and learn the process of studio rental beyond class hours. Open Studio is held on Monday Nights 5:00pm - 9:00pm.
Ages 14+
Hot Glass 1
PGC 1 Learn to blow glass now.
In this introductory class, learn to gather clear molten glass from the furnace and shape it into various forms, from paperweights to simple blown shapes, such as cups and bowls.
Instruction focuses on a team approach to glassblowing, with an emphasis on safety, proper tool use, basic techniques, and materials. Youll never drink from a glass again without appreciating the energy and detail that went into making it. No experience is required.
You may also wish to take this class a second time in order to continue to develop and refine basic skills before moving on to Hot Glass 2. Each time you take it, your skill level, confidence, and passion for glass will grow.
Class tuition includes 2 hours of open-studio time to be used during the 8-week course period. Open Studio is held on Monday Nights 5:00pm - 9:00pm.
Powder Printing with Screens
Explore the versatility of powder printing, an exciting glass process that combines screenprinting techniques with finely ground glass powder to transfer imagery onto sheet glass. Inspired by Pittsburgh’s rich history of photographic silkscreen printing, this course invites artists of all backgrounds to experiment with imagery, pattern, layering, and repetition.
You’ll learn how to manipulate images using computer software, prepare artwork for screenprinting, and burn your own designs onto screens. From personal photographs to patterns and graphic imagery, you’ll explore techniques for creating multiples and building layered compositions with glass powder.
Projects will be limited in size to accommodate the available screens and kilns, but you’ll leave with the skills and knowledge to scale up your work and confidently use PGC equipment for larger projects independently.
No prior glass or screenprinting experience is necessary.
Introduction to Coldworking
PGC 1 Learn how to operate all of the equipment to cut, grind, drill, engrave, sandblast, and polish glass in this entirely cold process class. Learn techniques to strategize the best optical placement of cuts and gain experience using special adhesives to chemically bond glass segments together. Create unique works of glass art with interesting surface textures and shapes. Leave with a foundational knowledge of coldworking techniques and understanding of the lamination process. No experience necessary.
Class tuition includes 4 hours of open-studio time to be used during the 8-week course period. Open Studio is held on Mondays from 5:00pm - 9:00pm.
Ages 14+
Stained Glass 1: Introduction to Copper Foil
PGC 123 In this introductory class, you will learn the basics for working with flat colorful glass, such as cutting, grinding, foiling, and soldering. You'll explore the famous Tiffany method of construction and work with provided patterns to create a single finished stained glass panel ready for display.
No experience necessary.
This class is designed for beginners, and is a prerequisite for Stained Glass 2 level classes.
This multiweek class takes place at The Pittsburgh Glass Corner, Pittsburgh Glass Center's Community space located at 5431 Penn Avenue. ON THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS, please meet at the Pittsburgh Glass Center (5472 Penn Avenue) to check in at the Front Desk.