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Pittsburgh Glass Center



Class Length

Make-It-Now: Rainbow Suncatcher

$35
Calendar Current session started Jun 13, 2026 at 11 am
3 additional sessions through Jun 13, 2026
Get creative with color! In this fun kiln shop experience, you’ll be guided by a skilled artist to use colorful glass granules (frit) and thin glass rods (stringers) to design your own vibrant glass suncatcher—a fun decorative way to capture sunlight and express yourself with glass. Once you design it, we’ll fire it, so all the pieces become one.

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 child 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.

Make-It-Now: Rainbow Magnet

$30
Calendar Current session started Jun 13, 2026 at 11 am
11 additional sessions through Jun 13, 2026

Fire up the torch, shape molten glass, and get colorful. In this quick and exciting flame shop experience, you’ll work closely with a skilled artist to gather and shape molten glass into a hand-crafted magnet using a 3,000°F torch. Swirl in all the colors of the rainbow to make a fun and unique work of art for your fridge.

 

Make-It-Now experiences offer a quick hands-on introduction to the magic of glassmaking. In the flame shop, you’ll work one-on-one with a skilled local artist at a 3,000° tabletop torch. In about 20 minutes or less, you’ll work together to heat, shape, color, and craft your glass item. Perfect for beginners, these short experiences give a taste of the excitement, skill, and artistry that goes into working with glass in a supportive, guided setting.

 

Ages 8+

 

Adult supervision is required for any child 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 flame shop must go through an annealing process to slowly cool the glass. Items are available for pick-up after 5 days. Shipping can be arranged on site the day of your activity.

Blown Glass Terrariums

$135
Calendar Current session started Jun 13, 2026 at 5 pm
PGC 130

Create a beautiful glass home for your favorite air plants. In this introductory workshop, you will gather glass from the 2,100°F furnace and add color. Then, guided by a skilled instructor, you will blow, shape, and sculpt it into a one-of-a-kind terrarium.

This workshop is a fun introductory experience into hot glassblowing. Each participant will craft two blown glass terrariums, perfect for displaying your air plants, cuttings, or trinkets. (Air plants not included.)

Ages 14+

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

Full Course
Stained Glass Garden Gnome
Registration Unavailable

Stained Glass Garden Gnome

$175
PGC 160

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+

 

Hot Glass Blowout

$275
Calendar Next available session starts Jun 14, 2026 at 9 am

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.

Blown Glass Catch-All Bowls

$135
Calendar Next available session starts Jun 14, 2026 at 5 pm
PGC 124

Get ready to be bowl-ed over by the magic of molten glass. In this introductory workshop, you’ll gather molten glass from the 2,100°F furnace and choose and add color. Then guided by a skilled instructor, you will blow and shape it into vibrant double-walled blown glass bowls.

 

This workshop is a fun introductory experience to glassblowing. Each participant will craft two bowls, ideal for holding small items, serving snacks, displaying jewelry, or adding a funky 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.

Break Through!

$1,050

with Chris Ross

Calendar Next session starts Jun 15, 2026 at 9 am, runs for 1 week

Explore how traditional coldworking can be utilized in non-traditional and modern applications. 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.

Collaborate with glass blowers in the hot shop to design colorful items then manipulate them to reveal layers of color with the lathe, sandblaster, or lap wheels. Combine found objects, cement, and glass. Then cut, laminate, and coldwork new and exciting shapes.  Leave with a foundational knowledge of coldworking techniques and understanding of the lamination process. Come away with new skills, fun projects, and inspiration for more complicated works.

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 Chris Ross at saburodesign.com

Full Course

Experimental Kilnforming with Recycled Glass

$1,050

with Morgan Gilbreath

Calendar Next available session starts Jun 15, 2026 at 9 am, runs for 1 week

Learn how to embrace the unique working properties of found, recycled, and manufactured glass. In this experimental five-day class, you’ll be introduced to the creative possibilities of repurposed glass in the kiln and cold shop. Guided by demonstrations and technical lectures, we will complete a fast-paced series of kiln tests and small sculptures utilizing various types of found and collected glass.

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 Morgan Gilbreath at www.morgangilbreath.com





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