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Gather and Brew: Blown Glass Cup
Join us for an evening of hot glass making and cold beer drinking with Two Frays Brewery.
We think beer tastes better in a handmade glass. The right glass can transform every sip, letting you savor the flavors and nuances of your favorite brew. In this quick and exciting hot shop experience, you’ll work closely with a skilled artist to blow and shape molten glass from our 2,100°F furnace into a handmade cup, perfect for enjoying a beverage of your choice.
After your hands-on studio time, kick back, and talk with the brewer, enjoy the beers, relax on the patio with some snacks, wander the gallery, and watch live glassblowing demonstrations throughout the evening. If you register for a later glassmaking slot, we suggest arriving early to enjoy all this event has to offer.
Cheers to a night of craft, flavor, and fun!
Ages 21+
Don’t put a cork in it yet. Register here to make a glass bottle stopper in the flame shop and register here to make a fused glass coaster in the kiln shop!
Make-It-Now experiences offer a quick hands-on introduction to the magic of glassmaking. In the hot shop, you’ll work one-on-one with a skilled local artist at the 2,100°F furnace. In about 15 minutes or less, you’ll work together to shape, color, and craft your glass item. Perfect for beginners, these short experiences offer a taste of the excitement, skill, and artistry that goes into working with glass in a supportive, guided setting.
Ages 21+
Guests under 21 not permitted.
Due to the nature of hot glass, items cannot be taken home the same day they are created. All items made in the hot 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.
Gather and Brew: Bottle Stopper
Join us for an evening of hot glass making and cold beer drinking with Two Frays Brewery.
Keep your beer fresh and the molten glass flowing. In this quick and exciting flame shop experience, you’ll work closely with a skilled artist to gather and shape molten glass into a custom bottle stopper using a 3,000°F torch. Use your bottle stopper with any beverage at any time to keep it fresh.
After your hands-on studio time, kick back and talk with the brewer, enjoy the beers, relax on the patio with some snacks, wander the gallery, and watch live glassblowing demonstrations throughout the evening. If you register for a later glassmaking slot, we suggest arriving early to enjoy all this event has to offer.
Cheers to a night of craft, flavor, and fun.
Don’t put a cork in it yet. Register here to make a blown glass cup in the hot shop and register here to make a coaster in the kiln shop.
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 21+
Guests under 21 not permitted.
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.
Twist It! Cut It! Bead It! A flameworked bead and stained glass cross-over class
Experience the best of both worlds in this unique workshop combining beadmaking and stained glass. On day one, explore the colorful world of flameworked beads as you learn to shape molten glass on a 3,000°F torch creating several small beads. Guided by a skilled instructor, you will learn how to add dots, lines, texture, and give your beads personality. End your day exploring the whimsical world of stained glass. You’ll choose a pattern for your panel and pick your glass colors. Match your beads or go wild and have fun with contrasting colors.
On day two, you’ll be back in the stained glass studio to construct your stained glass panel. Guided by a skilled instructor you will learn the basics of cutting, grinding, and copper foiling your glass panels. Finish your work by adding your flameworked beads to your panel for texture, depth, and fun whimsical detailing. This workshop is great for all levels of beadmakers and stained glass students. No Experience required.
This two-day class runs on:
Saturday 9/12 9:30am-1:30pm
Sunday 9/13 10:00am-4:00pm
Fused Glass Dish
Turn sheets of glass into a sparkling, functional work of art. In this introductory workshop, you’ll learn to cut sheet glass into geometric shapes and combine them with frit (colored glass granules) and stringers (thin colored glass rods) to design a one-of-a-kind dish.
Once your design is complete, we’ll fire it in the kiln to fuse everything together and then shape it in a mold, creating a beautiful and functional piece. Perfect for holding spare change, serving small snacks, displaying jewelry, or simply adding a touch of glassy sparkle to your space.
Due to the nature of hot glass, your items will be available for pickup 5 days after your activity.
MOLTN Teen Glass Sampler
MOLTN is a dynamic and unique workshop created just for teens to explore the exciting world of glass art at Pittsburgh Glass Center. Working alongside professional glass artists, students will experience the heat, skill, and creativity that go into shaping molten glass across three studios: the Hot Shop, the Flame Shop, and the Kiln Shop.
In the Hot Shop, teens will gather and shape molten glass from a 2,100°F furnace. In the Flame Shop, they’ll use a 3,000°F torch to melt and sculpt solid glass rods. In the Kiln Shop, they’ll design and prepare glass pieces to be fused together in kilns reaching up to 1,700°F. Through this immersive experience, students will learn a range of glassmaking techniques, gain confidence working with heat and tools, and create their own one-of-a-kind glass artworks.
No experience necessary, just curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to get fired up about glass!
MOLTN is designed for students in grades 6–12.
Note: Class time includes a 30-minute break for lunch. Lunch is not provided, but we do have a refrigerator on site if needed.
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.
Upcycled Bottles
Give your empty bottles and jars a second life. In this introductory workshop, you’ll transform everyday glass into beautiful and functional pieces like drinking glasses, vases, candle holders, or unique decor.
Bring 2–4 clean bottles or jars, and a skilled instructor will guide you through cutting, grinding, polishing, sandblasting, and engraving to create your own custom designs.
To make the most of your creative time, please remove any paper labels before the workshop.
Get ready to upcycle, refresh, and reimagine your glass.
Fused Geode Coasters
Using vibrant glass colors and organic patterns, you’ll assemble a set of functional coasters that are both decorative and durable. Once your designs are complete, we’ll fire them in the kiln so all the pieces fuse together into luminous finished works of glass art. Each participant will make a set of 2 to 4 coasters.
Nerd Nite: Make-It-Now Fused Glass Suncatcher
Join us for Nerd Nite at Pittsburgh Glass Center.
Learn about glass and make new friends with a one-of-a-kind speed friending and glass making experience. It’s perfect for glass lovers, nerds, or anyone looking to try something new and meet someone new.
Nerd Nite Pittsburgh is a lecture series that’s a mix between a comedy show, TED talk, and a social mixer. Speakers present for 15 minutes on a variety of topics related to science and technology, popular culture, history, and other nerdery with a vibe that’s as entertaining as it is academic. Audience members can ask questions, and there is an entirely optional social game. Expect to learn new and fascinating things, making friends with other nerds and enjoy food and drinks.
Your experience at Pittsburgh Glass Center includes:
- A 15-20 minute quick hands-on glassmaking session (details below)
- Captivating live glassblowing demonstrations 5-7PM
- Tasty drinks and snacks 5-7 PM
- Speed friending (optional) 7-8 PM Get more details
- A nerdy presentation diving deep into an array of diverse subjects. Previous topics include bug butts, megaraptors, and cosplay 8-9PM
Make a Fused Glass Suncatcher
In this fun fused glass experience, you’ll use colorful glass granules (frit) and thin glass rods (stringers) to design and make your own vibrant glass suncatcher. Whether festive, cartoonish, or geometric, your handmade creation will add a little sparkle to any window. Once your design is complete, we’ll fire it in the kiln so all the pieces fuse together into a beautiful finished suncatcher.
Whether you’re flying solo or coming with friends, this is more than just a class. It’s an experience that blends artistry, hands-on fun, and nerding out. Be there AND be square!
Our quick hands-on introductory glassmaking experiences are perfect for beginners. They give a taste of the excitement, skill, and artistry that goes into working with glass in a supportive, guided setting.
Ages 21+
Guests under 21 not permitted.
Due to the nature of hot glass, items cannot be taken home the same day they are created. All items made 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.