Dive into the world of glass in this full-day beginner workshop. Guided by a skilled instructor, you’ll explore the art of solid sculpting over a 3,000°F torch while drawing inspiration from the depths of the ocean. Through live demonstrations and hands-on practice, you’ll learn to shape shimmering sea forms, from fish and sea turtles to flowing marine plants. You will also have the opportunity to request additional creatures or forms as time allows.

You will gain a solid foundation in studio safety, torch operation, essential sculpting techniques, and experience the joy of working with molten 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.

PGC 129

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.

PGC 162

Bring your garden to life with a vibrant stained glass mushroom. In this introductory workshop, you’ll explore the fundamentals of stained glass. Under the guidance of a skilled instructor, you’ll learn to cut, wrap, and solder glass from a pattern into a fun and funky mushroom that brightens potted plants or outdoor beds. Great for adding personality and sparkle to any space.

 

Ages 14+

 

This beginner glassblowing class will introduce you to the hot shop. We will start by gathering glass out of the furnace, then introduce blowing bubbles and learn to apply hand and tool techniques. By the end of the week, you’ll be working with a partner to create functional vessels you can use. Following this class, you should feel comfortable in any hot shop with an understanding of the tools, processes, teamwork, and communication involved in making blown glass work.

All levels are welcome.

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 Beyvan Schantz at www.beyvanschantz.com

and Lyla Nelson at www.lylanelson.net

This class invites illustrators, painters, designers, photographers, and anyone interested in the graphic image to experiment with the possibilities of pictorial representation on glass. You will explore kiln-based processes such as fusing, slumping, layering, draping, and incorporating images through both digital and analog approaches.

The five-day class emphasizes developing a personal visual language while investigating the interplay of transparency, image, texture, and form. A collaborative spirit will be encouraged, with projects that capture, distort, and reinterpret landscapes, memories, and visual narratives.

Students will produce a series of small experimental works as technical studies and one finished piece integrating glass enameling, photo transfer, and layering. By the end of the class, you will be able to independently operate a glass kiln and sandblaster, and confidently translate your imagery onto glass.

This class welcomes all skill levels. It can be an excellent option for people with no glass experience and also for glassblowers who want to incorporate imagery into their blown shapes. All are encouraged to take advantage of open studio hours.

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 Josefina Muñoz Torres at www.josefinamunoz.net

In this cross-disciplinary class, you will use the torch to create objects out of glass that will then be engraved by handheld diamond tools. Inspired by the origins of engraving, we will investigate how to recreate some of the first known works carved by humanity. As we make our own versions of these objects, we will experiment with how to combine these techniques and processes into our individual artistic practices.

Students will start by developing a basic knowledge of torchworking in the Flame Shop to create their own cabochon and cylinder seal shapes. Once these objects are made, we will take them to the cold shop, where you will learn the art of engraving with handheld diamond drills. We will also introduce other various coldworking techniques such as lapidary grinding and sandblasting to shape and assemble our projects.

Through the study of ancient glassmaking and engraving, you will explore different ways to adapt to the changes in materials and technologies from history to the present. As a team of researchers, we will learn to remake these objects in a contemporary, but still true-to-process method.

All levels are welcome from beginners to intermediate students.

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 Ryan Tanner at https://www.ryeglass.com/about

Celebrate Pride at Pittsburgh Glass Center with an evening of colorful activities and free hot glass demonstrations.

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.

Pay What Makes You Happy: During checkout, choose a price that feels right for you. Higher contributions directly support reduced-cost access for others. Proceeds from this activity will benefit our LGBTQIA+ scholarship fund. 

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.

 

Have a blast in this quick and fun cold shop experience. You’ll turn an ordinary piece of glass into a beautiful one-of-a-kind work of art. Use stickers and tape to design your own pattern, motif, or image, and with the help of a skilled artist, sandblast your piece to a frosted finish, to capture the light in style. Create a design that’s seasonal, meaningful, geometric, or totally your own.

Make it, blast it, and take it home the very same night!

Make-It-Now experiences offer a quick hands-on introduction to the art of coldworking. In the cold shop, you’ll work with a skilled local artist using our specialized equipment to personalize your own glass piece through either sandblasting or engraving. In less than an hour, you’ll experience the cool side of glassmaking. Perfect for beginners, this guided session is a fun and creative experience with no heating or cooling required.

This is one experience where you can make it and take-it home on the same day.

Sandblasting Ages 5+

Adult supervision is required for any children under 14 years old