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Pittsburgh Glass Center

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Fusing

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Fusing for Stained Glass

$265 MEMBER PRICE: $265
Calendar Next available session starts Jan 10, 2026 at 10 am, runs for 1 week
1 additional session on Mar 28, 2026

Bring a whole new dimension to your stained glass projects by learning to create your very own art glass. In this 2-day introductory workshop, you’ll explore the interplay and possibilities between kilnforming and stained glass. On day one, you’ll dive into the colorful world of kilnforming as you learn glass cutting and fusing fundamentals. Experiment with accessory glass like frit and stringers to design and build your own custom art glass sheet.

On day two, discover how to incorporate your one-of-a-kind fused creations into a stained glass suncatcher. You’ll learn how to cut, foil, and solder your fused glass into a finished piece that glows with your personal touch.

Perfect for beginners and experienced glass artists alike. This workshop is a creative fusion of color, technique, and imagination.

This workshop meets 10am-2pm on Saturday, and 1pm-5pm on Sunday.

Ages 14+

Kiln 2: Imagery and Pattern

$540 MEMBER PRICE: $540
Calendar Next available session starts Jan 20, 2026 at 6:30 pm, runs for 8 weeks

In this intermediate fusing class, you’ll refine your glass-cutting skills while diving deeper into color, pattern, and material behavior. Build confidence and precision as you practice advanced cutting techniques, including harnessing the use of the  ¼" strip. Discover fresh ways to make your work stand out by creating custom art glass with powders and stringers. You’ll also design and fabricate a pixel-pattern bar, repeating and manipulating your motif while investigating the scientific properties that drive how glass moves, melts, and fuses.  

Prerequisite:  Kiln 1 or 24 hours of stained glass experience with instructor experience required.  

Class does not meet on 3/3

Ages 14+

Kiln 1: Fusing and Casting

$540 MEMBER PRICE: $540
Calendar Next available session starts Jan 22, 2026 at 9:30 am, runs for 8 weeks
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.

Class does not meet on 3/5.

Ages 14+

Design Your Own Art Glass

$540 MEMBER PRICE: $540
Calendar Next available session starts Jan 25, 2026 at 9:30 am, runs for 8 weeks
Express yourself and design your own sheets of glass. First, you will learn several techniques for working with glass powder, frit, and stringer to design your own glass. Next, you will use your custom made glass in fused glass projects to create beautiful objects based on your personal style. No experience needed.

Class does not meet on 3/1.

Ages 14+

TEENS ONLY! Plate Glass Printmaking

$55 MEMBER PRICE: $55
Calendar Next available session starts Feb 7, 2026 at 10 am

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. Be inspired by the season and opt to make one-of-a-kind Valentine prints! 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 works, ready to display, gift, or admire.

TEENS ONLY workshops are a great introduction to the world of glassmaking, just for teens. Teens will step into the PGC studios and explore the heat, color, and creativity of working with glass in the flame shop, hot shop, kiln shop, or cold shop– alongside other teens. Teens can come solo and make new friends who share an interest in glassmaking, or sign up with a friend to share in the experience.

Looking for a more in-depth experience? Check out our afterschool SiO₂ classes, full-day MOLTN workshops, or summer boot camp for even more hands-on glassmaking fun.

 

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.

Dichroic Jewelry

$280 MEMBER PRICE: $280

with Drue Miller

Calendar Next available session starts Mar 31, 2026 at 6:30 pm, runs for 4 weeks
Discover a rainbow of options with color-shifting dichroic glass! Learn how to make sparkling fused glass pendants and earrings using a variety of techniques. Well also incorporate accessory glass and decals, explore coldworking techniques, and attach findings that turn your one-of-a-kind creations into wearable works of art. No experience is necessary.

Ages 14+

Fusing Open Projects

$280 MEMBER PRICE: $280
Calendar Next available session starts Apr 2, 2026 at 6:30 pm, runs for 4 weeks
After learning the basics of fusing and slumping in the introductory courses, we invite you to continue to develop your skills in Fusing Open Projects. This is a course for those who want to challenge themselves to explore fusing at their own skill level under the guidance of an instructor. Bring your ideas, creativity, ambition, and sketchbook to discuss projects with your instructor who will guide you through the creation.

Prerequisite: Kiln 1 or 24 hours of fusing experience with instructor permission is required.

Ages 14+

Advanced Pattern Making in Kilnformed Glass

$950 MEMBER PRICE: $950

with Ian Chadwick

Calendar Next available session starts May 18, 2026 at 9 am, runs for 1 week

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





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