SiO2 Glassblowing is a hands-on, after school program specifically for students in grades 9-12. Classes meet once a week for 10 sessions.

High school-aged students will work closely with professional teaching artists to learn to gather from the 2,100°F furnace, tool handling, and how to shape molten glass into solid and blown forms. After practicing and reviewing the basics, young artists are encouraged to bring their own creativity and ideas to the bench.

This program is designed with youth in mind. The course focuses on safety, confidence building with materials, and teaching foundational glassmaking skills to young artists. Sessions and content will vary and adapt to students' interests and skills. This program is often taken more than once. We encourage our students from Mixed and Mashed Up to level up to this program, but no previous experience is required.

Students who participate in SiO2 Glassblowing are invited to participate in a celebration and exhibition at the end of the semester and are also invited to show their work in a rotating display on Pittsburgh Glass Center’s third floor.

 

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.

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.

This intensive class offers students a sampler platter of technical exercises, color applications, and sculptural techniques working in both solid and hollow borosilicate glass. Designed to expose students to the vast possibilities of flameworking, this class will explore a variety of concepts and techniques.

You will be presented with new ideas and challenges to overcome, and will be encouraged and guided through both group and one-on-one demonstrations. Instruction will begin with technical exercises to help promote good habits, and will move on to a variety of sculptural approaches and color applications.

Students of all and no experience are welcome to try their hands at a variety of techniques or to focus on a particular skill or project throughout the week. First time flameworkers are encouraged to join.

Additional Class Materials

A blow hose assembly kit is required. Students may bring their own or kits are available for purchase on-site on the first day of class for $40.

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 Sam Whitney at IG: samuelwhitney

and Lisa Demagall at lisademagall.com

Make your mark in glass! In this introductory workshop, design a custom fused glass plaque featuring your name. With guidance from a skilled instructor, you’ll learn how to cut and assemble colorful sheet glass into a mosaic-style panel. Once you design it, we’ll fire it in the kiln so all the pieces become one, a fun one-of-a-kind way to show off your personal style.

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.

Find your calm in the flame. In this introductory workshop, learn the basics of using a 3,000°F torch and shape molten glass into colorful fidget stones. Guided by a skilled instructor, you’ll apply color and surface texture to make it your own. Perfect for finding some focus, a tool for fidgeting, or great for gifting.

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.

An 8-week curriculum, accelerated into just 4 weeks.

Learn Flame Shop basics in this 4-week intro class, which gives you the same number of contact hours as our 8-week class. Work with borosilicate (hard) glass rods, which can be melted, colored, and shaped into decorated beads, pendants, marbles, and sculptures. Over 4 weeks, focus on hand control, color application, and annealing while receiving one-on-one troubleshooting advice. No experience necessary.

 

This 4-week class meets twice a week on both Tuesday and Thursday.

 

Ages 14+

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+

An 8-week curriculum, accelerated into just 4 weeks.

Learn Flame Shop basics in this 4-week intro class, which gives you the same number of contact hours as our 8-week class. Work with borosilicate (hard) glass rods, which can be melted, colored, and shaped into decorated beads, pendants, marbles, and sculptures. Over 4 weeks, focus on hand control, color application, and annealing while receiving one-on-one troubleshooting advice. No experience necessary.

 

This 4-week class meets twice a week on both Tuesday and Thursday.

 

Ages 14+