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Pittsburgh Glass Center



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Hot Glass in the Fast Lane

$680 MEMBER PRICE: $680
Calendar Next available session starts Apr 4, 2026 at 9:30 am, runs for 4 weeks

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

Explore glassblowing in just 4-weeks! Learn to gather molten glass from the furnace, and then sculpt it into various forms, from paperweights to simple blown shapes, like cups and bowls.

Focus will be placed on the team approach to glassblowing and will emphasize safety, proper tool use, basic techniques, and materials.

This class is appropriate whether you have limited hot shop experience or none at all. You will experience the same number of contact hours as students attending the once-a-week, 8-week classes, but in a condensed, 4-week format.

There are two options: One class meets twice a week on both Tuesday and Thursday; the other is a longer day on Saturdays.

 Ages 14+

How to Play with Molten Glass

$280 MEMBER PRICE: $280

with Drue Miller

Calendar Next available session starts Apr 4, 2026 at 12:30 pm, runs for 4 weeks

Start your fusing journey or take it to the next level. Learn how to create your own vitrigraph stringers by shaping molten glass while it flows out of the bottom of a kiln. Vitrigraph is ideal for creating realistic-looking tree branches, vines, flower stems and other organic shapes. In this class you'll learn proper safety and how to set up the kiln. You'll learn to select and blend colors and pull molten glass into a variety of thick-to-thin strings, twisted strands, loops, coils, and other shapes. Each week we'll pull a different color, cover general fusing education, and create functional plates, bowls, suncatchers, and other one-of-a-kind pieces. No experience needed.

 

Ages 14+

Introduction to Borosilicate

$230 MEMBER PRICE: $230
Calendar Next available session starts Apr 4, 2026 at 1 pm, runs for 4 weeks
Learn to work with borosilicate (hard) glass over the torch. Borosilicate is very resistant to shock which makes it perfectly suited to scientific applications. It's also appropriate for countless artistic projects. Explore the creation of borosilicate beads, marbles, and pendants while learning new methods for applying color to your glass objects. No experience necessary.

Ages 14+

Color and Aquatics

$230 MEMBER PRICE: $230
Calendar Next available session starts Apr 4, 2026 at 4:30 pm, runs for 4 weeks
Take a deep dive into this aquatic themed 4-week flameworking course. Demonstrations will include sculpting sea forms such as fish, sea turtles, octopus, and marine plant life. Over the course of 4 weeks, you will learn color application, hand control, and annealing. Instruction will cover safety, torch operation, a variety of solid sculpting practices using borosilicate glass, and provide one-on-one troubleshooting. This class is great for someone to expand their sculpting skills at the torch.

Prerequisite: Flame 1: Introduction to Flameworking, or equivalent 24 hours experience with instructor permission required.

Ages 14+

Flameworking: Open Projects

$230 MEMBER PRICE: $230
Calendar Next available session starts Apr 5, 2026 at 9:30 am, runs for 4 weeks
Finish a project you have had on the back burner or tackle a new one while focusing on your favorite techniques in Flameworking Open Projects. Instructor will work one-on-one with students and provide personalized demos and troubleshooting.

Prerequisite: Flame 2 or 72 hours equivalent experience or instructor permission required.

Ages 14+

Stained Glass Open Projects in the Fast Lane

$550 MEMBER PRICE: $550
Calendar Next available session starts Apr 5, 2026 at 9:30 am, runs for 4 weeks

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

After learning the basics of stained glass construction in the introductory or intermediate stained glass classes, we invite you to continue to develop your skills in Stained Glass Open Projects. This is a class for those who want to challenge themselves to explore the art of stained glass at their own skill level under the guidance of an instructor. Class projects will be limited to no larger than 16"x18" and students may be required to purchase some of their own materials if the studio glass selection does not meet their specific needs.

You will experience the same number of contact hours as students attending the once-a-week, 8-week classes, but in a condensed, 4-week format.

Class tuition includes 1 session of open-studio time per student to be used during the 4-week course period if needed to complete your project.

Prerequisite: Introduction to Stained Glass or 24 hours of stained glass experience with instructor permission is required.

Ages 14+

Story and a Suncatcher

$40 MEMBER PRICE: $40
Calendar Next available session starts Apr 11, 2026 at 10 am

Stories, sunshine, and sparkle. Join us for a bright and creative experience for little artists and their grown-ups. We’ll start by reading a story together in the gallery, exploring colors, light, and shapes in the artwork around us. Then, inspired by what we’ve seen, you’ll work side-by-side to design and decorate your own glass suncatcher, perfect for catching a bit of sunshine at home. This is a fun way for kids and their adults to learn, play, and create together. This activity is designed for young artists ages 5 to 6 and their accompanying adults.

 

Suncatchers will be fired in a kiln and cooled slowly so that your creation can shine safely. They will be ready for pickup in five days.

This program is designed for young artists ages 5 - 6 with their accompanying adults.

Make-It-Now: Fused Glass Spring Suncatcher

$35 MEMBER PRICE: $35
Calendar Next available session starts Apr 12, 2026 at 11 am
Celebrate the season with color and creativity! In this fun kiln shop experience, you will use colorful glass granules (frit) and thin glass rods (stringers) to design and make your own vibrant glass suncatcher, a perfect decoration to welcome spring’s light. Once you design it, we’ll fire it so all the pieces become one. Capture the spirit of spring in glass and bring a little sunshine to your windows! 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 children 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.





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