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Pittsburgh Glass Center

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Plate Glass Printmaking

$95 MEMBER PRICE: $95
Calendar Next available session starts May 2, 2026 at 1 pm

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. 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 work, ready to display, gift, or admire.

Ages 14+

Fast Track Flameworking: Implosions

$165 MEMBER PRICE: $165
Calendar Next available session starts May 3, 2026 at 10:30 am
Create glass explosions of color. In this full-day beginner flameworking workshop, learn to melt and shape glass rods over a 3,000°F torch and transform them into implosion pendants, sculptures, or magnets. Guided demonstrations will teach you the compression technique, while providing hand-on support to help you shape several stunning pieces. You will gain a solid foundation in studio safety, torch operation, essential sculpting techniques, and experience the joy of working with molten glass.

Come ready to let your imagination explode in 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.

Hot Glass Blowout

$275 MEMBER PRICE: $275
Calendar Next available session starts May 3, 2026 at 11 am

If you've ever wanted to try glassblowing, this is the workshop for you. This 5-hour workshop offers an introduction to the art of glassblowing. Designed for beginners, you will gain hands-on experience in the hot shop, and learn essential techniques for gathering, shaping, and manipulating molten glass straight from the 2,100°F furnace.

After learning to gather, you'll sculpt a paperweight and then progress to additional glassblowing techniques, enabling you to craft a variety of glass objects throughout the day.

Instructors provide step-by-step guidance to ensure a safe and productive learning experience.

Warning! Hot glass is immersive and captivating. Once you start working with it, you may not want to stop.

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.

Stained Glass Garden Gnome

$175 MEMBER PRICE: $175
Calendar Next available session starts May 3, 2026 at 1 pm

Bring some whimsy to your garden. In this introductory 4-hour workshop, you’ll create a charming gnome garden stake for your indoor pots or outdoor garden. Under the guidance of a skilled instructor, you’ll learn essential stained glass techniques including cutting glass, copper foiling, following a pattern, soldering, and assembling as you make a two-dimensional garden stake.

It’ll be gnome-tastic fun from start to finish, and you’ll leave with a whimsical piece ready to brighten your greenery.

Ages 14+

Advanced Pattern Making in Kilnformed Glass

$950 MEMBER PRICE: $950

with Ian Chadwick

Calendar Next 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

Full Course

Aquatics #6 - Game On!

$950 MEMBER PRICE: $950

with deb crowley

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

This class is the sixth in my Aquatics Series. In this five-day class we will work strictly with borosilicate glass to create fresh and saltwater game fish. We start day one with a few small pendants to warm up. Fish, sting rays, and nudibranchs are on the menu. Next, we dive right into a rainbow trout on a wood branch featuring the new Molten Aura Electrum glass, perfect for those shimmery fish! On day three we’ll make a large Mahi Mahi on water wisps scene and on day four a yellowfin tuna chasing some small schooling fish. On the last day we will make small creatures for our vignettes.

This is a fast-paced, fun-filled class with a lot of time to cement new skills to make great saleable items!

Deb has been flameworking for 35 years and shows you great ideas for more interesting art by adding expressive narratives, drawing the observer in to find their own stories in each one. Grab your gear and let’s go fishing!

Students are asked to bring three bases for your vignettes, preferably wood so they can easily be drilled out for components. Shortly before the class begins, students will receive an email with more details and suggested tools to bring.

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 deb crowley at www.debcrowley.com

Incredibly Intricate Murrine

$950 MEMBER PRICE: $950

with Penelope (Rakov) Lee

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

In this five-day class our goal is to break down the best method for constructing incredibly intricate murrine. Because of its complexity, murrine can be intimidating and hard to know which steps to do in what order. But by slowing down and really looking at how to best approach each step in the process, we can achieve the kinds of patterns that can seem impossible.

We will cover:

  • Some color theory
  • How to pull successful cane
  • How to build simple, and then complex bundles
  • When to work hot, and when to work cold
  • What to look for when cutting murrine for the hot shop, the kiln shop, and other applications
  • How to set up a plate for patterned roll ups
  • And finally, how to manage your piece with all those murrine.

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 Penelope (Rakov) Lee at https://www.instagram.com/pennyrakovlee/

Full Course

Flame to Form: Beadmaking Foundations & Beyond

$950 MEMBER PRICE: $950

with Alessia Fuga

Calendar Next available session starts May 25, 2026 at 9 am, runs for 1 week

Ready to turn fire and glass into wearable art?

Join us for an immersive beadmaking experience where you'll learn to shape, decorate, and design stunning glass beads.

No experience? No problem.

Already started? We’ll help you grow.

In this five-day class, you will begin by learning how to set up and work confidently but safely in a studio environment. You’ll gain a solid understanding of ventilation, personal protection, proper heat management, and the tools of the trade — mandrels, marvers, graphite paddles, bead release,etc.. Special attention is given to the nature of soft glass, COE compatibility, and proper cooling.

Through guided demonstrations, you will explore the fundamental techniques of bead shaping — from round basics to more sculptural forms like ovals, barrels, hearts, bicones and figurative beads. You'll also learn essential surface decoration methods including stringer application, dot work, encasing, and simple layering to create depth and complexity in your designs.

Along the way, the class introduces the principles of color theory and glass reactions and the use of silver foil. You’ll also develop basic troubleshooting skills to overcome common issues such as cracking, bubbling, and devitrification.

The class includes an introduction to hollow beads for beginners— and blown beads for advanced beginners. Both techniques challenge your control of heat, shape, and wall thickness.

During the class or in your open studio time, whether you’re building a consistent set, experimenting with personal motifs, or developing a signature style, this course supports your growth as both a maker and designer. You’ll leave with a collection of finished beads, the foundational skills for continued independent practice, and the inspiration to keep the torch burning.

This is a perfect class for beginners or for those who feel they need to review their basic skills in order to go further in their exploration. But you have to remember that learning how to work with hot glass is a personal and unique path. Take your time and don't be afraid to make mistakes.

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 Alessia Fuga at www.alessiafuga.com





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