If DIY month has you itching to learn a new hands-on skill, and you aren’t afraid to singe a little armhair, think about signing up for a workshop at Public Glass. (Kidding, by the way—they make you wear long sleeves.) Public Glass is a non-profit glass shop and gallery that offers classes for beginners who want to try their hands at this fascinating art (and maybe take home some hand-blown tumblers in the process). Click through for details…
According to their web site, Public Glass was formed to meet the needs of Bay Area artists working in hot glass, specifically glass blowing and casting. It’s very much a working shop, but lucky for the rest of us, the artists are eager to share their knowledge and talent with the public.
Sign up for a Sunday afternoon or a full day workshop to learn the basics of gathering and shaping molten glass. (This Sunday they’re offering an intro workshop where you’ll learn to blow a solid glass heart for your valentine!) There’s also a 4-week series for a more in-depth introduction to the art. And of course, once you're hooked, you can move on to the more advanced classes.
If you’re curious, stop by the “Hot Glass, Cold Beer” event this Saturday night to see the shop, watch amazing demos by local artists, and hear some music. You’ll drink your beer from a hand-blown glass. The shop is open from 6pm to 10pm. A great way to stay warm this rainy weekend!
For more detailed info on glass-blowing workshops, see the Public Glass web site.
Photos: Jason Wertheimer
Veronica & Keith's Handmade Chic 
The World's Ugliest Condo: The Big Bathroom Reveal 
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Hunslet Dinner Plate
A Beginner's Guide to Superb Stir-Fry: Quick, Healthy Meals from a Wok
Homesteaders' Cocktail Recipe: Lovage Simple Syrup
Comments (15)
And wear sunglasses... They're a must, especially when staring into a glory hole.
: )
I'm jealous! I wish we had that here. I love the look of blown glass.
I cannot wait to check this place out! Thanks for the info!
I'm going to sign up for a beadmaking class - it looks like a lot of fun! Thanks for the post.
Anyone that takes these classes is in for a treat.
I took a weekend workshop in Redwood City years ago. Despite having watched many, many tv specials about Chihuly, Murano, etc., I was surprised by having to share a single blow pipe (I don't even share straws) and the physical work of constantly turning the rod to keep the glass from falling off.
Regardless, I have fond memories and the eight pieces I made in class, the hightlight of which is a colorful and heavy bowl, aptly called jupiters by the instructor.
Be careful with sunglasses - most of them don't have the right kind of protection against UV and IR! But don't worry, any class worth its salt will provide special safety glasses for you.
If you catch the glassblowing bug, don't despair if you can't have a nice big studio - try taking a flameworking class, because that tiny kind of work can even be done from home with nothing more than a $40 torch from home depot and a crockpot full of vermiculite from the garden center. You won't be able to do big projects, of course, but with that set up you can still have fun with small beads. :)
TrueTex, there are studios in Texas that offer public classes--Austin and DFW areas anyway. I haven't tried them, but plan to in the future.
The Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York offers a number of incredible demonstrations of glassmaking by the artisans and apprentices of Steuben Glass. You can watch glass pieces being made or you can sign up to make some glass art of your own. I've done it twice and it's fantastic.
I would love to learn glass blowing. We have a small place here in my town that can teach torch, and one day i say I will do it, but it is about $150 for the 2 day class. I can learn full on down in Indy, but that would be an hour drive each way for each one of the classes...
one day i shall learn.
Damn, wish i'd seen this earlier. You have to register 4 days in advance, and I'd love to take this Sunday's intro class.
Woo! Called them and got the next to last spot in this Sunday's Hearts making workshop. Anyone else on here going to be there? :)
Just a correction about the "Hot Glass, Cold Beer" event... it's going from 6pm to 9pm (not until 10).
Also, here's some info about the event from the Public Glass operations manager:
"We are a nonprofit facility that rents time to glass artists of all varieties and levels of experience. During this trying economy we struggle to keep our doors open. Our fundraiser helps to get the bills paid (almost). For $25 entry donation you get a handmade beer glass or solid heart or paperweight or fused butterfly that one of our artists made. There is free beer from local breweries, wine, soda, finger foods, live music, loads of glass demos by fantastic artists - these are the best nights here!! All ages are welcome - my 89 year old grandma will be here and my friends newborn will be here as well."
Have fun!
- Susie
Actually, the HGCB event IS 6-10PM.
You can view the invitation here:
http://www.jasonwertheimer.com/hgcb/invitation-feb-abs.html
jason
I took a glass-blowing class once and it was a great choice because you can make great glass and you can say you made it... but warnong: wear only cotton, wear protective eyewear, and be prepared to have all your armhair singed off. lol
Yay for glass! (I'm a glassblower/artist. Really: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/184/469490776_2bee860243_o.jpg .)
Other public access glassblowing facilities where you can learn:
New York City (well, it's in Brooklyn): http://www.urbanglass.org
Chicago: http://www.chicagohotglass.com/
Pittsburgh (hey, I have to represent): http://www.pittsburghglasscenter.org