Where there is a will, there is a way. Students will develop and learn the skills needed to produce their projects in neon. Through demos and hands-on activities, we will cover the foundation of electrical wiring (and how not to be afraid of it), simple and effective methods of working with phosphorus and color, T-welds, partmaking, relays, animation, and more.

Glass is a great material for making musical instruments: it’s fast to work with and can yield a wide range of unusual sounds. Based upon a general framework of sound-making types, we will explore the theory and the creative whimsy of making and learning to play musical instruments made of glass. Students will invent their own instruments, discover how to play them, and then integrate their sounds with the rest of the class. The class will thus become a band!

In this workshop, we will use a team approach in the hot shop that emphasizes good communication and coordination. Learn to pull cane, pick up cane on a collar and a bubble, and use those processes to make a variety of blown objects. We will explore sculpting, hot and cold assemblies, and fundamentals of cold-working as they pertain to cane work.

Immerse yourself in the world of solid, hot-sculpted glass! We will be working collaboratively in the hot shop to create detailed works inspired by nature. Students will use a variety of both traditional and unconventional techniques to incorporate texture, color, and patterns in their artwork. The focus will be on learning how to work as an effective team to create complex assemblages. This course will be a general overview of solid sculpting and assemblage.

Explore the intersections of digital design, tool making, and kiln-formed glass. Rhino 3-D modeling software and digital fabrication provide opportunities for visualization, iteration, specificity, and modularity. Digital design facilitates tiling systems and multiples. Consider how commands, such as revolve and extrude, exist in both digital design and traditional moldmaking processes. Some experience in Rhino is helpful; a laptop is required.