Glass Workshops
June 8–11
Borosilicate Marbles: Tiny Worlds Within
Instructor: Miles Parker
All Levels | 3-Day Extended Weekend Schedule
$395 Member | $425 Non-Member
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Through demonstrations and ample experimentation, explore the basics of making a borosilicate marble, such as encasement and tubing implosions, to create tiny worlds within. Materials used may include gold, silver, copper, dichroic glass, Herkimer diamond, volcanic pebbles, and a wide spectrum of colored glass. Many techniques could be applied to various forms, such as bracelets and pendants. Your questions will guide the demonstrations and discussion topics.
About the Instructor: Miles Parker is a self-taught glass artist from Ithaca, New York. Since 1997, he has been experimenting with glass in a variety of ways, which include fusing and slumping in the kiln, stained glass, both leaded and copper foil, as well as some furnace work. The majority of his experimentation has been in flameworking, most recently with encasing various objects, such as Herkimer diamonds, volcanic pebbles, and a variety of elemental materials within borosilicate marbles. Miles is passionate about sharing his love for glass with people of all ages. He says, “Working glass is much like learning to walk. One who is very skilled may ‘walk’ around you all day long, however, until you stand up to feel the sensations and find your balance, you won’t really know how.” Miles still considers himself a toddler in the world of glass, one who is just catching his balance and thrilled by the excitement of possibilities ahead.
June 18–22
Flameworking Fundamentals
Instructor: Roger Parramore
All Levels* | 5-Day Schedule
$550 Member | $580 Non-Member
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Gain a firm understanding of the physical nature of glass and its relationship to the flame, while developing a strong systematic approach to realizing your individual vision. Discussions and demonstrations will cover everything from equipment considerations, solid sculpture, and understanding color, to small scale blown work, goblets, and beyond. This class is about understanding the material and developing a strong sense of how to approach it along with the technical knowledge necessary to move forward, and not so much about realizing finished product.
*A fast paced class for the beginner in search of a sound base on which to build, or the more seasoned flameworker in need of a review.
About the Instructor: Glass took me under its spell early when at the age of nine I sat glued in place watching the traveling lampworkers spin ships and unicorns. Through the years my relationship with glass has come to define a good bit of who I am. I pursued my interest through an apprenticeship in scientific glassblowing and then on into the art glass world teaching and showing my work. Some forty-four years later my fascination with this most universal of materials is ongoing. From art to manufacturing color and teaching, glass has been a near life-long companion.
To see more of Roger’s work visit rogerparramore.com and follow him on Instagram @rogerparramore
June 23–27
Getting Hot!
Instructor: Elizabeth Braun
Intermediate-Advanced | 5-Day Schedule
$550 Member | $580 Non-Member
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Discover hot new ways to incorporate lines and designs in fused glass art! Learn fascinating new kiln processes where you work with glass in the “hot” range. Use pot drops and wire drips to make beautiful designs with molten glass, without going into the hot kiln. Explore combed glass—the awesome feathered or swirled effects from manipulating hot glass in the kiln. We will make cane and pattern bars by using various damming techniques. Enjoy Vitrograph fun—pulling and manipulating glass from under a kiln to created fabulous swirls and curls, lines, and more. Using torches, work with glass over, in, through a flame. You will learn all these techniques and many variations on these procedures. Not only will we cut and reassemble our components to create intricate graphic patterns, but we will also learn and use coldworking and sandblasting skills to create a stunning final project. You will go home with lots of ideas and unique elements to incorporate into your artwork.
About the Instructor: Elizabeth Levine Braun began her training in stained glass at L’Ecole des Beaux Arts, Aix en Provence, France in 1981 and since then, has studied with some of the world’s leading glass artists. In 1986, she founded a custom art-glass studio, Elizabeth’s Glassworks, LLC. In addition to architectural work, Elizabeth specializes in warm glass methods including fusing, kiln forming, glass casting, and pâte de verre. Her work has won awards at major exhibitions, most recently the Thirtieth Annual Creative Craft Council Exhibition in Maryland and the Fall Fine Art Show in West Virginia. Her sculptural cast glass and kiln-formed work is in private collections and galleries in the United States and abroad. Elizabeth is an energetic instructor with an “anything is possible” approach. For over 25 years, she has taught glass classes to students of all ages, conducting workshops and classes at numerous venues, including the Maryland College of Art and Design, Glen Echo Park, Corcoran School of Crafts (adjunct faculty), private and public schools, and regional artists collectives. Elizabeth was president of the National Capital Art Glass Guild for three years, and remains an active member of the organization. She is also a member of the Glass Art Society, Allegany Arts Council, and board member of Hampshire Arts Council.
To see more of Elizabeth’s work visit elizglass.com
July 30–August 3
A Little Bit of Everything
Instructor: Michael Magniafico
All Levels | 5-Day Schedule
$550 Member | $580 Non-Member
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Explore the rich possibilities of working within the glass medium. Create one-of-a-kind works of art while you learn different glass working techniques, such as kiln worked tiles, flame worked beads and marbles, and small blown vessels and ornaments. Throughout this class, we will learn multiple processes that will lead to a broader understanding of the multitude of options available in glass working.
About the Instructor: Michael Mangiafico is a glass artist and teacher working in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He graduated with a BFA in glass art from Carnegie Mellon University in 1985 and has continued his education by attending or teaching glass art seminars across the globe. In 1996, Michael built a glass studio, FIG Studios—Forms in Glass. He designs and creates sculpture and craft items from glass by blowing, casting, torch working, and cold work. FIG Studios has work in fine art galleries across the country.
To see more of Michael’s work visit figstudios.com and follow him on Instagram @deedleweed
August 6–August 10
Let’s Get Fired Up—Flameworking Techniques in Soft Glass
Instructor: Joy Knepp
All Levels | 5-Day Schedule
$550 Member | $580 Non-Member
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Discover why so many people are finding joy in melting glass rods with a torch. We will explore basic to intermediate beadmaking techniques, including making and shaping beads on small to large diameter mandrels; decorating and manipulating beads with stringers, dots, and a variety tools; as well as various encasing techniques. We will dabble a bit with metal leaf and foils, aventurine and dichroic glass, and learn about some chemical reactions with certain glass colors. You will finish the week with a treasure trove of beads that can be used in one-of-a-kind pendants, bracelets, and bottle stoppers.
About the Instructor: Joy Knepp has worked as a glass artist since 2003 and is a retired elementary and secondary art educator. Her education includes Pennsylvania State University and various other universities for her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art education. Her love of glass began at Touchstone Center for Crafts, where she has taken many classes, as well as the Pittsburgh Glass Center and Goggleworks (Reading, Pennsylvania). Since then, she has taught techniques in glass at Touchstone Center for Crafts and to her high-school students at Shanksville Stonycreek School. Her work has been exhibited in several local and regional galleries.
To see more of Joy’s work visit her Etsy shop and follow her on Instagram @joyknepp
August 13–August 17
Making Your Mark
Instructor: Dorie Guthrie
All Levels | 5-Day Schedule
$550 Member | $580 Non-Member
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Based on a combination of techniques, taste various ways to fabricate graphics and imagery onto flat glass and three-dimensional forms. We will cover approaches that include decals, screen printing, photoresist, and enamels. You will also learn the process of cutting sheet glass as well as gain knowledge of fusing and writing proper kiln schedules.
About the Instructor: Born in Moline, Illinois, Dorie Guthrie was first exposed to glass when she was 17. Since graduating from Illinois State University in 2008, she has continued her studies at Corning Museum of Glass, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Penland School of Craft, Pittsburgh Glass Center, and Pilchuck Glass School. Dorie was selected to demonstrate flameworking at the 2013 Glass Art Society Conference in Toledo, Ohio. Dorie worked at a Bullseye Kiln Glass Resource Center in Cincinnati, Ohio prior to moving to Brooklyn, New York, where she currently teaches kiln casting, glass blowing, flameworking, fusing, and imagery techniques at UrbanGlass.
To see more of Dorie’s work visit dorieguthrie.com and follow her on Instagram @a_dorie_able
August 24–August 27
Imprints and Screen Prints
Instructor: Ashley McFarland
All Levels | 3-Day Extended Weekend Schedule
$395 Member | $425 Non-Member
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Using nature as imagery, we will explore two kiln-forming processes: screen printing with glass powders and relief tile casting. Forage through the woodlands and meadows of Touchstone for little pieces of nature to develop onto screens and push into plaster and silica molds, creating imagery for fused pieces and delicate glass tiles. We will also cover other kiln-forming powder application techniques.
About the Instructor: Ashley McFarland uses her background in psychology and art to create pieces that speak as a whole through the interaction of individual parts. Science and art have always acted as strong, duel forces in her life and provide inspiration that can be seen in many of her past and current projects. The connections and conversations between objects as well as exploratory kiln-forming processes have been and continue to be fascinations in her work. Ashley as worked in glass studios in Washington, California, Ohio, and New York. She currently works at Pittsburgh Glass Center as the Education and Accessibility Manager. She also teaches classes primarily in kiln casting and coldworking.
September 14–16
Working with Solid Rod
Instructor: Chad Parker
All Levels | 2-Day Weekend Schedule
$295 Member | $325 Non-Member
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We will go over the many techniques involving solid rod, mostly including the compression marble or pendant. Other techniques included, but not limited to, are milli and dicro use, sculpting, mixing colors, and some fuming with silver and gold.
About the Instructor: Chad Parker has been melting glass for about seven years. When he started, he really had no idea what he wanted to make or where he was going with his glass, but once he learned the compression technique and applied it to marbles, he was hooked. Chad is interested in all aspects of glass; and he really enjoys jumping outside of his comfort zone in the hot shop, cold shop, or learning anything he can with glass—a never-ending learning experience.
September 21–24
Marbles at the Torch
Instructor: Rajesh Kommineni
Intermediate* | 3-Day Extended Weekend Schedule
$395 Member | $425 Non-Member
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Using borosilicate glass, students will learn how to make several styles of marbles, such as air trap compressions and tube implosions, as well as a few different surface decorations. We will also cover techniques for encasing marbles in clear glass for a magnifying effect. Demonstrations will alternate with working time. By the end of the week, you will know how to do many of the most important marble making techniques.
*In order to get the most out of this class, some previous lampworking experience and an intermediate skill level is recommended.
About the Instructor: Raj Kommineni, glass artist started working with glass in 1998 and established Kommineni Art Glass in 2003. His primary focus is, but limited to marbles, paperweights, and pendants. Raj’s lampworked creations have appeared in The Encyclopedia of Modern Marbles, Spheres, and Orbs, Flow: A Glassworkers Journal, and Glass Line magazine.
To see more of Raj’s work visit his website and follow him on Instagram @rajkommineni
To view a full listing of the Terms and Conditions as part of your enrollment, click here.
Touchstone Center for Crafts prohibits discrimination in employment, educational programs, and activities on the basis of race, national origin, color, creed, religion, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or association preference. Touchstone Center for Crafts also affirms its commitment to providing equal opportunities and equal access to its facilities and programming.