Glass Workshops at Penland
Penland offers 1 to 8-week workshops taught by visiting instructors in our well-equipped studios. Class topics include glass blowing, flameworking, glass sculpture, cold working, casting, fusing, and more. Workshops are open to serious students of all levels unless specified in course description; beginners welcome.
Register for Workshops
Workshops are open to serious students of all levels unless specified in course description; beginners welcome.
Summer scholarship information; summer scholarship application deadline is February 15.
Please read this note about our session schedules.
GLASS SUMMER SESSION 1
MAY 28–JUNE 2, 2023
Christa Westbrook
Introduction to Glassblowing
If you have ever wanted to create something from molten glass, this is the workshop for you! We’ll cover the basics of glassblowing with fun and exciting skill-building exercises: from gathering glass at the furnace to a variety of shaping techniques. Students can expect to get straightforward knowledge of solid shapes, cups, bowls, and many other glass techniques. Beginning level. Hot-glass studio.
Studio artist, former studio coordinator at Corning Museum of Glass (NY); teaching: The Studio at Corning (NY). SiNaCa Studios School of Glass (TX), Dallas Glass Art; exhibitions: 171 Cedar Arts Center (NY), Norman Eppink Gallery (KS), Emporia Arts Council (KS).
GLASS SUMMER SESSION 1
MAY 28–JUNE 2, 2023
Megan Stelljes
Lighthearted
Glowing:
1) emitting visible light
2) rich and warm in color
3) showing radiance of health, excitement, etc.
Let’s go for all three!
In this workshop we’ll explore traditional neon pattern making, tube bending, and creating expression through light. Working with glass tubing and torches, we’ll learn how to translate drawings into illuminated lines. Each student can expect to leave with one finished piece filled with gas and electrified. All levels. Neon studio.
Studio artist: teaching Pilchuck (WA), FOCI (Minneapolis, UrbanGlass (NYC); exhibitions: Museum of Neon Art (Los Angeles), Heller Gallery (NYC), Traver Gallery (Seattle), Sabbia Gallery (Sydney, Australia), Corning Museum (NY).
GLASS SUMMER SESSION 2
JUNE 4–16, 2023
Joe Grant
Glass Smorgasbord
This workshop will explore a variety of techniques for using glass as an artist’s material. While students should already be able to gather, shape, and make simple forms with molten glass, we’ll assess, review, and expand on those fundamental skills. Then we’ll explore solid sculpting, bit working, assembling parts, color applications, and mold blowing. We’ll combine traditional and experimental approaches to help develop your artistic practice; each student will be able to pursue what interests them most. The workshop will include demonstrations, skill-building exercises, and a focus on individual practice. We’ll stress teamwork, thinking outside the box, and using glass in unique ways. Advanced beginning level: at least one previous glassblowing workshop required. Hot glass studio.
Studio artist, director of STARworks Glass (NC); other teaching: Pilchuck (WA), Haystack (MA), East Carolina University (NC), Appalachian State University (NC), Illinois State University (IL); exhibitions: FRANK Gallery (NC), Greenhill Center (NC), William King Museum (VA), Chrysler Museum (VA), STARworks Gallery (NC); commission: Reid Heart Center (NC).
GLASS SUMMER SESSION 2
JUNE 4–16, 2023
Alicia Lomné and Sayaka Suzuki
Pâte de Verre and the Dynamic Duo
In this fast-paced, fun workshop you’ll have the opportunity to study two approaches to the pâte de verre casting process. We’ll begin by creating color samples using the colors of your choice. You’ll learn to measure the perfect blends for predictable results and to create your own blends like a cook. We’ll work with clay models, pour refractory molds, and apply frit and powder to the surface of the mold as a painter might. There are many crossovers between our techniques along with some radical differences. We look forward to experimenting, playing, and pushing the boundaries with everyone in the workshop. You can expect to finish at least four pieces plus color samples and experiments. All levels. Casting studio.
Alicia: studio artist; teaching: Pilchuck (WA),The Studio at Corning (NY), Penland, Haystack (ME), Bullseye Glass Studios (OR), Warm Glass (UK), Bild-Werk Frauenau (Germany); exhibitions: Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, Muskegon Museum of Art (MI), The Figge Art Museum (IA), Bergstrom Mahler Museum (WI), National Liberty Museum (Philadelphia), Museo Gallery (WA), Ken Saunders Gallery (Chicago).
Sayaka: studio artist, teacher at Virginia Commonwealth University; workshop teaching: The Studio at Corning (NY), Haystack (ME), Pittsburgh Glass Center, UrbanGlass (NYC); fellowships: Vermont Studio Center, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; exhibitions: New Mexico Museum of Art, Czong Institute for Contemporary Art (Korea), Museo Crocetti (Italy); solo shows: Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, Pensacola Museum of Art (FL).
GLASS SUMMER SESSION 3
JUNE 18–30, 2023
Nancy Callan and Mel Douglas
Intertwine
Glass is a fantastic medium for dreaming up new ways to bend space, stretch time, and renew a sense of wonder. This workshop will explore the linear complexities and the unique spatial qualities of glass. Working in both the hot and cold shops, students will be challenged to look at the relationship of form, pattern, balance, and design. Through a combination of both traditional and experimental techniques, we’ll look for ways to develop objects that spatially merge surface and drawing so the form is not just a canvas for the line but a three-dimensional drawing in itself. Intermediate/advanced level: two years of hot-glass experience required. Hot-glass studio.
Nancy: studio artist, senior member of the Lino Tagliapietra team; teaching: Pilchuck (WA), Haystack (ME), Pittsburgh Glass Center, Penland; Creative Glass Center of America Fellowship; residencies: Museum of Glass (WA), Toledo Museum of Art (OH), Pittsburgh Glass Center; collections: Shanghai Museum of Art (China), Museum of Glass (WA), Corning Museum (NY), Muskegon Museum of Art (MI).
nancycallanglass.com | @fancycal
Mel: studio artist; Ranamok Glass Prize (Australia), International Young Glass Award from Glasmuseet Ebeltoft (Denmark), Tom Malone Prize (Australia); collections: Glasmuseet Ebeltoft (Denmark), National Gallery of Australia, Corning Museum (NY), Chrysler Museum (VA).
GLASS SUMMER SESSION 3
JUNE 18–30, 2023
Kari Russell-Pool
Deceptively Simple: A Floral Spin Around the Color Wheel
Each student will create their own color wheel made of flameworked glass flowers. The workshop is designed to build confidence and skills through repetition with a special focus on pulling consistent petal stock, cutting in the flame, learning how and when to adjust the flame, and getting great fuses. We’ll work mostly with furnace glass canes lightly colored with glass powders. By layering other colors in the torch, students will learn to customize their palette. Students can progress at their own rate, moving on to more complex flowers as they build and master skills. Ideal for beginners, bead workers, color enthusiasts, and glass workers interested in torch working with glass that is compatible in the hot shop. All levels. Flameworking studio.
Studio artist; teaching: Penland, Pilchuck (WA), Niijima Glass Festival (Japan); collections: Corning Museum (NY), Mint Museum (NC), Museum of Arts and Design (NYC), Smithsonian Museum of American Art (DC).
GLASS SUMMER SESSION 4
JULY 2–14, 2023
Joanna Manousis
Illuminating Space: Core Casting in Glass
This workshop will explore multiple strategies for creating residual details within solid, kiln-cast glass. Daily lectures and demonstrations will cover basic-through-advanced kiln-casting techniques. Students will create original structures from found objects and hand-sculpted clay, acquiring skills needed to assemble finished models for refractory-core and lost-wax casting investment. We’ll cover polyurethane mother molds, hand-built refractory molds, hot-wax construction, wax finishing, sprueing, and firing along with de-investment tips for core molds. We’ll explore various coldworking methods to polish and reveal negative space within castings that capture light and attract the eye. Mold making and clay- or wax-working skills will be helpful, but the workshop is open to all levels. Casting studio.
Note: The studio fee for this workshop is estimated at $350-400 per student.
Studio artist, PhD researcher; teaching: Alfred University (NY), Ohio State University, College for Creative Studies (Detroit); awards: Margaret M. Mead Award, Hans Godo Frabel Award; residencies: Museum of Arts and Design (NYC), The Corning Museum (NY), Cité Internationale des Arts (France); collections: Glasmuseet Ebeltoft (Denmark), Glasmuseum Lette (Germany), Huntsville Museum (AL), Cafesjian Center for the Arts (Armenia); representation: Heller Gallery (NYC), Momentum Gallery (NC).
GLASS SUMMER SESSION 5
JULY 16–28, 2023
Kelly O’Dell and Raven Skyriver
Rewilding
We draw on the natural world as an endless well of inspiration for our work. Join us in the beautiful setting of Penland School where we will study the environment and use the concept of rewilding as a springboard for discussions of ecology, our relationship to the creatures, plants, and stones around us, and how all this relates to the work we make. Technical information will include all forms of color application, use of the hot torch and heat zones, reverse engineering of punty constructions for all applications, inside sculpting, solid sculpting, blown sculpture, bit work, and building complex forms from relatively simple components by using the garage and pick-up ovens. Intermediate/advanced level: two years of hot glass experience required.
Kelly: studio artist; teaching: Nijiima Glass Center (Japan), Pilchuck (WA), Pittsburgh Glass Center; exhibitions: Museum of Northwest Art (WA), Museum of Glass (WA), SOFA Chicago, Kitrell/Riffkind Gallery (Dallas), Gallery by the Sea (WA), Duncan McClellan Gallery (FL), Habatat Galleries (FL), Glasswheel Studio (VA).
kellyodellglass.com | @kellyofthedell
Raven: studio artist; teaching: Nijiima Glass Center (Japan), The Glass Furnace (Istanbul), Pilchuck (WA), Pittsburgh Glass Center, The Studio at Corning (NY), Pratt Fine Art Center (Seattle), Penland; exhibitions: Glasmuseet Ebeltoft (Denmark), Nostetagen Norsk Glass Museum (Norway), multiple solo shows at Stonington Gallery (Seattle).
GLASS SUMMER SESSION 5
JULY 16–28, 2023
Daniel Clayman
Materials, Temperature, and Magic!
Working primarily with kiln processes in the glass studio, we’ll look at how the rigorous exploration of ideation and object making requires a strong technical foundation, great ideas, and a little bit of magic. Technical information will include mold recipes, mold-making techniques, firing schedules, annealing, casting, slumping, and ancillary skills like rubber mold making. We’ll also discuss choosing appropriate glass for specific uses. In addition to demonstrations, slide talks, and daily kiln firings, we’ll set time aside for critical discussions of what we make and why we make things. Beginning to advanced students can look forward to a busy session of making molds, firing kilns, and putting more tricks into their toolboxes. All levels. Casting studio.
NOTE: This workshop is expected to have a studio fee of approximately $600 per student.
Studio artist; former Effron Family Endowed Chair at the University of the Arts (Philadelphia), visiting critic at Rhode Island School of Design; workshop teaching: Pilchuck (WA), The Studio at Corning (WA), Penland; residencies: Tyler School of Art (Philadelphia), Massachusetts College of Art and Design (Boston); collections: Corning Museum (NY), de Young Museum (San Francisco), High Museum (Atlanta), Museum of Arts and Design (NYC), Museum of Fine Arts Boston, National Geographic Society (DC), Racine Art Museum (WI), Renwick Gallery (DC), Toledo Museum of Art (OH).
GLASS SUMMER SESSION 6
JULY 30–AUGUST 11, 2023
Nate Watson
The Transparent Self
Through a series of personal reflections and material inquiries, we’ll identify methods for making the stories that define us visible through glass. This workshop will examine the qualities that make glass such a powerful mode of expression and help students find an honest and natural relationship with the material. We’ll cover many techniques for creating glass sculpture, including basic glassblowing, adhesives and assemblage, color application, and basic coldworking. Traditional and nontraditional processes will help you access the expression that comes from a harmony between you and the material. All levels. Hot-glass studio.
Studio artist, member of Related Tactics Collective, executive director of Public Glass (San Francisco); teaching: Sierra Nevada College (CA), San Francisco State University (CA), California College of Arts (CA), University of Washington (WA); 2022 Center for Craft Research fellow; residencies; KALA Institute (CA), Pilchuck Glass School (WA), Starworks (NC), Montalvo (CA); exhibitions: Crafting the Vernacular at KMAC (KY), Disclosure with RelatedTactics at Center For Craft (NC), Disclosure with RelatedTactics at Corning Museum (NY).
GLASS SUMMER SESSION 6
JULY 30–AUGUST 11, 2023
Jeff Heath
Patterns for Success
This workshop will be a survey of flameworking techniques used to create pattern. We’ll start with basic color application and work our way up to advanced pattern making, including Italian techniques such as zanfirico, reticello, and murrine. We’ll also cover basic flameworking techniques and explore how color and pattern can be used to add a signature style to jewelry, vessels, and sculpture. All levels. Flameworking studio.
Studio artist; teaching: Flint Institute of Art (MI), Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass (WI); residency: Illinois Wesleyan University (IL); exhibitions: Flint Institute of Art (MI), Pilchuck Gallery (Seattle).
GLASS SUMMER SESSION 7
AUGUST 13–18, 2023
Jeff Mack
Hot-Forming Survey
This workshop will cover fundamental techniques of glassblowing, bit work, and hot sculpting. Demonstrations, focused projects, individual coaching, planning, and reflective discussion will help students build skills from any level of engagement. Central to the workshop will be practice making essential vessel forms and simple solid figures. Assignments will address important fundamentals for less-experienced students as well as nuanced technical hurdles that come into play for more advanced makers. Drawing on 30 years of problem-solving at the furnace, I will share lessons that will accelerate confidence and skill and help you take your hot-shop game to the next level. All levels. Hot-glass studio.
Manager of hot glass programs at Corning Museum of Glass (NY); teaching: College for Creative Studies (MI), Pilchuck (WA), The Studio at Corning (NY), Toledo Museum of Art (OH), Oxbow (MI), Domaine de Boisbuchet (France); exhibitions: La Stanze del Vetro (Italy); Bergdorf Goodman (NYC); collections: Corning Museum (NY), Toledo Museum of Art (OH), Museum of Glass (WA); representation: Culture Object (NYC).
GLASS SUMMER SESSION 7
AUGUST 13–18, 2023
Mike Raman
Pipegeist
This workshop will survey a variety of pipe forms, moving through the history of glass pipes over the past 30 years, covering both dry and water pipes, and taking note of how the forms have evolved. Although we will cover basic color application, our focus will be on shaping and assembling hollow forms rather than pattern work. Students can expect to leave with a greater understanding of hollow shaping and seals and a deeper appreciation for the history and significance of the glass pipe. Intermediate/advanced level: students must have some experience making hollow forms at the torch. Flameworking studio.
Studio artist; teaching: Pilchuck (WA), The Studio at Corning (NY), DC Glassworks (MD), The Heat Base (VA), Tobacco Leaf Studios (FL).
GLASS FALL CONCENTRATION
October 1 – November 10, 2023 (six weeks)
Dan Friday
Furnace Formed
This workshop will break down the essentials of glass blowing and off-hand glass sculpting. We’ll work in the hot and cold shops and cover the fundamentals of bubble setup, using hand tools, and how to make the heat work for you. Other techniques will include optical molds, bit work, cane/murrine, and other methods of color application. When using the garage and components, time management and teamwork are crucial to productivity and will be underlying focal points of the workshop. Students will work from sketchbooks and learn to navigate from paper to blowpipe. Both experimentation and repetition will be encouraged. Our goal is to use technical processes to help you find your voice within the medium. All levels. Hot glass studio.
Studio artist; teaching: University of Washington, Evergreen State College (WA), Pilchuck (WA), Haystack (ME); residencies: Museum of Glass (WA), Burke Museum (Seattle), Corning Museum (NY), Dream Community (Taiwan); Bill Holm Grant from Burke Museum (Seattle), People’s Choice Award from Bellevue Arts Museum (WA), Artist Trust Fellowship (WA), Discover Fellowship through the Southwest Association for Indian Arts (NM), contestant on Netflix’s Blown Away; representation; Blue Rain Gallery (NM), Stonington Gallery (Seattle), Ainsley Gallery (Toronto), Habatat Galleries (FL).
Regular enrollment will begin on May 1.
GLASS FALL WEEKEND SESSION
October 20–22, 2023
Linda Sacra
Beads: Out of Round
Complete beginners and experienced flameworkers can explore the endless possibilities of bead making in this workshop: from one-color to multicolor, from round to asymmetric. After brief demonstrations, students will light the torches and make their own unique beads using soft glass and a variety of tools, stringers, and frits. The torch will ignite your creativity, and you’ll see that the best beads aren’t necessarily round. All levels. Flameworking studio.
Studio artist; teaching: Penland, workshops in her home studio; represented in galleries in the southeast including Sandpiper Gallery (SC) and Island Jewelers (NC).
Enrollment for this workshop will begin on May 1.
