5 Day Glass Blowing Workshop, July 17th-21st 2023

Course Description:

Glassblowing has been around for thousands of years. We are taking this ancient craft and combining it with today's digital design and automated machining technology. Students at all skill levels will use CAD to design a two-part cherry wood mould that will be milled on the CNC router(subtractive 3D printer). After the first day of digital design students will go from the classroom to the hot-shop where they will learn shop safety, tool use, terminology, and the basic skills required to blow glass. After learning the basics of glassblowing, the students will blow glass into the moulds that they have designed. Students will leave the workshop not only with their very own personally designed cup, but with a new skill set that can be applied to STEM education, problem solving, and cognitive thinking. 

 

Location/Time:

This workshop will take place July 17th -21th from, 9am to 1pm, at Firehouse Glass in downtown Vancouver, Washington. Just a few minutes North of Portland, OR.

518 Main St. Vancouver, WA 98660. 

Street parking available on both 6th and Main St.s that uses Parking Kitty and two parking garages a block either east or west of us. We recommend leaving a few minutes to find parking.

Students will be responsible for transportation, parking and picking up all glassware from the Hotshop.

 

Class Size

IMPORTANT: The Max number of students is 6. The Miniumium number of students needed to run the class is 4. If there are not four students enrolled in the class by July 1st the class will be canceled. All enrolled students will receive a full refund. 

After June 10th all enrollment is transferable, but not refundable.  Meaning; you can ask a friend if they would like to take the class during the specified time of the workshop you enrolled in.  

*You must cancel enrollment before July 1st if you wish to be refunded. To cancel email jimbocups@gmail.com and let them know you will not be able to attend the workshop. 

 You must be 16 years old to enroll in the workshop.

 

Students Supply List:

Students will need to bring a working laptop that can connect to the internet with power supply and mouse. We will be teaching Tinkercad.com as an introductory 3d CAD program. If you would like to create a tinkercad account and do the intro tutorials before you arrive at class, this will give you a head start. If you have experience with a different program please bring it with you.

 

Instructor Bio

Benny Hill is an art educator who has currently been researching ways to incorporate rapid prototyping technologies like; vinyl cutters, lasers, 3d printers, and subtractive CNC machines into visual arts education. Benny grew up in Colorado and received a minor in Spanish, and a bachelors degree in Art Education. During his academic pursuits he studied abroad in Oaxaca, Mexico and attended the University of Pittsburgh’s, Semester at Sea program. After graduating college he began his career as an art educator at Boltz Middle School. He would later move on to teach four years of public high school, this lead to a position running a makerspace and teaching Machine Manufacturing and Technology at Portland Community College. As digital technology made it’s way into the art world Benny took on the job of creating a fab lab at Oregon College of Art and Craft. This led to numerous encounters of joyful collaboration between craft and technology. Most recently Benny taught at Pilchuck Glass School.

Alex Winston is a glassblower and equipment fabricator. Alex has worked in glass for the last seven years. His knowledge goes beyond making beautiful glass art. Informed by the process of glassblowing, Alex designs and fabricates the tools, benches, tables, gloryholes, kilns and furnaces that it takes to make glass art. Marrying tradition and innovation to make the glass art world accessible to everyone.  Alex has worked in the hotshop in multiple facets and has studied under great glass blowers with varying styles such as Lynn Read, Gary Bodker, and Gerardo Muñoz. From large scale wall installations to fine art and back to production drinkware. Alex Winston has also guest lectured at Pilchuck glass school in the Fall of 2022.  

Email jimbocups@gmail.com with any questions about course offerings and availability.