Mobile Glass Studio
Our mobile glass studio is available to travel to schools and businesses in the greater Portland area. During demonstrations, the artist will explain the entire process and help students understand the science behind working with glass, including the characteristics of glass, adding and mixing colors, how temperature influences the process and more!
The mobile studio includes a furnace that heats to more than 2,000 degrees to melt glass, plus houses all the equipment and tools needed to demonstrate this timeless making tradition. It’s an incredible experience; we can’t wait to share it with you.
Specifications for hosting the Mobile Glass Studio
The mobile glass studio is a hot shop on wheels. A small pick-up truck pulls a 16 foot trailer that contains everything you need to blow glass. All equipment has been custom designed to roll through standard doorways and get to places you may never have thought a glassblowing studio could exist.
There are some important technical aspects to the glass and our equipment to consider when planning our visit:
- A school/business representative must be present when we arrive to show us where we can set up the trailer, help set up the studio and where we can plug in for power.
- At least 20' x 20' of space is needed for the studio.
- A minimum of four hours for our glass to melt before the event begins.
- At least 1.5 hours to turn down our equipment and repack at the end of the event.
- Access to power-a standard plugin is adequate.
- Access to water to fill several buckets.
The earliest time we can begin demonstrating is 9:00 a.m. as the glass furnace must first reach 2,000 degrees. If the event begins this early, we would prefer to work out the trailer placement and power source the evening before the event. If the event is after 11:00 am the trailer can be parked and set up the same day beginning at 7:00 am.
We will demonstrate making a range of small objects, both functional and sculptural, and will narrate the process highlighting important aspects of the material, science, history and the art of glass.
Please email jimbocups@gmail.com to get a quote on a visit to your school or business.