PGC Artists & Instructors

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Summer Hours
(Now through Sept. 5)

Mon., Fri. & Sat.
10 am – 4 pm

Tues., Wed. & Thurs.
10 am – 7 pm

CLOSED Sunday

The studios at PGC are open throughout the year for instruction and rental. We have attracted some very talented young artists to teach and work at Pittsburgh Glass Center.

If you are interested in becoming an instructor at PGC, contact PGC at 412-365-2145 ext.206

Meet the PGC Artists & Instructors

Brian Engel

Classes taught: 1500 Degrees and Waiting, Kiln Carving & Working Deep
Get details about Brian's intensive summer class

Brian Engel is a glass artist working in Pittsburgh. Maps and the idea of conjured travel inspire his current work with a focus on mixed media installation.

He began working with glass in New Mexico and received his BFA from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale where he studied under Che Rhodes and Jiyong Lee.

Recent juried exhibitions include Rickert-Ziebold Trust Award Competition and the SIUC 29th Annual Purchase Awards Show (first place).

Charmaine Geesey

Classes taught: Stained Glass
Learn about her Summer 2010 Class at PGC

Charmaine Geesey has been in an art-based occupation for over 30 years, beginning with an apprenticeship in signpainting (actual hand lettering!). Her love of painting eventually led to a passion for stained glass after she experimented with incorporating stained glass graphics into sandblasted redwood signs. Her home-based business then evolved into an architectural stained glass studio that creates custom work as well as offers restoration services. She had the benefit of working with a master stained glass artisan in Virginia and gained experience in both custom construction and restoration of large scale stained glass windows. While studying for her Bachelor degree in studio art, Charmaine became more interested in developing innovative applications of stained glass. She is pursuing more contemporary stained glass art with a painterly and sculptural approach and the incorporation of mixed media. Charmaine has taught stained glass privately and for Adult Education programs at various universities and community colleges in both Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Jason Forck

Classes taught: Hot I, Hot II, Get Your Feet Wet and High School Glass Blowing
Get more details about his intense summer class

Jason Forck uses glass as a sculptural medium creating pieces that reflect his interest in nature. He was raised on a small Kansas farm where he learned the values of respecting the land, working hard and using one’s hands to accomplish tasks. Jason first discovered glass as an undergraduate at Emporia State University and after completing his Bachelor of Fine Arts moved to Pittsburgh, PA to work at the Pittsburgh Glass Center. He has exhibited in group shows in Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Louisville, and Emporia, KS and has had two solo exhibitions in Kansas City and Pittsburgh. Jason currently works as the Youth Education Coordinator at the Pittsburgh Glass Center and teaches various classes in the hot glass studio.

Dan LeDonne

Classes taught: Kiln Carving, Casting & Hot Casting

Daniel LeDonne received a B.F.A. from Alfred University with a concentration in Glass Casting, Metal Fabrication/Foundry and Neon. He studied with renowned Glass and Metal artists Stephen Dee Edwards, Fred Tschida, Ruth King, Mitchell Gaudet, Stephen Paul Day, Sybille Peretti, Glenn Zweygardt, John Buck, Deborah Butterfield, and Ming Fay. He has exhibited at Alfred, Chappell Gallery, James Gallery, Pittsburgh Glass Center, Penn Garrison Building and Pilchuck Glass School.

Michael "Fig" Mangiafico

Classes taught: Flameworking & Beadmaking

Michael Mangiafico is a glass artist and teacher working in Pittsburgh, PA. He graduated with a BFA in glass art from Carnegie Mellon University in 1985, and has continued his education by attending as well as teaching glass art seminars across the U.S. In 1996 Michael built a glass studio FiG Studios – Forms in Glass. He designs, creates sculptures and craft items from glass by blowing, casting, torchworking, and coldworking. Michael’s forte is in making glass insects such as spiders, wasps, ants, scorpions and many others. FiG Studios has work in fine art galleries around the country.

View Mike's Web Site

Heather Joy Puskarich

Classes taught: Fusing & High School Fusing
Visit her web site

Heather Joy Puskarich is a graduate from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Film Studies and a concentration in Photography. She moved here from Dallas Texas to study photography at Pittsburgh Filmmakers. Since discovering the Pittsburgh Glass Center and working under artists such as Jeffrey Phelps and Susan Taylor Glasgow, she has begun specializing in photographic imagery in kilnformed glass. Currently a staff member at the Pittsburgh Glass Center, Heather Joy continues to experiment in flat glass and imagery as her primary focus.

Becky Smith

Classes taught: Crackle, Hot Kiln, Inclusions, Iridized, Pate de Verre, Fuzapolooza
Learn about her Summer 2010 Class at PGC

Becky Smith received her bachelor of arts from Kent state university and has continued her glass education across the country. She exploits the density variations of colored glass and pushes it to boiling points in the form of high fire castings creating her own whimsical inclusions.