Rocky Kindelberger has been teaching the art of stained glass and bringing smiles to our staff and students at Pittsburgh Glass Center (PGC) for 14 years.
When he was young he enjoyed all types of art and working with his hands, but once he graduated from high school and entered the U.S. Naval Academy he said that he shifted his focus to the “art of war.”
A Navy veteran, he spent five years in active duty—two years on a destroyer and many more working as a public affairs officer and recruiter for the Navy.
Finally, in 1978 he decided that it was time to return to art. He began taking many different art classes from painting to woodworking and in 1978 he discovered his passion for stained glass. That’s when he committed to learning, practicing, and making everything he could in stained glass. He visited stained glass studios and took classes across the country.
Once he retired from the insurance business in 2009, he focused full time on stained glass.
Rocky said, “Working with glass takes focus. It’s sharp. You must pay attention. It takes my mind away from the stresses that I carry with me through life and slowly over time helps to ease the stress. Glass knows your mood. If you are not happy it will cut you.”
Still today, he says, after watching TV or reading he might wander into the studio to work on a stained glass project and before he realizes it, several hours have passed. He gets into the zone or “flow state.”
We hear this all the time from our students at PGC. When you work with glass you must pay attention. They say that focus allows them to get completely absorbed in what they are working on. It helps distract them from stressful thoughts and experiences and quiets their mind. Some also say it helps them find new ways to express their feelings.
Glass is also a great community builder. It brings people together and allows them to connect with others through this unique medium. Rocky has worked with hundreds of people interested in stained glass and influenced so many more on his 45-year stained glass journey.
Rocky received an award from the Navy for his excellent recruitment skills. This isn’t surprising because Rocky would win an award at PGC for inspiring students. Since he has been teaching at PGC, interest in stained glass and enrollment in classes has grown tremendously. When he is at PGC he cannot let anyone pass by the studio without inviting them in to learn more about what’s happening and sharing a good joke. He makes learning fun because he understood at a young age the power of sharing a good joke to ease the tension and make someone smile.
Come to PGC and meet Rocky or sign up for one of his stained glass classes. In addition to teaching, Rocky creates one-of-a-kind commissions for private individuals and businesses. You can see one of his commissions (a giant french fry-topped sandwich) in the window at Primanti Bros. restaurant across the street from PGC. His artwork is also for sale in The Shop at PGC.
Pittsburgh Glass Center is proud to offer scholarships for veterans to explore their creativity with glass. Learn more and apply.
Hear more about the scholarship program, try a free hands-on activity, and watch glassblowing and flameworking demonstrations at our upcoming Veteran’s Day Open House on November 10.
