Class Details

Description

Hot casting is more than just pouring glass into a mold.

In this five-day class, we will use blown/hot worked, torchworked, kiln cast, fused, coldworked and hot cast glass components, as well as metal and unconventional materials, and combine these many different parts into multi-layer hot castings. We’ll also add imagery through several different methods, including decals and silk screening. Beginning with the construction and selection of elements, we will discuss investing the objects into the sand, layering them with hot glass, adding more and more components and layers in the kiln.

Using premade parts and hot castings, we will create a work divested from traditional open-face hot castings and utilizing all the best qualities of different glass processes.

You will also learn the basics of hot glass casing into sand molds. Using organic and found objects to make impressions into the sand, hot glass will be ladled into the form, as well as some metal and graphite molds. We will treat the sandbox as a canvas for collage, improvisation, and rapid prototyping.

You are encouraged to bring a variety of small, rigid objects that can be pressed into the sand as well as some small organic items, such as leaves and flowers, which can be ladled over. Emphasis will be placed on a general survey of tips and tricks for making successful and unique objects as well as linking and displaying those works.

Students should bring a sizable (as much as possible) and varied library of reference material and objects to work from.

This class is great for glass artists who are experienced in other techniques that want to bring their fusing, or casting, or torchworked objects into the hot shop in an unconventional way.

Beginners and non-glass artists are also very welcome so long as you don't mind playing in the sand.

Evening Open Studio

Studios are open until 9:30PM for students to practice. Depending on the class, process, and techniques, this time might be highly suggested by instructors for students to use. In other classes, this time might be considered optional.

For more information, please review Summer Intensives.

Learn more about JW May at www.jwmay.com