Ignite Glass

GAS Conference in Chicago

Megan Norton — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 12:42:15 +0000

Ignite is pleased to announce that we are the 2014 host of the annual Glass Art Society Conference! We’ll update you with more news as it develops…

Here is the text from the GAS website:

2014 Conference Announcement and Call for Presentations

Chicago, Illinois, March 20 – 22, 2014

Strengthening Community, Collaboration, Forging New Bonds

The Glass Art Society is thrilled to announce that the 43rd conference will be held in the Windy City. Chicago is second to none when it comes to a thriving, diverse cultural scene. It is home to renowned architecture, public art displays, galleries, museums and colleges, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and Millennium Park. We will be hosting the conference at well-known venues such as the historic Palmer House Hotel and the Chicago Cultural Center – all centrally located in the heart of downtown.

GAS will be partnering with one of the newest additions to Chicago’s flourishing art scene, Ignite Glass Studios, located in the West Loop neighborhood. Hot glass, flameworking and cold working will be showcased in this state of the art learning center. Our second demo site is West Supply Company, a unique facility that joins glass production with a foundry, which casts concrete and metals for some of the most notable collections in the high-end design, interiors, and gallery markets.

The conference will therefore focus on artist communities and collaboration, the forging of new bonds and new materials, bringing together artists with diverse backgrounds, techniques, and design aesthetics.

Make Your Own Heart of Glass Workshop

Megan Norton — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 23:42:03 +0000

We’ve got a brand new Valentine’s Day workshop for all the Chicago-land lovers! Singles can ignite their passion and couples can bring their flame to experience the Make Your Own Heart of Glass workshop. Guests will create a glass heart complete with their own or loved ones’ initials, plus enjoy complimentary Champagne and chocolates.

Each class costs $75 dollars per person. Spots are limited and available to those who register on a first come, first serve basis. No experience is necessary and all materials will be provided to create a unique and beautiful, original piece of art.

To register for a workshop call our office at (312) 465-2389!

Introduction to Glassblowing Starts

Megan Norton — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 19:41:23 +0000

We are so excited to begin our first Introduction to Glassblowing course! Today Aaron first taught his students the safe way to interact with tools and the importance of teamwork in the hot shop. They worked with jacks, tweezers, diamond sheers, straight sheers, and the paddle! They learned to gather glass out of the furnace, start bubbles, make jack-lines, and color application.

New student Ryan as he uses tweezers to twist and shape his paperweight!

The hot shop is buzzing with activity! Baigelman teaches his class at the last bench, Pearl Dick instructs WGN anchor Dina Bair in another private lesson, Matt Qwilas of Prodigy Glassworks instructs his students, and Ian Duncan helps his high school student create new artwork!

Aaron Wolf-Boze is a wizard of manufacturing! Today he will blacksmith a new pair of tweezers for our hot shop made from recycled material. He holds a pair that he has already finished to show what it will look like when complete!

Matt Qwilas of Prodigy Glassworks and Yvonne watches as Richard takes a flash (heats his glass) in one of our glory holes.