EXPERIENCE HOT GLASS! |
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FUSED
TILES |
FUSED TILES! 
FRIT CAST
TILES!! - Get together with a few of your friends
and come to the studio to create your own dimensional relief
tile. No experience necessary! |
CAST TILES! 
SAND
CAST YOUR HAND - No experience necessary!
|
SAND CAST GLASS! 
| Fusing/Casting
Classes Blowing Classes Testimonials Registration Package Directions to the Studio |
 You're never too young or old to start exploring the joys of blowing or fusing glass! |
Glass Blowing Classes
Intensive Introductory Glassblowing
Workshop
Registration is currently being accepted for the
following 2010 dates:
- October 2nd/3rd
- November 6/7th
- December 11/12th
This week-end will familiarize you with the wonders
of a hot glass studio. Participants will experience:
- introduction to the equipment
- safety in the hot shop
- teamwork
- hands on basic skills; gathering hot glass, blowing, marvering, jacking,
- demonstrations of relevant techniques
Students will complete several pieces each day
4 people per class, 9:30-4:30 for two days, with 1 hour lunch break
Classes taught by Sharon Gilbert > - No prerequisiteHours: Classes will run from 9:30 - 4:30 BOTH days, with a break for lunch. (Saturday/Sunday) 4 people per class
If you arrive at the studio location more than 10 minutes prior to class start time, please detain yourself at the local coffee shop (Sip or Starbucks are within a block) so that we are able to focus on having the time to have the equipment set up and the shop ready for you. We appreciate your understanding on this.
$400 per person, $200 non-refundable deposit required to register
Beginning Glass (Form)
Classes will be scheduled following
introductory classes according to each group of
students availability - Taught by Sharon Gilbert
Four weeks of structured education and
experimentation for the beginning student.
Students must have taken an introductory workshop or
similar introduction before this class. Each week
students will learn a new technique, and practice its
application building on techniques from the previous
sessions.
Participants will experience:
- blowing controlled vessel forms
- optic mold blowing
- demonstrations/discussions/safety/teamwork
4 people per class. 9:30-3 Saturdays for 4 weeks in a row, 1/2 hour lunch break
$700 per person, $350 non-refundable deposit required to register
Intermediate Glassblowing (
Manipulations )
Classes will be scheduled following
introductory classes according to each group of
students availability - Taught by Sharon Gilbert
- twists/doughnuts
- feet
- wraps and bitwork
- trimming
4 people per class, 9:30-3 Saturdays for 4 weeks in a row, 1/2 hour lunch break Teacher - Sharon Gilbert - Prerequisite Beginning Glass
Hours: Classes will run from 9:30 - 3:00 each day with a lunch break.
$700 per person, $350 non-refundable deposit required to register
Advanced Glassblowing (Color)
Classes will be scheduled following introductory classes according to each group of students availability - Taught by Sharon Gilbert Four final weeks of structured coursework. We will explore a different type of color application each week.
- powdering techniques
- blowing with color rods
- feathering, wraps
- pulling cane
4 people per class, 9-2:30 Saturdays for 4 weeks in a row, 1/2 hour lunch break Teacher - Sharon Gilbert - Prerequisite Intermediate Glassblowing
Hours: Classes will run from 9:30 - 3:00 each day with a lunch break.
$700 per person, $350 non-refundable deposit required to register
Fusing/Casting Classes
ELEMENTS of Design and
Composition
This class is designed to teach you specific ways of
working that will help you make successful glass
pieces. We will analyze the basics of design and
composition and the psychology of visual elements. I
will teach you how to manipulate the "canvas" and give
you specific exercises to explore 2D and 3D space so
that you will be able to continue to build on class
concepts to further your work after you leave the
class. The two day class will be aimed at exploring the
fused glass realm, and the five day will focus on both
surface design and sculptural form. We will do
extensive drawings and constructions that push your
ideas and then we will create fused glass pieces that
express and further your drawn compostions.
Location: Talisman Glass Studio, Chicago.
Two day Class -
$175
Our focus on this class will be 2D design - imagery
created for a flat surface composition (fused glass) We
will make one two tone fused piece in this class. 2nd
day will be a half day to pick up work, cold work and
discuss finished product.
We will explore both B/W and color compositions in this class and investigate the possibilities of 2D and 3D composition.
TWIST, SHAPE, CONSTRUCT AND ROLL (UP)
Are you ready to push the idea of the rollup/fused blank beyond the traditional forms?Bored with the idea of making simple vessels out of fused blanks? How about taking the idea of the rollup, but making a sculptural form/composition instead? This class will focus on making fused glass blanks, and then hot shaping them and combining them to be 3D compositions. This class will combine warm (kiln) and hot (Glory Hole) processes to extensively explore the possibilities of manipulating imagery and form into more then just a vessel. We will focus on translating your 2D beginnings and creating 3D compositions from your drawings and ideas. Class discussions will focus on the elements of design and composition. We will fuse and then manipulate in the HOT glory hole to make multiple elements come together to form more complex designs. This class is for all experience levels, both fusers and blowers who want to delve into other disciplines. Every person will further their own knowledge and broaden your both your vocabulary and abilities no matter what level you begin at.
$750/person
Class will be held at Talisman Glass Studio,
Chicago
Teacher - Sharon Gilbert
Introduction to Cast Glass
This class is open to all students, no prerequisites. You will learn how to work with plaster and silica moulds in a variety of applications; direct carving in positive and pouring of negative moulds, open face casting, and making moulds from wax, clay, and styrofoam forms in 2D and 3D. You will be doing several small projects and one larger piece. We will use Bullseye casting glass. We will demonstrate how to make frit from billets, how to figure out weight and load a mould, and how to make reservoirs on your moulds. There will be slide shows and discussions on cast glass and how to design a successful piece. We will cover firing and annealing schedules for thicker pieces of glass. Students should bring 10 slides of their current work for a group discussion. We will cover elementary cold working techniques, but this class will not get into cold-working techniques, nor will you be spending time on finish work. We will discuss but not work with rubber moulds.
Teacher - Sharon Gilbert
Cost: $700/person - fees to be paid with registration.
Refunds will be issued for 90% of cost if cancellations
are made prior to 14 days of start date. Any
cancellations after that date will only be refunded if
position can be filled by someone on the waiting list.
Hours: Classes will run from 9-4 each day with a lunch
break. The final day will be a half day, 9-1.
| Sharon & Julie-
I just wanted to drop you a short note,
thanking you for sharing your glassblowing
skills, knowledge and experience with me during
my classes at Talisman. It was as a truly
enjoyable experience.
I now look forward to devloping my own skills
and style in glassblowing. See you soon!
Warmest Regards, Michael J. Lango Bob and I both thought you were a great teacher. It's one thing to be talented. It's another thing to have a business head on you. It's rare to find someone who wants to teach . . . and even rarer to find someone good at it. It seems that you possess all of the above. We thought you did a great job of explaining WHAT you were going to do. You demonstrated it. You walked us through it (as a group) and then you instructed each of us "on the fly". All the while you were ENCOURAGING in spite of the fact that some of us forgot to keep the blow pipe turning and managed to set the mat on fire! Greg Neaveill |
Attire: Students must wear all natural fabrics and closed toe leather shoes. Layers of clothing are a good idea. Your arms will get warm, so a long sleeve shirt over a t-shirt is a good combination. Alternatively, bring a cotton sock with the toe cutoff for arm protection. The floors are concrete so a shoe with a good rubber sole will give you good support and minimize leg fatigue. Individuals with long hair need to bring something to tie their hair back.
Eyewear: We provide eye protection, but if you have prescription eyewear or prefer your own glasses, please feel free to bring in ordinary sunglasses. Nutrition: The studio is very warm. Please bring beverages to drink (Gatorade or similar sports drink in the warmer months). You can store items in our refrigerator. We will take a one- hour lunch break at one of the neighborhood restaurants. Prices usually range around $10 per person. Hygiene: The glassblowing studio is an extremely warm environment and you will be working hard. Please arrive at class freshly bathed and use antiperspirant/deodorant. Hours: Please arrive promptly at 9:30 AM on all glassblowing class days, and at 9:00 AM all other classes. Location: We are located in the charming and safe River West neighborhood, on the near West side of downtown Chicago, just minutes from the Gallery district. See below for instructions on how to find the studio Conduct: All students must be in good medical health and sign a liability waiver covering injuries occurring from being in a glass studio. The instructor reserves the right to ask participants to leave at any time during the class if their conduct puts other people or the equipment in danger, or their actions are inappropriate.Any questions, please use contact information at the end of this page to clarify beforehand to prevent misunderstandings.
From downtown Chicago: Take Grand Avenue West to the 1200 block of West Grand. We are located on the SE corner of the intersection of Racine and Grand. CTA bus line Route 66 goes directly in front of the building. CTA Blue line brings you within a 1/2 mile from the studio. Metra trains (Ogilvy and Union Stations) are a short cab ride away.
From the North: Exit Racine Ramp (after Division Street). Cross Ogden, and continue one block further to Grand Avenue. We are located on the SE corner of the intersection of Racine and Grand
From the West: Take I-290 E to the Ashland exit. Turn L onto Ashland, and a slight right onto Ogden at the 3rd light. Continue on Ogden to Grand Avenue. Turn R on Grand Avenue, take your first R onto Racine Avenue and park immediately. We are located on the SE corner of the intersection of Racine and Grand
From the South: The I90/94 to the Ohio Street exit. At the end of the (very long) ramp, turn Right onto Orleans. Go one block down and turn R onto Grand Avenue. Take Grand about a mile W, crossing back over the highway, until you stop at a stop sign on May street. Turn L at the next street - Racine - and park immediately. We are located on the SE corner of the intersection of Racine and Grand
All students must be in good medical health and sign
a release of liability for injury.
If classes do not fill up, hours will be shortened or
date will be rescheduled.
For more information please call Sharon Gilbert at
312.455.9555.
All classes will be taught at the Chicago location,
Talisman Glass Studio, Chicago.
| Mascots |  Havoc |
 Triste |
T A L I S M A N G L A
S S I N C
Located in Chicago's near
West side/River West neighborhood, just off I-90/94,
the studio is located on the SE corner of Grand Ave.
and Racine (between Halsted and Ogden)
Email: meltme@talismanglass.com
Contact Sharon Gilbert by email for more information or to commission a project.
