About Sarasota School of Glass

The Sarasota School of Glass invites artisans of all ages into its studio to learn the techniques of glass art—a medium with enough room for form, function, and style. Artists here take part in classes that revolve around using glass at different temperatures to craft decorative works. For example, cold work involves using cool, solid glass to create a piece, whether students are pouring paint or designing beaded jewelry. Their warm glass classes (or fusing classes) focuses on transforming the student's design into pieces like vases, platters, and candlesticks through a two-kiln process. During the first phase, students layer pieces of colored glass of their choice into creative designs before the pieces are melted in the kiln, turning the parts into one solid piece. During the second firing (called slumping or kiln forming) the fused glass is heated on a mold until it takes on the desired shape.