Sonoran Glass School (repeat) Friday, February 20
$15.00
The Sonoran Glass School started 50 years ago in the home of its founder, a glass artisan. Twenty-five years ago, it moved to the current location (633 W. 18th Street) where tours, classes, and individual glass creations are always underway. Our tour will include visits to the Flame Shop, the Warm Shop, and the Hot Shop (studios that focus on torchworking, kiln-firing, and glassblowing, respectively). The highlight of the tour will be a glassblowing demonstration in the Hot Shop. One of the school’s glass artists will show us the tools and techniques (including the kilns) while making a glass creation from scratch. Another artist will narrate the process. Glass pieces made at the school are frequently available for purchase. Free parking is on site. The tour lasts approximately 90 minutes. Several restaurants in historic venues are nearby for tour participants who want to get lunch on their own.
Friday, February 20, Leaders: Dave and Karen Washbau
Description
Our Story
Founded in 2001 at the storied Philabaum Glass Studio (now Philabaum Glass Gallery), Sonoran Glass School began as the dream of a small group of local glass artists. Tom Philabaum and Dave Klein formed the Sonoran Art Foundation, Inc. They quickly outgrew their existing studio space and acquired a rusty, closed-down tire station in one of Tucson’s oldest barrios south of downtown and over 20 years later is still going strong.
Thanks to our supporters and volunteers, we’ve built four studios, each dedicated to a different glass art medium or skill. Sonoran Glass School offers classes in furnace glassblowing, soft and borosilicate glass torchworking, glass kiln-fusing, and coldworking. Today, we’re the only full-service, nonprofit glass arts education organization in the desert Southwest. We provide educational opportunities for beginning to advanced glass artists through our classes, visiting artist workshops, and community events. Our team of gifted instructors teach all glass art techniques through private lessons and studio classes.
Our work is guided by our belief in:
- Artistic excellence – We foster an environment where students and working artists alike can grow artistically, creatively, and professionally.
- Teamwork – Both within our studios and within our community, our staff nurtures an atmosphere of collaboration and communication.
- Inclusion & Diversity – We acknowledge and honor the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals. We demonstrate a commitment to diversity in staff, volunteers and audiences, including full participation in programs, policy formulation, and decision-making. We create an environment where all feel welcome.
- Community – Sonoran Glass School is an integral part of Tucson’s arts community. We contribute to a dynamic arts landscape and we advocate for a robust creative economy
