This workshop approaches mold making as an open system rather than a closed reproductive process. Students will explore kiln-casting through creative problem-solving, learning how a single mold can generate variation, transformation and unexpected results. We will work with found and handmade objects, refractory molds, wax, parting systems and other kiln-casting methods, while considering how materials carry memory, pressure and time. Technical demonstrations will include mold building, lost-wax casting, surface and form development and strategies for moving beyond replication toward sculptural invention. Alongside hands-on making, we will discuss the philosophical and artistic potential of casting: how absence, collapse, repetition and transformation can become active parts of the work. Students can expect to produce cast glass objects or experimental sculptural studies that reflect both technical learning and individual conceptual direction.

This workshop explores both the technical and philosophical aspects of image-making in glass, referencing thinkers and artists such as Baruch Spinoza and Albrecht Dürer, with an emphasis on intention, structure, patience and symbolism. Students will develop murrine techniques at the torch. Topics will include creating images, symmetry building, hot connections, image assembly and cane pulling using the Franchini technique. Historical discussions will trace murrine from Ancient Egyptian and Venetian traditions to contemporary flameworking practices. Students will develop increasingly complex works that may combine multiple image components. Drawing sessions, design planning conversations, cold working and visual presentations will guide students and support the development of observation skills, the understanding of composition and creative development with intention.

Be a part of Pilchuck history! In this workshop we will be building a Double Baby Dragon furnace to enhance Pilchuck’s outreach capabilities. During the course of the build, we will cover overall design aspects, both functional and aesthetic, as well as the nitty gritty details of furnace building. Starting with a kit of parts provided by Mobile Glassblowing Studios, Founder and Owner Phil Vinson will share his decades of experience to guide students through the various processes involved in building these iconic functional sculptures. We will cover metal fabrication, finishing, refractory casting, mold making, assembly and burner system construction.