Become a Pilchuck Magic Maker
Become a Pilchuck Magic Maker
First 100 to join receive a limited-edition tote
Participants may select one workshop per session, during which they will be fully immersed in a vibrant educational environment on the breathtaking Pilchuck campus for the duration of the session. All participants eat, work, and sleep on campus for the entire session. Days include intensive instruction and demos throughout the day and evening, as well as ample opportunities for personal exploration and studio time. Housing is warm and rustic and most accommodations require a brief walk through fields and forest to reach the studios.
Where there is a will, there is a way. Students will develop and learn the skills needed to produce their projects in neon. Through demos and hands-on activities, we will cover the foundation of electrical wiring (and how not to be afraid of it), simple and effective methods of working with phosphorus and color, T-welds, partmaking, relays, animation, and more.
Glass is a great material for making musical instruments: it’s fast to work with and can yield a wide range of unusual sounds. Based upon a general framework of sound-making types, we will explore the theory and the creative whimsy of making and learning to play musical instruments made of glass. Students will invent their own instruments, discover how to play them, and then integrate their sounds with the rest of the class. The class will thus become a band!
In this workshop, we will use a team approach in the hot shop that emphasizes good communication and coordination. Learn to pull cane, pick up cane on a collar and a bubble, and use those processes to make a variety of blown objects. We will explore sculpting, hot and cold assemblies, and fundamentals of cold-working as they pertain to cane work.
Immerse yourself in the world of solid, hot-sculpted glass! We will be working collaboratively in the hot shop to create detailed works inspired by nature. Students will use a variety of both traditional and unconventional techniques to incorporate texture, color, and patterns in their artwork. The focus will be on learning how to work as an effective team to create complex assemblages. This course will be a general overview of solid sculpting and assemblage.
Explore the intersections of digital design, tool making, and kiln-formed glass. Rhino 3-D modeling software and digital fabrication provide opportunities for visualization, iteration, specificity, and modularity. Digital design facilitates tiling systems and multiples. Consider how commands, such as revolve and extrude, exist in both digital design and traditional moldmaking processes. Some experience in Rhino is helpful; a laptop is required.
Joseph J. Newman was born in Anchorage, Alaska. He is Inupiaq and Diné (Navajo.) Newman’s Dad is Inupiaq from Beaver, Alaska and his mom is Diné (Navajo) from Crownpoint, New Mexico. Newman studied at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Newman’s grandma Juanita G. Louis is one of his role models and taught him to weave the traditional Diné rugs. Newman learned beading from his family was raised around the Pow-wow world, this is where he learned to bead his own regalia. Newman has participated in the Santa Fe Indian Market for four years. In his beadwork, he takes inspiration from pow-wow’s, nature, animals and flowers that are very special to his tribes. Newman beads at a contemporary level and is always looking for new inspirations.
With over twenty-five years of experience Jeff has taught, lectured, exhibited and had residencies both nationally and internationally. Since 2016 Jeff has been designing and fabricating high end functional glass pipes under the moniker “Soft Serve Glass”. Jeff is also co-founder of Bright Block Studios LLC, a contemporary upcycled lighting company.
Every summer since 1971 the glass world has come together for innovative and rigorous workshops with an international cohort of instructors and artists. In 2025 we will host seven sessions.
The summer is filled with an all-star roster including Jen Elek, Annette Blair, Ben Edols, Jessica Loughlin, Sibelly, Danny Coyle, Dante Marioni and more. An advanced topics Spring Session will include an opportunity to be a part of Pilchuck history by rebuilding one of the program furnaces with Fred Metz. Session 3 will see the return of lampworking maestro Lucio Bubacco for a 30-year reunion of his Flame to Furnace collaboration with Brian Kerkvliet and Ed Schmid. Preston Singletary and Martin Janecký will bring their combined approach to Session 4. Silvia Levenson returns during Session 5, Pilchuck’s first bi-lingual (Spanish/English) session.
Join us for another transformative year on the hill.
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