Blow Your Own Glass

Gulfport Art Walk — Every first Friday & third Saturday, 6-10 pm

Featured this Month – Blow Your Own Long-Stemmed Bud Vase in Your Choice of Colors

The glory holes are glowing and the IACG Hot Shop is open to the public during Gulfport’s Art Walk twice every month. It’s free to watch as novice glass blowers age 5 to 85 create their own glass masterpieces. A menu of different items is available, along with a beautiful palette of colors.

For each piece, an experienced IACG instructor will gather clear glass from the 2000-degree furnace. Students will then take hold of the pipe and pick up bits of colored glass called frit from a steel table known as the marver. This glass mish mash is then heated to a malleable state in the flame of the glory hole. To create their one-of-a-kind design, students will manipulate the colorful hot glass with a variety of glass blower’s tools including a water-soaked wood block and then blow their masterpiece with their very own breath.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the ancient art of glass blowing first hand. Volunteers will be on hand to tell you about upcoming classes and events.