Your Christmas tree is unique to you and your family – so why not adorn it with an ornament unique to you and your family?
Newark-based community art studio the Works is offering patrons who stop by Saturdays in December the opportunity to learn the art of ornament-making from a professional glassblower. Even the most rank amateur can learn from instructor and glassworker Larry Tuber how to craft a holiday ornament whose sparkle will catch the eye of anyone who glances at your tree.
Participants can be involved in as much or as little of the creation process as they desire. Pick up, blow and mold the glass yourself, or sit back and watch as one of the studio’s skilled glassworkers creates an ornament of your choosing.
The process entails taking 1,500-2,000 degree molten glass from the furnace, dipping in a blowpipe to gather the glass and rolling the glass in wood blocks, rails and specialized pads to get the desired shape. A reheating furnace can be used to go back and apply colors, inflate the piece and create designs.
The studio offers glassblowing workshops throughout the year, and patrons have used them to craft everything from ornaments and jewelry to vases and drinking glasses.
“There’s something cool about drinking out of a glass you made yourself,” says Tuber.
Workshops are for ages 9 and up and cost $25 per ornament. They run from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 3, 10 and 17. No appointment is required.
More information can be found online at www.attheworks.org.
The Works isn’t the only show in town when it comes to custom-made glass ornaments. Grandview Heights-based Glass Axis also offers workshops throughout December.
Classes cost $29 per ornament and are offered 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 3 and 17, 6-9 p.m. Dec. 6 and 20, and 1-4 p.m. Dec. 18. There will also be ornament-making workshops during Glass Axis’ Holiday Sale, slated for noon-7 p.m. Dec. 9 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 10 and 11.
Franklin Park Conservatory does not have ornament-making classes, but it does take custom orders for ornaments to be made in its Hot Shop. They cost $34 each and must be ordered by Dec. 4.
Find further information at www.glassaxis.org and www.fpconservatory.org.
Tyler Davis is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@pubgroupltd.com.
