Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WORLAND, Wyo. (AP) — For thousands of years cultures from Rome to Greece have fused glass to make intricate artwork and functional containers. Now students in Pam Greek's Worland High School art class are learning the process of fusing very colorful, very sharp pieces of glass into works of art.
The glass fusing class is one semester long and this year is the first time the class has been offered at the high school.
Greek said there is no prerequisite for the class. "The only skills the kids needed before they started working with glass is being able to follow directions," she said with a smile.
The first project the students are working on is a suncatcher to hang in a window.
"The suncatcher assignment was designed to teach them general procedures, safety, and the basic skills of scoring and breaking glass, using a grinder, and some options for hanging the finished project," she explained. "This was a very simple project intended to get them used to things."
After they complete the suncatcher, the following projects will focus more on principles of design, color, mood, and theme.
"Craftsmanship will also be emphasized," she said.
The glass the students use comes in a sheet about 8-inches by 10-inches. The colors of glass are almost endless.
"For some students, properly scoring and breaking glass can really be a challenge. Mostly, I think, because they are a little afraid of it," Greek says as she looks over a cut finger and reminds the students to bring a box of bandages.
"For me, personally, the most difficult thing was to be able to envision the finished product. Glass, like ceramics, can change dramatically between making and firing the piece.
"The other challenge is mastering the firing schedule for the glass kiln. All kilns have their own 'personality,' and knowing how fast or slow to fire, how long to hold at a certain temperature can get tricky, especially when you throw in the variable thicknesses and sizes of glass."
In glass fusing, the student stacks the thin pieces of glass on top of each other in a desired pattern, then heats them to between 1,000 and 1,500 degrees depending on what they want to achieve. The heat fuses the pieces of glass together and, depending on the temperature fired to, can round the edges and make the glass flow together.
"I hope the kids gain a good sense of design from this class, as well as a sense of accomplishment," Greek said. "I wanted it to be a class where a student doesn't necessarily have to be good at drawing, sculpting, or other traditional art forms.
"A desire to work with one's hands and an openness to learning about the principles of design — which are pretty universal to all fine and applied arts — is all a student needs to start in this class."
Greek said she hopes to also instill some very practical skills the students can use throughout their lives.
"I also want my students, in all of my classes, actually, to learn to think for themselves, to think critically and creatively, and to be responsible, meeting deadlines and such. These are real-world skills that are used in all aspects of life."
Greek has used fused glass to make jewelry she wears and sells, and says there is something almost magical about the way glass plays with light.
"I think almost everyone who is attracted to glass, including me, is at least a little fascinated by the play of light and color. I also love the magic of fire and heat, so of course I am attracted to glass fusing, like a moth to the flame!"
___
Information from: Northern Wyoming Daily News, http://www.wyodaily.com
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
