Glass Fusing & Slumping
Melt and reshape glass in the intense heat of a kiln to create art pieces or practical objects like plates and bowls. Individual classes teach you to combine colors, paint on glass, and incorporate recycled materials to create beautiful and ecologically sound art.
Adult Classes
The Crucible offers a wide variety of adult classes teaching different glass fusing and slumping techniques. Whether you want to drape glass into a new shape or fuse colorful patterns and shapes, The Crucible has you covered. See the complete list of glass fusing and slumping classes offered below.
3-Hour Taster: Glass Fusing
3-Hour Tasters are a great way to explore a new art form without the deeper commitment of a full course. After a basic introduction to glass and heat interaction, glass cutting, combining colors, firing, and annealing, create a glass mosaic of your own design. Take a Taster and meet new friends or give the gift of creativity to someone special.
Fundamentals of Glass Fusing and Slumping I
Enter the world of art glass in this fundamentals class. The techniques of fusing and slumping offer new possibilities for creating with color and form. Learn the basics of glass/heat interaction, glass cutting, fusing, and slumping. Projects include a fused and slumped plate, a wall pocket vase, and a mosaic sun catcher.
Fundamentals of Glass Fusing and Slumping II
Take the basics learned in Fundamentals of Glass Fusing and Slumping I and expand on your ideas using more advanced techniques. Emphasis will be on design, behavior of glass under heat, use of ring saw to create more intricate shapes, and understanding of kiln firing processes. Projects will include a large 10″-12″ plate, slumping into drop-out ring molds, and frit-casting into clay molds. PREREQUISITE: Fundamentals of Glass Fusing and Slumping I OR Glass Fusing and Slumping I
Fused Glass Decals
Your own photos, drawings, and images can be fused to glass. Bring a jpeg to the workshop and we will print them onto special decal paper that is then fired onto glass, becoming a permanent decoration. After firing, the decals turn sepia and colors can be added using glass powders. This workshop is designed to create art objects or memorabilia.
Fused Glass Pendants
Learn to work with fusible glass, dichroic glass, and silver foil to create beautiful pendants in this three-hour workshop. Students will be making several small glass fused pendants, and cord is provided to turn them into a necklace.
Fused Glass Suncatchers
Learn to cut glass and assemble it into beautiful hanging fused glass suncatchers! Add sparkle with dichroic glass, frit, and stringers that will embellish your design. Suncatchers will be kiln fired and ready for pick up the following week.
Fused Glass Wall Vase
Design a wall hanging vase with different color glass, fiber paper, powder glass, and copper wire. Each student will learn how to make pockets in two layers of glass and create a unique glass wall vase.
Glass Fused Ornaments
Learn to cut glass and assemble it into beautiful hanging glass fused ornaments! Add sparkle with dichroic glass, frit, and stringers that will embellish your design. Ornaments will be kiln fired and ready for pick up the following Monday.
This class is part of Family Day, where parents and guardians with children ages 8 and up are welcome to register with their kids and get hands-on making ornaments—just in time for the holidays.
Glass Fusing and Slumping I
Enter the world of art glass! We will focus on the techniques of fusing and slumping, which offer myriad possibilities for creating with color and form. You will learn the basics of glass and heat interaction, glass cutting, fusing, and slumping. The class will cover mold types as well as firing and annealing procedures. You will explore several new processes and each week you will complete several small projects.
Glass Fusing and Slumping II
This class is a great way to continue your study of glass slumping and fusing. You will design and create your own slumping molds using different materials, such as clay, fiber, and firebricks. We will discuss glass chemistry and more advanced fusing and slumping processes.
PREREQUISITE: Fundamentals of Glass Fusing and Slumping I OR Glass Fusing and Slumping I
Glass Fusing and Slumping Lab
Lab sessions are a great benefit, exclusively for Crucible members! Practice the skills you learn in class and explore new possibilities with your craft. No instruction is provided during lab sessions, but a lab monitor will be present to answer questions, manage safety, and provide overall support. You are free to come and go at your convenience during open lab hours, however you must provide your own materials and own cutting and snapping tools.
PREREQUISITE: Glass Fusing & Slumping II or Fundamentals of Glass Fusing & Slumping II and Crucible membership
Kiln Formed Glass
Deepen your knowledge of advanced techniques in fusing, slumping, and casting glass! Design two different open face molds, cast billet glass within to create unique relief sculptures, and experiment with the pot melt technique and the free flow pattern bar method into a mold or dam construction. Gain basic skills in glass coldworking and a deeper understanding of heat-reactive glass colors.
PREREQUISITE: Glass Fusing and Slumping I
Youth Classes
In the Glass Fusing & Slumping Department, we offer youth classes specifically for ages 12-18. In these classes, The Crucible provides a unique setting for youth to get hands-on with glass, exploring their creative voices and absorbing real-life lessons in science, technology, engineering, and math. You can see all The Crucible’s offerings for youth here.
Youth Glass Fusing I (ages 12-18)
Create a variety of creatures and habitats in both warm and cold glass. Students will learn how to cut, shape, and embellish glass using a variety of tools, molds, and machines. 2-D and 3-D projects may include fused tiles, jewelry, treasure chests, wind chimes, cityscapes, toadstools, insects, and jellyfish. You will be encouraged to choose projects and create art based on your own interests.
Youth Glass Fusing II (ages 12-18)
Students will build on their skills to explore the properties of kiln fired glass and learn how glass behaves in the kiln in this continuing level class. Projects include a glass relief sculpture, pocket vase, self-portrait, and small scale designs such as jewelry, magnets, night lights, and picture frames.
PREREQUISITE: Youth Glass Fusing I or Youth Creatures in Fused Glass
Meet The Glass Fusing & Slumping Department Head: Janet Hiebert
Janet has devoted the last 35 years to exploring the complex and exciting possibilities of stained and kiln-fired glass. “The enthusiasm of seeing others share my passion for glass is rewarding and inspirational,” Janet shared.
She attended CCAC in Oakland and later received a BA in Art from Cal State Hayward. Her glass art can be found in local shops and galleries.
Being Prepared For Your Glass Fusing & Slumping Class
Glass Fusing & Slumping classes are held on the second floor of our building. Please contact us if you have any questions about accessibility and we will be happy to accommodate.
Students must arrive for class in all-natural fiber clothing, long pants, and closed-toe, closed-heel shoes with socks that protect up to the ankle. Long hair must be tied back. Nylon, polyester, spandex, or other synthetics are not allowed around machines, equipment, or processes that can produce hot fragments, sparks, or flames.
The Crucible requests students always arrive in studio safe clothing when working. Be prepared to work in the heat. Layers are encouraged as the studio can be very cold or very hot.
