Photographer: Amy Klemme
I had the opportunity to check out the “Intro to Kiln Fired Glass” session at Arts Center of the Capital Region and get an inside scoop on what their classes are all about. Upon walking in, I was greeted by a woman at the desk who directed me to a small classroom upstairs where I met Charlotte, the instructor.
We were the first ones there and got a preview of all of the tools we would be working with for the next two hours – all of which were super amateur-friendly! (Though, luckily for any beginners, the level of difficulty of each class is listed on their website). The creations to be made were small glass pieces layered on three glass backgrounds the size of a rectangular magnet.
The class began on time with a list posted at our first station directing us to grab items before getting to work. Items like a sharpie for outlining, alcohol for cleaning the glass and a toothpick and tweezer for precision. After that, Charlotte gave us a demo that was straightforward and easy for anyone to follow. In fact, it was almost so easy that I questioned if I was doing it right. (I followed the directions perfectly until class ended and I realized I forgot to clean the glass first – the first step – and place the clear glass on top – the last step – here’s to hoping!)
The class was presented with about 20 different plates of glass that were sorted by color and type of glass. The types included tack-fuse and full-fuse glass where one allowed for people to create specific images with structured glass while the latter would melt into each other. And then, there was a special kind of glass called dichroic glass, which looked like every OG Tumblr lover’s dream – it looked like a crystal oil spill galaxy hybrid with chromatic patterns in one tiny shard. There were also other beautiful designs in tack-glass shards which were rejects from Charlotte’s own experiments that she makes when she’s not programming full-time.
From the abundance of choices my classmates would go on to make a bumblebee, a cat and an ode to landscapes, and others like myself piled on full-fuse and tack-fuse together and hoped for the best. In total, there were six classmates, almost all of whom were new students with one returning customer.
All of the preparation was pretty swift and allowed the class to use most of the time to sit down, chat, and create. The long work tables with stools on each side made it accessible to strike up conversations and compare notes on our progress.
While we were working, I found out that some of the students were into art professionally or as a passive side gig while others found time to make art as a hobby (this was the case for most of them.) It seems common that students travel a long distance just to take a class at the Arts Center though, many are locals. Two that day had come from Medusa, a small town in New York just shy of an hour south from the Arts Center, and others in the past have come from central Massachusetts just for Charlotte’s classes.
Everyone in the room was young and curious and signed up because it was different and wanted to explore what Troy had to offer. One classmate, just moved to Schenectady from Pennsylvania and was a returning student to familiarize herself with her new town and the people. Others who join the class according to Charlotte, are couples making it a date activity, grandparents and their grandchildren and young college kids looking for something fun to do. One of her students was an art teacher who took the class and was so inspired that she recruited our instructor to guest teach at her school.
Much like the students I met, Charlotte took a class similar to the one she teaches, at another center and said she was hooked ever since. This was twelve years ago and since then, she has taught classes in various locations, and in the last five years, at the Arts Center. She also sells pieces on Etsy and her Facebook page where buyers inquire about pieces and upcoming classes. From student to teacher, she is a testament to why programs are beneficial to the community. Charlotte noted her wish that programs nationwide were more accessible for public access, “art shouldn’t be a luxury; it should be something that everyone can take part in and enjoy … people who are struggling with mental-health issues, addiction, or poverty are often the most poorly positioned to take advantage of ‘fine art’ classes, [cost] but they are the people who need those avenues most.”
Despite the cost, one student said that she tries to save up and drop in on occasion so that she may be able to partake in classes when she can. All of the other first timers in the class said they would definitely be making a comeback adding to the list of her returning students.
Ultimately this class had achieved what I was looking for and more, a non anxious way to craft something of quality and beauty yet simplistic that I could walk away feeling like “I did it.”
The students of this class were told that we would be seeing our final products in two to four weeks. It is a little long, but this is because she says, “there is also more to finishing the pieces than just sticking them in the kiln–I take time to make sure they’re level to ensure the best results for students. Then I have to prepare the kiln shelf and ‘map’ each firing so I know who each piece belongs to. After that, there are usually 3-4 firings, and then I spend time prepping the pieces for epoxy, attaching findings, waiting for the epoxy to dry, and carefully wrapping the finished glass.” However, around the holidays she tries to expedite this process as more people sign up and gift their glass pieces to loved ones.
The kiln process takes some time because she uses her personal one in her home and there is some question if there is an official Troy Arts Center kiln or if the one in the building belongs to a teacher.
However, she noted that the major benefit of a personal kiln is that she can be “nearby to monitor the glass while it fires and adjust the firing schedule” when needed, and it axes the worry of interrupting an ongoing class to use it.
While our instructor doesn’t reach out to us about the final product, students can expect to wait a few weeks before they receive word from the Arts Center that their items are ready and can schedule a time to pick them up.
Upon reflecting on student feedback, Charlotte said, “I get the impression that they’ve learned to equate creativity with a certain kind of technical prowess, rigor, or natural, ‘unlearnable’ talent, and when they come to my classes, they are reminded of a more pure, child-like aspect of art that is simply enjoying color, shape and light. I think students appreciate my flexibility–some students want me to cut/break the glass for them; some are happy to try breaking it without any guidance. I like to think that I’m perceptive enough to gauge those differences and adapt my teaching style accordingly and also encourage more timid students to take risks.”
I can personally say that she summed up the experience accurately and that such a niche experience is one to remember!
**For members, this class costs a total of $114 per person and for “future members” the cost including the class and studio fees is $122 per person. The annual member fees varies according to which membership one selects, (student, senior 62+, individual, dual/family.) And, according to the Troy Arts Center’s website, on top of discounts on classes, members can expect to get all exclusive access: “on classes and events, the opportunity to participate in our members-only Fence Exhibition, and access to exclusive Members-only Master Classes.”**
