From July 30 to August 3 Michael Mangiafico teaches
Terrain to Torch: Referencing the Natural World through Glass Objects at Touchstone Center for Crafts.This weeklong workshop is for all levels. Tuition is $475 for the week, and LE members get 5% of tuition. Touchstone is also offering 15% off all lodging options for summer and fall classes. Cost effective creativity! Click on the workshop title to learn more and sign up.
Look at a raindrop, twig, river stone or other natural phenomena and what do you see? This workshop will be an exploration of using the qualities of glass to reference the beauty of the natural world. Begin each day by putting on your glass goggles and exploring the outdoors. Students will spend the week immersed in the natural world and the flameworking studio. Start with the basics: safety, tool/equipment use and shop set-up, then the real fun will begin. Strike on the torch, grab some glass and learn to melt your first gather and shape leaves, flowers or a blade of grass. A number of techniques will be shown from surface texture, dot application to form flowers and working with a number of components to create sculptural pieces. Focus will be placed on flame control for the finer details, to flame atmosphere to achieve desired color effects. Demonstrations will be given throughout the day, as well as one-on-one problem solving. Don’t forget your notebook and an open mind to draw inspiration from the surroundings.
Michael Mangiafico has been teaching torch working and glass blowing since 1993. His work is available nationwide in many galleries and has been featured in art magazines and consumer publications. Michael demonstrates at schools, fairs, galleries and other organizations. While his specialty is making glass insects, he also makes beads, marbles, jewelry, vessels and paperweights. To learn more about his work visit
www.figstudios.com.
"Terrain to Torch" with Michael Mangiafico from July 30 to August 3
