Seminars
Illuminating ApparatusTom Galbraith240x180
(Not included in package pricing)
Tom Galbraith is a master neon worker with 30 years of experience in the craft. Further Tom has completed an apprenticeship in scientific apparatus with Bob Ponton at the UW-Milwaukee glass-shop. This unique skill set facilitates his ability to take new and reclaimed scientific laboratory apparatus and turn it into amazing works of neon art. Beyond the artistic aspects of this class, this seminar will teach attendees about vacuum sealing techniques, electrode sealing, and working with inert gases in an air-free environment. Registrants are encouraged to bring apparatus they would like to see illuminated, although some pieces will be provided for those who don’t bring their own. This class is a full day class with a limit of 8 participants.
Aldrich Tour and 50-Liter Multi-Neck Flask Demonstration
Bill Wasmiller and Kyle Meyer are both senior glassblowers for Sigma-Aldrich Chemical company. They will be providing a tour of their facility, and performing a demonstration of the manufacture of a Multi-Neck 50-Liter Flask. Transportation and lunch will be provided to attendees.
Mario AffatigatoGlass Physics and Chemistry
Dr. Mario Affatigato is a professor of Physics at Coe College in Cedar Rapids Iowa. He is an active member of the American Ceramic Society, where he is a Fellow and past chair of the Glass and Optical Materials Division, and the American Physical Society. Currently he is the Fran Allison and Francis Halpin Professor in the Physics Department. He also has outstanding collaborations with researchers in Nagaoka, Japan; Modena, Italy; Corning, NY; and Argonne National Laboratory in the US. He will be presenting a seminar on Glass Formation; Tempering (Thermal); Annealing; Crystallization; Properties; Biological applications, Industrial applications, and more. More about this Seminar.
The Chemistry of Silvering Glassware
Joshua Greenfield is a PhD Candidate at UC Davis. He will be providing a discussion and hands-on tutorial into the glass silvering process from chemicals found around a laboratory. This process can save a glass-shop a good deal of money as compared to purchasing specific silvering kits which have a limited shelf life and are significantly more expensive to purchase.
“The Test” From a Vacuum Technology Perspective
Gary Coyne is a veteran Glassblower at Cal-State Los Angeles. This seminar is a continuation of the popular Seminar taught at previous symposiums, where the attendees are both tested on their knowledge of Vacuum Technology and further educated on the topic as to provide them with new information and skills to use in their own shops. More about this Seminar.
The Great Torch Flame-Off
Kyle Meyer is both an established Scientific Glassblower for Sigma Aldrich, and well known in the borosilicate art community. He will be presenting a demonstration of four different brand bench burners (Herbert Arnold, Carlisle, Bethlehem, and Glass Torch Technology [GTT]). And will further weigh the pros and cons of each as compared to the others.
Cold Work In the Glass-Shop
Ron Bihler is the Director of Research and Development for Precision Glassblowing in Centennial, CO. He will be providing a tutorial on optical grinding techniques and flame sealing items that have been cold-worked. Cold working materials donated by Precision Glassblowing.
Square One Hot Shop Field Trip
Take a step back to the origins of glass manufacturing at Square One Art Glass. Square One is a hot shop located in the heart of Milwaukee and will be providing a tutorial on furnace working of soda-lime glass. Attendees will be able to fabricate items out of this material through the use of hot shop equipment and tools.
A Scientific Approach to Mastering Color
(Open to regular, artisitic, international, & Lifetime members only; Not included in package pricing)
Dan Coyle (Coyle Condenser), Kiva Ford, and Tim Drier will be presenting a master’s class in using scientific glass work techniques in color applications. These individuals are all veteran scientific glassblowers who have also established themselves as top-tier, recognizable artists. As this class is intended to hit the ground running, the expectation is that the student will come prepared with a full skill set of proper sealing techniques, and knowledge of proper structural integrity in glass. This 8-hour class is open to regular and artistic members of the society, and has an enrollment limited to 8 people. Further, this class is available for 10 observation, non-participatory, attendees, to watch these instructors and participants at work.
Lathe Tricks and Tips, Introduction to Lathe Techniques
Skip Huckaby provides a well rounded course introducing lathe tips and tricks intended to help transition the bench worker to lathe work. The goal of this course is to orient new and veteran glassblowers alike to using the glass lathe safely and successfully in the manufacture process of Scientific Apparatus. Skip will be teaching participants several different approaches to operating glass lathes and accomplishing tasks with them the attendee may not have realized were even possible, given this essential tools apparent limitations.
