Bucks County Community College

      

Introduction to Glassblowing

 

Class: ARTS 147.83                            Instructor: Karl Carter.                        CarterK@bucks.edu

Office: Library 114                                                                                                  Hours 8-5 M-F

 

i.          This is an introduction to the basic techniques of Glassblowing. The student will learn to manipulate hot glass into aesthetic forms through use of the blowpipe and its related functions of blowing, jacking, blocking, shaping, transferring and finishing. Class hours are divided between lecture and individual instruction on a rotating basis. Discussions will take place to exchange ideas and information and to relate and solve problems in learning the basics of glassblowing.

 

The schedule will be as follows:

 

8.29.2001

Introduction and Safety discussion

 

 

9.5.2001

Basic gathering and jacking. Begin notebooks.

 

 

9.12.2001

Gathering, Blocking, jacking, shaping, transfer and finishing.

 

 

9.19.2001

More basic glassblowing techniques.

 

Assignment: container

 

 

9.26.2001

CONTAINER DUE critique session, continued basic demonstrations

 

 

10.32001

Bowl demonstration.

 

Assignment: bowl

 

 

10.10.2001

BOWL PROJECT DUE critique session continued basic demonstrations

 

 

10.17.2001

Demonstration Applied techniques: threads, handles, dip gathers and distortions. Assignment: Applied techniques, design and execute a vessel using one or more applied technique.

 

 

10.24.2001

More applied techniques demonstration.

 

 

10.31.2001

More applied techniques demonstration.

 

 

11.7.2001

APPLIED TECHNIQUE PROJECT DUE

 

 

11.14.2001

Open studio, to improve previous assignments.  Furnace off 11.15.01!  Cold working only last week of glass.

11.21.2001

Thanksgiving Week

11.28.2001

Final critique. Bring examples of your progress and notebook

 

ii.            Students’ work will be evaluated on an individual basis, according to his or her interpretation of glass and the related techniques covered in this session. Student co-operation regarding use and maintenance of the glass studio will also be taken into consideration before final grades are issued. Notebook, or student’s account of personal development, perceptions, and record of lab sessions will count for one-fourth of the final grade.

Class and lab attendance are mandatory as well as necessary in order to acquire the technical skill required to complete the assigned projects. If attendance becomes a problem, I will utilize the “teacher initiated withdraw” a department policy that states: “After three absences (before mid-semester), students will be eligible for teacher initiated withdrawal”. Missing the Final critique will result in an automatic “F”.