Lara Davis Phelps discovered glass in her last year of college at RISD. Lara went back to school at the Appalachian Center for Crafts where she met her husband and discovered bead making. Building a studio, starting a business, and having a family are her current focus. She lives in Floyd with her husband and two kids.

Elizabeth Ryland Mears is a full time, award winning, studio artist. Her material of choice is glass. Mears uses the lexicon of Nature images to describe her relationship to her inner and outer worlds, and her sculpture often combines glass with mixed media. Her work is represented by galleries across the United States and is included in numerous private, public and museum collections, as well as, many publications focused on contemporary art glass. “Flameworking,” written by Mears, was published in 2003 by LARK Books.

Elizabeth Ryland Mears is a full time, award winning, studio artist. Her material of choice is glass. Mears uses the lexicon of Nature images to describe her relationship to her inner and outer worlds, and her sculpture often combines glass with mixed media. Her work is represented by galleries across the United States and is included in numerous private, public and museum collections, as well as, many publications focused on contemporary art glass. “Flameworking,” written by Mears, was published in 2003 by LARK Books.

Minimum enrollment: 3, Maximum enrollment: 6
Beginner ● Materials Fee: $30 ● Minimum Age: 12

Students under the age of 18 MUST have a waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian before class commences.

Amanda Honore' Donley has been a lifelong drawer, painter and maker of things. After taking a class in stained glass, she apprenticed at that studio, continued study in art glass design and construction, and opened Rose Window Studio in Martinsville Virginia In 1984. Now located in Woolwine, Rose Window specializes in custom architectural stained glass for homes, businesses, and places of worship. The studio also commissions murals and decorative painting, and fine art in multimedia. Amanda finds inspiration in nature and in the enthusiasm of the students she has enjoyed instructing in the craft.

http://www.rosewindowstudio.com/

This class is a prerequisite for the 6 week Beginner Hot Glass workshop offered by Tim. However, students may take it as many times as desired. A pre-workshop questionnaire and reading material will be emailed to students 2 weeks prior to the beginning of class (or soon after registration, whichever is later).

Enrollment: 9
Introductory Experience Level ● Materials Fee: $0 ● Minimum Age: 14

Students under the age of 18 MUST have a waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian before class commences.

This is not a bead making course. Molten glass will be gathered from a furnace at temperatures in excess of 2000o F. This approach to glass blowing is physically demanding.

This workshop represents a special partnership between The Jacksonville Center and Vitryoyo Studio. As such, all tuition is due no less than 2 weeks prior to the beginning of class. Classes will not be scheduled until full enrollment is ensured. No refunds will be given within 2 weeks to the beginning of class. Class takes place off-site at the Vitroyoyo Studio in Check, VA—14 miles from The Jacksonville Center. Students are responsible for their own transportation and the timeliness of their arrival.

Participants should come at least 10 minutes early (late arrivals are frowned upon and costly to classmates) and prepared with sunglasses, lightweight natural fiber clothing (less flammable--long sleeves and pants) and plenty of drinking water—it can get very hot in the studio in the summer (FYI—restroom facilities are in the form of an outhouse). Participants are also encouraged to bring books, photos or actual glass work if they have designs (shapes) they’re interested in learning about and trying… eventually.

Private lessons available. Contact education@jacksonvillecenter.org for information about private hot glass lessons.

Tim Burke, a graduate of Floyd County High School and Virginia Tech, began his journey as a glass artist in 1990 when he joined the New Orleans School of Glass. He served there as hot shop technician and teacher for 5 years, earning scholarships to Pilchuck Glass School in Seattle and Haystack Mountain School of Craft, and finally becoming studio manager of Urban Glass in Brooklyn, NY. Following his stint in New York, Tim worked for Lunt Silversmiths designing a product line “to enhance their century-old success as purveyors of high-end silverwares” where he finally earned the skill level needed to branch out on his own. In 2000, Tim returned to Floyd and built a studio in an old barn on his family’s property. He continues to develop relationships with galleries and arts and crafts schools across the country and is looking forward to expanding his work to include the cultivation of a hot glass community in his neck of the woods.

http://vitroyoyo.com/

Having successfully completed the extended beginner sessions students may qualify for studio rental (contingent on demonstration of competence in working unsupervised) and more advanced future courses.

Enrollment: 9
Beginner Experience Level (must have Introduction to Hot Glass or equivalent experience) ● Materials Fee: $0 ● Minimum Age: 14
Students under the age of 18 MUST have a waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian before class commences.

This is not a bead making course. Molten glass will be gathered from a furnace at temperatures in excess of 2000 oF. This approach to glass blowing is physically demanding. Students must be at least 14 years of age.

This workshop represents a special partnership between The Jacksonville Center and Vitroyoyo Studio. As such, all tuition is due no less than 2 weeks prior to the beginning of class. Classes will not be scheduled until full enrollment is ensured. No refunds will be given within 2 weeks to the beginning of class. Class takes place off-site at the Vitroyoyo Studio in Check, VA—14 miles from the Jacksonville Center. Students are responsible for their own transportation and the timeliness of their arrival.

Participants should come at least 10 minutes early (late arrivals are frowned upon and costly to classmates) and prepared with sunglasses, lightweight natural fiber clothing (less flammable--long sleeves and pants) and plenty of drinking water—it can get very hot in the studio in the summer (FYI—restroom facilities are in the form of an outhouse). Participants are also encouraged to bring books, photos or actual glass work if they have designs (shapes) they’re interested in learning about and trying… eventually.

Private lessons available. Contact education@jacksonvillecenter.org for information about private hot glass lessons.

Tim Burke, a graduate of Floyd County High School and Virginia Tech, began his journey as a glass artist in 1990 when he joined the New Orleans School of Glass. He served there as hot shop technician and teacher for 5 years, earning scholarships to Pilchuck Glass School in Seattle and Haystack Mountain School of Craft, and finally becoming studio manager of Urban Glass in Brooklyn, NY. Following his stint in New York, Tim worked for Lunt Silversmiths designing a product line “to enhance their century-old success as purveyors of high-end silverwares” where he finally earned the skill level needed to branch out on his own. In 2000, Tim returned to Floyd and built a studio in an old barn on his family’s property. He continues to develop relationships with galleries and arts and crafts schools across the country and is looking forward to expanding his work to include the cultivation of a hot glass community in his neck of the woods.

http://vitroyoyo.com/