Mobile Glass Studio

Imagine a 2,000-degree furnace filled with molten glass — on wheels! The Hastings College Mobile Glass Studio is a great way to experience a bit of the Department of Visual Arts and Jackson Dinsdale Art Center (JDAC) at your school!

Mobile glass trailer. — Our mobile glass studio comes complete in a small trailer.

Our mobile glass studio is available to travel to high schools across the region, where a Hastings College artist will demonstrate glass blowing techniques and working with glass.

During demonstrations, the artist will explain the entire process and help students understand the science behind working with glass, including the characteristics of glass, adding and mixing colors, how temperature influences the process and more!

The mobile studio includes a furnace that heats to more than 2,000 degrees to melt glass — plus houses all the equipment that’s needed, including a pipe warmer, annealer, tools and LP gas.

It’s an incredible experience — and here on campus, glass blowing is one of the most popular series of classes. We can’t wait to share the experience with you.

Booking the Mobile Glass Studio

The Hastings College Mobile Glass Studio is available for educational uses only, with a focus on high schools. Specifications for hosting the Mobile Glass Studio can be found below. High schools will need to provide a space for the trailer and electricity (standard 110V).

We are not currently accepting requests for the mobile glass studio.

Specifications for hosting the Mobile Glass Studio

The Hastings College Mobile Glass Studio is a great way to experience a bit of the Department of Visual Arts and Jackson Dinsdale Art Center at your school!

MobileGlass 2 — The mobile glass studio opens and includes a small stage students can gather around.

Most visits take place during school hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with demonstrators creating glass works throughout the day.

There are some important technical aspects to the glass and our equipment to consider when planning our visit:

A school representative must be present when we arrive to show us where we can set up the trailer, help set up the stage and where we can plug in for power.
At least 30 feet of space for the trailer and stage.
A minimum of four hours for our glass to melt before the event begins.
At least 1.5 hours to turn down our equipment and repack at the end of the event.
Access to power-a standard plugin is adequate.
Access to water to fill several buckets.

The earliest time we can begin demonstrating is 9:00 a.m. as the glass furnace must first reach 2,000 degrees. If the event begins this early, we would prefer to work out the trailer placement and power source the evening before the event. If the event is after 11:00 am the trailer can be parked and set up the same day beginning at 7:00 am.

We will demonstrate making a range of small objects, both functional and sculptural, and will narrate the process highlighting important aspects of the material, science, history and the art of glass.

This service is free for any educational-based event!