4 year lamp working schools, BFA ?

[Kane>Nin]

I know of Salem CC in Jersey, Doesnt look like a bad school. I would like to get a bachelor's degree tho. Anyone know of some other schools to check out?
I do like working in the hot shop, but it seems more practical to stick with lamp working. I am in California right now, visiting. I'm thinking of checking out California State University Fullerton. (Its about 20 miles from where I'm staying)
Also, Maybe I thought of renting a car and going up the coast to C.C.A.C. in Oakland. I saw San Francisco State University has some kind of a Glass program as well. Might as well if I'm already here.

I am a NYS resident so maybe RIT or Alfred University

[AdamCotter]

Salem is Tits, I'm halfway thru, Associates is it for glass I think, maybe go to university after the 2 yr for chemistry or something to fill out a bachelors?

[full_kiln]

VCU has a program and emillio teaches there

[AdamCotter]

VCU has a program and emillio teaches there

can you transfer your 2 years of salem there?

[BK]

you really dont wind up with many transferrable credits after salem. if you take a look at your transcript many of your credits come from the apparatus fabrication classes (dennis' class), which is a beyond worthless class to most (read:all that matter) schools.

[full_kiln]

yeah the scientific classes account for almost half of your credits

[Bro-crispy]

CCAC in Oakland (actually it's CCA these days, they dropped the last C (crafts) in '06) will provide you with a great glass/sculpture/art education, but don't expect to learn any flame working there. You can set up your own equipment if you want, but they have no flame working instructors and no designated area for it.

[Chad S]

Since your in Cali check out Revere Glass School, that is if your interested in functional art. They offer classes specific for lampworking, but don't expect to get a piece of paper at the end, although you'll will leave with much more skill in lampworking than a credited school elsewhere.

Get contemporary lampworking by Bandhu Dunham if you want some book learning. Read all three volumes, there is endless information in those books. Otherwise hands on learning with practice, patients, & more practice is your best bet imo.

If your only interested in the scientific aspect of glassblowing then yes i would recommend Salem CC.

If your interested in furnace work then Alfred University has a good program and also RISD - Rhode Island School of Design.

If your main focus is functional art good luck finding a college willing to show ya the ropes.

[BK]

Since your in Cali check out Revere Glass School, that is if your interested in functional art. They offer classes specific for lampworking, but don't expect to get a piece of paper at the end, although you'll will leave with much more skill in lampworking than a credited school elsewhere.



I would realllllly talk to some previous "students" before you consider this.



If your only interested in the scientific aspect of glassblowing then yes i would recommend Salem CC.
.

"only" isn't quite true

[hnk]

Since your in Cali check out Revere Glass School, that is if your interested in functional art. They offer classes specific for lampworking, but don't expect to get a piece of paper at the end, although you'll will leave with much more skill in lampworking than a credited school elsewhere.

Get contemporary lampworking by Bandhu Dunham if you want some book learning. Read all three volumes, there is endless information in those books. Otherwise hands on learning with practice, patients, & more practice is your best bet imo.

If your only interested in the scientific aspect of glassblowing then yes i would recommend Salem CC.

If your interested in furnace work then Alfred University has a good program and also RISD - Rhode Island School of Design.

If your main focus is functional art good luck finding a college willing to show ya the ropes.

i went to revere, don't waste your time or money at that place unless your taking a workshop go to Salem Dennis, the teacher at salem cares way more about his students and glass then dustin ever will. and if you like furnace work Salem has a ballllin little hot shop

[Ness]

Damn thats a bummer to hear, looks like a great place to take a workshop tho

[Samson]

Wow, sup with Revere? I've never heard anything but mad props to this place. I have never seen or met anyone there but like I said, It's kinda surprising to read that.

[full_kiln]

I've heard he's a real sheister from one of his employees and people that have worked there

[ACE]

Emilio no longer works at VCU, Chris McElroy runs the program now- he's really amazing if you haven't seen his work already.

I went to VCU, and was happy with the program there- but it is an art school, and you will have a lot of other requirements so make sure that's what you're looking for before you enroll.

[Kane>Nin]

Did u get a BFA from VCU? or an MFA?

I think of all the schools i have looked at RISD is probly the most reputable.

[EFS]

Honestly! Go to the school of hard knocks. Take some lessons from people that are masters in the type of work you are interested and spend the extra money on glass and the time in the shop honing your skills. Better yet line up an apprenticeship within the line of work you want to get involved with. If you are wanting to work at a university being a scientific guy the you will probably need a degree or a long history of work experiance to get in. Those jobs are few and far between anyway's. Just a suggestion. Blue skies justin

[BK]

*dreams of university job*

[Kane>Nin]

*dreams of university job*

Yeah, Thats all true, But I am starting to see the value of an education. I have been making pipes since like 2006 and i find myself asking where I am going to be in like 15 years. If I want to keep doing the same old, same old. If I want to step it up. I grew up in a town with a art school, hotshop right in my hometown. My parents are both public school teachers. I m also kinda interested in like a general education.
I have allways had the subjective belief that I dont need school if Im going to be it the business of functional glass art. But I dont know..

[daveabr]

something about revere filing, and cutting out on debt to every major supplier in the industry probably has something to do with the bad mojo

[LarryC]

Yeah, Thats all true, But I am starting to see the value of an education. I have been making pipes since like 2006 and i find myself asking where I am going to be in like 15 years. If I want to keep doing the same old, same old. If I want to step it up. I grew up in a town with a art school, hotshop right in my hometown. My parents are both public school teachers. I m also kinda interested in like a general education.
I have allways had the subjective belief that I dont need school if Im going to be it the business of functional glass art. But I dont know..

Traditionally a 4 year art degree was a step up to legitimacy as an artist. Now I suspect that is becoming less important especially in the glass world. I do agree, though, that a 4 year degree is ALWAYS a good thing to have. I am not a huge believer in our undergrad educational system but that piece of paper opens a lot of doors. I've got a BS in electrical engineering and worked as a design engineer for fifteen years. Now that I have changed careers that 4 year degree has helped immensely. It tells people that you are willing and able to make a commitment and go the distance in whatever you choose to do.

[PhantomCoral]

RISD or CCA= 38,000 in tuition, per year.

I can think of 100 better ways to use that money towards developing your skills/building your shop.
Don't waste your time with these high profile art schools. They only care about conceptual art and consequently teach very little actual technique.
Flameworking is pretty much frowned upon by both these departments.

Besides, neither school has Lampworking (they both have 1 CC+, locked away in a little cabinet to gather cobwebs)

Signed,
someone who attended both these schools and will be paying student loans off for the rest of his life

[Chad S]

Since your in Cali check out Revere Glass School, that is if your interested in functional art. They offer classes specific for lampworking, but don't expect to get a piece of paper at the end, although you'll will leave with much more skill in lampworking than a credited school elsewhere.

Get contemporary lampworking by Bandhu Dunham if you want some book learning. Read all three volumes, there is endless information in those books. Otherwise hands on learning with practice, patients, & more practice is your best bet imo.

If your only interested in the scientific aspect of glassblowing then yes i would recommend Salem CC.

If your interested in furnace work then Alfred University has a good program and also RISD - Rhode Island School of Design.

If your main focus is functional art good luck finding a college willing to show ya the ropes.


Thank you, my point exactly, I totally agree with you! Therefore my previous comment. (+1Rep) Great first post - Welcome to the melting pot, you pry will learn more here anyways.. PRICELESS!! :D

[Dirty]

Phantom really said it. Besides a friend or two showing me a few vital tricks in the beginning; I have pretty much taught myself most everything until this year (my 6th in lampworking) when I took a couple classes up at Corning. Classes are priceless once you know some basics and you can get the most out of the class. Going to a class in the very beginning can be helpful but not the answer to your question. TORCH TIME is the only teacher you really need. Get some basics if you don't already have them and then spend the money on classes. Bandhu's books are extremely helpful, As well as small gatherings such as AGI. You can learn loads of tech from AGI and network to get further education. hope this helps

[Kane>Nin]

Phantom really said it. Besides a friend or two showing me a few vital tricks in the beginning; I have pretty much taught myself most everything until this year (my 6th in lampworking) when I took a couple classes up at Corning. Classes are priceless once you know some basics and you can get the most out of the class. Going to a class in the very beginning can be helpful but not the answer to your question. TORCH TIME is the only teacher you really need. Get some basics if you don't already have them and then spend the money on classes. Bandhu's books are extremely helpful, As well as small gatherings such as AGI. You can learn loads of tech from AGI and network to get further education. hope this helps

I got started in 2006 as well. got my CC that summer but took a 10 week course Introduction to Flameworking with Glady West at CMOG the spring before. I took some more of the 1 or 2 week intensive courses that they have at The Studio the winter of 2007. One with Loren Stump, Sue-Ellen Fowler, Shane Fero.. But thats pretty much all the instruction that I have gotten. I do think those Studio Class' are a good value and should have done more over the years. I also took a summer class at Alfred University the summer of 2006 before I got my first CC. That was the last year that AU had a good deal on the summer class, Now you would get a better value at Corning. That was so much fun tho, Ben Sharp was the TA. Got alot of furnice time. O yeah I took a 10 week class at corning in 2008 at the hotshop, instead of torch.

[ACE]

Did u get a BFA from VCU? or an MFA?

I think of all the schools i have looked at RISD is probly the most reputable.

BFA. They also have an MFA program.

Both of these schools, and quite a few others are "reputable", the key is looking for one that has the kind of program you're looking for. RISD is a great school, although I'm pretty sure they don't have a lampworking dept, only hotshop. My boyfriend went to RISD (he is a lampworker as well) but got a painting degree and learned to blow glass in some dude's basement. VCU, to my knowledge, is the only 4 year program available with more than one or two torches (they have 10 carlisles, liquid oxy etc), and an instructor who just does lampworking specifically. It has been a few years since I've looked into this though, things could have changed.

Don't get me wrong though, it's not the pimpest studio. There was no ventilation, not even a window to open. The hotshop got hooked up with all the best shit, new furnace, good vents, new kilns, and we got 2 cases of clear glass per semester, one of tubing and one of rod lol. One kiln too old to run a program. You do get 24 hour acess to the studio though!

[CharlieDontSurf]

My opinion doesn't mean shit I realize, but I rent space at Revere a few times a month and have always been treated with respect and care. The rates are superb and Dustin is a nice guy personally, and there's a good number of talented regulars who hang out at the studio. I've seen Emilio Santini, Gianni Toso and RAM thanks to Revere. Watching Emilio work hollow might as well be life changing.

I'm delighted to have access to it, honestly. I'm months away from having my own studio and without that school I wouldn't be blowing glass at all.

[Chad S]

I suggested Kane outta check out Revere, since he was already in Cali.. & others oddly had nothing good to say bout Revere. I'm on your side Charlie. Thanks for your opinion, it means something to me if that counts. It's nice to hear a review from someone who actually rents space there and knows whats up first hand.

[glasstronaught]

If you decide to go with Alfred you will have to wait a year to get in the shop. Your first year is freshman foundation art which is not fun. Especially if your a dumbass like myself who decides to go to art school even though you cant draw a straight line.

[Logan]

I went to college and have a BFA in sculpture. I had a good experience and learned alot about working in different mediums, welding and casting metal, woodworking, ceramics, weaving, drawing..pretty much everything except glass. My senior year I bought a torch and starting learning everything I could about flameworking from books, video, internet. The rest is history.

If finances are not an obstacle to you (e.g. someone is footing the bill), I say go for it. Art school will definitely open you up to new perspectives and possibilities. But its important to remember that no amount of school will make you a successful artist. Its ultimately up to the individual to put in the energy and devotion to make it happen. Shit the vast majority of my classmates from art school are either no longer making art and/or have jobs doing other stuff that sucks all their time and energy. Under no circumstances would I recommend taking out loans and getting in debt just to pay your way through art school. If your paying for it yourself you are way better off spending that money on equipment and lessons from master of the craft.

That said....probably the most important thing I learned in art school was how to draft and design. I cant stress enough the importance of being able to realistically draw/render an idea onto paper. Most ideas come as flashes of inspiration and need to be made concrete as quickly as possible. Glass is not really a media that you can just sketch up an idea real quick in, especially something complex. If you know how to draw, you can sketch up ideas that go far beyond your current technical skills in flameworking. But the idea is there on paper, and eventually your flameworking skills will catch up with your imagination and that's when the real magic starts to happens.

[BK]

If you decide to go with Alfred you will have to wait a year to get in the shop. Your first year is freshman foundation art which is not fun. Especially if your a dumbass like myself who decides to go to art school even though you cant draw a straight line.

this.

[infoleather]

Provide them with a drawing class, but do not count in the final piece of paper, although you will leave more than deposited into the school elsewhere brushed skills.

[Kane>Nin]

http://glasslab.art.wisc.edu/Pages/Facilities.html

Found this. They dont have as nice of a lampworking studio like VCU, But They have a lathe.

[pipeshawk]

I found this link in another forum.
http://www.glassblower.info/classes.html

[Simian]

I wish I had any kind of program or class within 100 miles. I would go in a heartbeat.