Introduction to Cane with Anna Riley

Thin lines of colored glass can be drawn out, chopped up, and reheated to produce linear patterns in blown glass. This class will introduce students to the practice of “pulling” cane in a range of colors and styles, as well as the subsequent techniques for “rolling” the cane back onto the blowpipe to produce blown forms. Students will learn the choreography of cane work, including how to use the garage, how to make a “post” and “collar,” and how to reheat cane for one another with the pastorale fork. These methods require close attention to teamwork, timing, and safety.

What to Expect: Because pulling and rolling cane is a multistage and time intensive process, we will keep the demonstrations to a minimum (likely one or two short demos per day). This is to ensure students will have plentiful time for hands-on practice with the guidance of the teacher and teaching assistants. All students will have the chance to pull cane multiple times, as well as the opportunity to produce two or more blown pieces from the cane they’ve pulled.

Students will work together and learn to manipulate molten glass (2000 degrees). Safety and tools will all be covered in a fun and exciting environment. The hot shop is a loud studio, and can get quite warm. Glassblowing involves a variety of activities including sitting, standing, and working with hot glass. The environment can be very hot and loud at times. Handling glass and tools may require a certain level of dexterity and ability to lift 5-10 lbs approximately. Read more about how to prepare for class on our Registration Info page. To learn more about accessibility the Accessibility page on our website.

Eligibility: This class is intended for students with little or no experience pulling cane. Students should have confidence in their ability to gather from the furnace and to move safely around the work bench and studio, but do not need prior experience working with glass color. This is for advanced beginners, previous glassblowing skills required. Open to ages 14 and up.

Pick-up: The glass needs to cool down overnight, so the students will have to return to UrbanGlass once notified to pick up their work.

We recommend registering for classes early to reserve your spot! We base materials, and teacher needs off of student enrollment. Early registration not only guarantees your spot in class, but also helps to ensure the class will run. Classes with low enrollment may be cancelled within two weeks of the start date of class. Contact our Registrar of Education, Ari Eshoo, at [email protected] if you have questions about the class or would like to arrange a payment plan.

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