This past summer attendance of a one and one-half week workshop entitled “Explorations in Cold Working Glass” at the Glass Studio at Corning in Corning, New York allowed for experimentation and development of creative applications of glass working techniques for artistic expression. Cold working refers to altering and shaping the glass after it has been cast or formed. Altering and shaping techniques were accomplished with various diamond saws and grinding devices. Specialized techniques of lamination of clear glass with pigmented clear epoxy create a thin layer of color between the laminated sections. This layer allows differing light and color refracting properties as the piece is moved or as the viewer moves around the piece. Some of these techniques and working methods are also applicable to the incorporation of cold worked glass and clay. The use of glass and its inherent reflective properties as an added component in ceramics leads to new possibilities and expression and adds to the aesthetic, emotional, and conceptual quality of the objects produced. This workshop was supported through a 2009-2010 Provost’s Incentive Grant and travel funds from the Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities Office.

Robert Wood, Professor of Design/Ceramics