Crefeld Glass Studio Sparks Students' Creativity

There aren’t many high school students who work with molten glass and blow torches. But the kids in the glass studio spend hours every week working on all sorts of glass projects in the studio.

Director of the Crefeld glass studio Josh Cole has spent three years teaching dozens of seventh through 12th graders the craft, and he has seen students truly evolve of the course of the semesters and years.

“It’s all about being a practicing artist,” Cole said. Like in the other art classes at the school, students spend time perfecting their craft. Students partake in glassblowing, lampworking and wax casting. Students use the furnace and kilns in the “hot shop” to blow glass and create everything from cups and bottles to vases and other figures. With lampworking, students use a blow torch to create intricate glass designs.

“My curriculum flows with the students’ needs,” he said.

Though the studio has existed at the school since the mid 90s, when Cole arrived three years ago he completely rebuilt the studio with more energy-efficient equipment. Cole studied glass in college, and loves being able to come to work at a fully functioning studio to work with his students.

“I make my work in front of the students,” Cole said. “They help me with my work.”

And with wax casting, students mold a figure out of wax and then layer it in plaster. Then the figure is steamed until the wax melts out and filled with pieces of glass that are melted in the kiln and fill the crevices of the wax figure, leaving a glass figure as the end result. Wax rhinos, chess pieces and sculptures filled the studio tables with rows of plaster casts waiting to be steamed and finished glass of all shapes, sizes and colors.

“I like glass because I find it to be therapeutic,” said senior Max Cohen as he worked on making an intricate glass. “I have to clear everything else out of my mind, or I’ll ruin my piece.”

There are challenges with this art form, of course. Projects don’t always survive the kiln, glass gets dropped and malformed. There is a lot of patience needed for this type of work, and lots of teamwork. Students help each other with ideas and the process itself, from assisting with blowing to opening the furnaces.

Malachai Floyd, who graduates next year, said he likes the idea of being able to use something that has some element of danger—the heat, the flame—and make something beautiful from it.

“I love being able to create something,” he said.

“I love it. It’s a lot of fun,” Cole said. “Even if this isn’t for you, you learn how to make something.”

The students will be presenting their work at the school’s free art show, “Inspiration vs. Obligation,” which will also feature music, dance, theater and acting this Thursday. The art opening will be held from 6 to 6:45 p.m. and the performances will be held at 7 p.m.

In the summer, Cole will be teaching two weeks of glass workshops for teens starting June 20. The glass studio, which is a nonprofit program of The Crefeld School, also offers evening adult and teen classes as well as parent and child classes, private and group lessons and studio rental time when school is out of session. To learn more, check out the glass studio online or contact Kristy Modarelli at the Crefeld School at 215-242-5545 or kmodarelli@crefeld.org.