Jackie Ballard - Glass Blowing

"I began working with glass in the fall of 1980. The day I walked into my first glass shop was magical -- and it still is. Glass is a medium that encompasses the elements of air, fire, earth and water. Hot glass is like working with 2000° honey. One can never master glass; it always remains a challenge.

"Glassblowing is an art that continues to excite and inspire me. I take pride in knowing that my work is enjoyed by people around the world for its design and beauty.

"You asked for earth; I give you frozen music composed with deep feeling and flowing movements to create my earth, my reality, to sit gently in your hands, to be a part of your environment.

"Touch, feel, see how the illuminating rays of light vividly play with your mind, knowing you can hold air, fire, earth and water."

Jackie is an award winning and highly distinguished master glass blower. She received her degree from New York State in a four-year apprenticeship through William Glasser. She has more than 22 years experience blowing glass and has provided instruction to novices and intermediate glass blowers of all ages.

Class Information

Glass Blowing Instructor Staff

Brad Bedillion
Marc Bellingrath
Caity Pautler
Elise Pautler
Donny Weidenkopf
Christian Zvonik

Jason Bourgholtzer - Lamp Working

Since winning his first art contest at the local county fair at the age of six, Jason seemed destined to one day become a professional artist. During his tenure at Boca Ciega High School he received a National Art Merit Award and had two pieces of art on display at the High School Art Show at The Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Florida. After graduating high school in 1995, he enrolled at Saint Petersburg College (formerly known as St. PetersburgJunior College). Instead of pursuing any type of degree, he educated himself by taking as many art and science classes he could over a three year period of time. By mere chance his love of glass started from a visit to the Renaissance festival in the spring of 1999. From a small conversation with the glass blowers blossomed an apprenticeship that lasted 2 years. Once Jason went out on his own he began to study other glass artists and began to find his own style and place in the world of art. His work has been featured at several galleries across Florida.

Class Information

Eric Folsom
Metalsmithing

Eric Folsom, a Gulfport native, has been actively working as a metalsmith since 1977. Eric learned his craft through an apprenticeship from 1977- 1984 with George Anderson in Sperryville, VA.

His main tool is an oxygen / acetylene torch and he uses various pliers and shaping devices to forge and shape the metal. He works primarily with Bronze and Copper and has made a variety of objects including jewelry, flatware, kitchen and cabinet hardware, flatware and sculpture.

Since 1984, Eric has exhibited his work in juried art and crafts events from Florida to Massachusetts. He is currently exhibiting at The Florida Craftsmen Gallery in St Petersburg.

“The metals, Bronze and copper have been worked by humans for thousands of years and their reputation for durability and beauty has not diminished over the millennia. I get such a sense of joy and accomplishment when I am able to take raw materials and turn them into something beautiful and useful.”

CLASSES

Ronna Rogers - Glass Fusion

I have this need to create art. It's me. It's what I love.

In 2004 I signed up for a glass fusion workshop and I've been fusing glass ever since. The incredible sheets of glass available today are like a large box of crayons just waiting for the artisan in all of us to emerge.

To study glass is to study movement.

The layering together of pieces of glass while visioning its' outcome is the fun part for me. The magical part for me is when I open the kiln and look inside. That first glance. That first touch. So smooth. So beautiful. "

Ronna's glass studio is at her home in Indian Shores. Ronna takes pleasure in helping others interpret their ideas in glass. A photographer at heart, she enjoys adding the touch of photography within her fused projects.

Class Information

James Oleson, Jr.
Found Metal Sculpture
Kids Art Experience

To make an inanimate object touch, feel and speak is a gift that has been given to me. This gift has turned me into a pioneer of sorts, who dredges through industries' pollution on a quest for steel. I find myself climing amongst the rubble of a recently demolished high rise and digging in the garbage for fragments of a recent fabrication, or in a junyard dragging off parts of an old dinosaur that time has forgotten.

I believe the seeds of infinite possibilities lie in things discarded. My mind is constantly studying and categorizing all the objects that I am collecting. I visualize the objects floating in the air waiting for their chance to twist and dive into the sculptures not yet born, that constantly swim in my mind.

As I clean the Earth, all the objects I collect will be recycled and no longer destined to be trapped for eternity in a landfill, forever labeled as garbage. I also firmly believe it is my duty as an artist to create art with archival longevity and superior quality as I sculpt the future of the 21st century.

Class Information

Jonathan Schork
Sculptural Welding

Jonathan Schork is a multi-faceted artist, living part-time in Gulfport. Founder and manager of The Schork-Munsell Studios, a working artists’ collective in the Lower Keys, Jonathan Schork has had a varied and interesting artistic career, including participation in the 2007 Burning Man annual art festival in Nevada. Jonathan works in all fine arts media
including sculpture, painting, photography, jewelry, and fashion. He is a published author, filmmaker, stage manager/writer for Theatre Walks in Gulfport and Key West, Florida. He is best known for creating monumental community-based interactive public sculpture and monumental sculptural "sacred spaces" for weddings, funerals, and other events.

CLASS INFORMATION

Danielle Shockley - Clay Sculpture

As an artist, Danielle Shockley consistently tries to push the boundaries of her own imagination, utilizing themes such as "cute yet creepy" within many of her pieces. Be it a painting or sculpture, this interaction is integral to her work; to attract yet repulse, to incorporate characteristics such as charming, sinister, cartoonish, even goofy, all within one piece. Childhood favorites, such as horror movies and endless cartoons influence her greatly as an adult. Art has been a constant part of her life from a very young age, so it seemed only natural to go to school for it. Danielle is a graduate of the University of South Florida, having earned a BFA in Sculpture and Ceramics.

CLASSES

Christian Zvonik - Glass Blowing

Christian grew up in Sarasota, Florida and moved to the US west coast in 1991. He began blowing glass in 1996 at the Fifth Ave Glass Studio, downtown Seattle, with John Bennett, gaffer for Chihuly. After a year of formal classes and assisting gigs, Christian moved to San Diego, then Portland, following opportunities to work, blowing as much glass as possible.

Christian demonstrated glassblowing for the public and worked at Bullseye Glass factory assisting the
visiting artists, including projects with Lino Tagliapietra and Dale Chihuly’s team. For the next few years, he worked as a professional studio assistant, as well as making and showing his own work throughout the west coast.

In 2002, Christian began working for sculptor David Bennett, where he got to combine glass, sculpture, and his love for metalworking to help create innovative figurative pieces. Now Chritian is excited to have come
full circle, and to share adventures in glass with new friends in St. Petersburg.

CLASSES