News and Events

Classes and Workshops
Exhibitions and Festivals

Summer 2011 Exhibitions and Festivals

Coolidge Corner Arts Festival
June 4
The grounds of the Devotion School, 345 Harvard St
Brookline, MA

Three Rivers Arts Festival
June 8-12
In the Artists' Market at Gateway Center Plaza, booth #35
Pittsburgh, PA

AHTS: The Boston Arts Festival
September 10-11
Christopher Columbus Park
On the Waterfront in downtown Boston

Flameworking Classes

Beth teaches at Diablo, a glass school in the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston. If you've ever had an interest in glass beadmaking, sign up for a class and see what it's like to work with molten glass! For more information on Diablo, check out www.diabloglassschool.com.

For Beth's current teaching schedule, please contact her at beth.gaertner@gmail.com or 617 921 5867. A description of some of the available classes is below. Private and small group lessons are also available to fit with your schedule.

Intro to Beadmaking

This class is a great introduction to the process of melting glass at the torch. We cover the basics of making a round bead with dots, and then move on to different shaping techniques and surface decoration applications such as twisted dots, bubbles, raked lines, and encasing. We'll also cover the basics of sculptural beadmaking by making some glass fish, or try our hands at floral beads. Experienced beadmakers are also welcome to join the class and work at their own pace.

One Day Intro to Glass Beadmaking Workshop

If you're looking for a quick taste of glass beadmaking to see if it's right for you, this is the class to take. We'll learn how to make a round bead with dots, and then try some other shapes and surface decorations.

Two Day Intro to Glass Beadmaking Workshop

Spend your weekend melting glass! This class covers the techniques learned in the One Day Workshop, and goes into some additional techniques such as encasing and sculptural work on the second day, plus lots of practice time at the torch.

Glass Beadmaking 2 Workshop

Ready to move beyond the basics? This class covers some intermmediate and advanced beadmaking techniques. Possible lessons include complex sculptural work, off-mandrel work such as pendants or marbles, hollow beads, complex twisted canes, and incorporating silver leaf and wire into beads. The actual projects taught depends on what the students would like to focus on, so come prepared with ideas!