The Glass Forge

"Movement, heat, light, teamwork, and the physicality of the process have attracted us and kept us interested in this molten material."

Following months of intensive discussion, planning, building, and preparation, The Glass Forge Studio first lit its furnaces on Memorial Day of 1998. The studio became a reality through the vision of several artists who met while working for various San Francisco Bay Area glass studios. Currently, this collaborative team consists of artists Lee Wassink, Nathan Sheafor, and Dennis Hoerauf, all of whom bring unique skills and vision to The Glass Forge.

Specializing in Venetian-style art glass, The Glass Forge team begins each piece by gathering clear, molten glass from the furnace on a long, hollow rod. Next, they apply various decorations and colors to this clear glass. Then, the glass is blown like a balloon to achieve the desired shape, and finally, the top and bottom of the piece are finished.

Each of the collaborative artists at The Glass Forge studied in college hot shops and honed their skills in professional glass studios and workshops.