GALLERY

Our Gallery is open Saturdays from 10am - 3pm or by appointment. Our Gallery features an array of work completed by artists who work out of our studios.

FEATURED GLASS ART

We like to play with glass at Firehouse and part of the fun as it turns out, is understanding the chemistry of glass and what compounds make the glass the color it is. In recent years we have become known for having “hot color” available to our glassblowers in addition to the traditional clear “crystal,” goodness. The below carousel of images gives you an idea of the colors we have featured over the years and some of the regular items we have in our gallery! Take a look and read on to learn more or come see us in person!

On a basic level our clear blowing glass is made from silica (sand), soda and lime. To change the color appearance metal oxides are added to the glass. Here are some of the favorites we have worked with over the years (pictured above in the order listed).

Neodymium - This purplish / blueish glass is made with Neodymium Oxide which gives it its unique coloring. This color is extra special because it appears blue under fluorescent light and purpleish / pink under natural and incandescent light.
Erbium Pink - Glass that is light pink in nature the addition of Erbium Oxide.
Cobalt Blue - This rich and classic blue is made with a VERY tiny amount of Cobalt Carbonate
Copper Blue - This is probably our most popular color. Copper Blue’s vibrancy comes from Black Copper Oxide added to the glass.
Spring Green - This light green color (Greg’s personal favorite) comes from Potassium Dichromate.
Emerald Green - The darker green color comes from a combination of two of the above: Black Copper Oxide and Potassium Dichromate (think Spring Green + Copper Blue).
Teal - This blue-green color uses the exact components found in the Emerald Green glass, but in different ratios. Cool, right???
Grape - Purple glass comes with the addition of Manganese Dioxide. The actual tone can range all the way from an peachy-purple to deep purple (pictured) dependent on the atmosphere in the furnace and how much manganese dioxide versus manganese oxide versus manganese ions surviving the cooking process. A slight addition of Cobalt Carbonate, Cobalt Oxide or Black Copper Oxide will shift this into the bluer range of purples too! Much more experimenting to come.
Red - Bright Red comes from a combination of Cadmium Sulfide and Selenium metal (with some Zinc Oxide just cuz).
Gray / Black - This dark glass comes Black Nickel Oxide with a splash of Cobalt Carbonate. Funny how many formulae in which the latter appears.

Side note: we find this all fascinating and provide this information for the nerds out there, however dealing with these materials is extremely hazardous to people and the environment and must be handled appropriately. Don’t try this at home! Wow, feels like Mythbusters!

GLASS BLOWN ORNAMENTS

We love making holiday eye candy for your tree or to enjoy year round in a stand. Scroll through the images below and read on for details on ornament pricing.

We feature several popular designs of ornaments that range in shape and color. The first images in the above carousel feature our classic colors. Continue scrolling to see our standard designs (seafoam, straight optic, cane stripe, pineapple optic, frit, teardrops).

Typical Ornament Pricing:
Single Color or Frit (speckled) Balls or Teardrops: $35
Complex / Multi Color Set Up Balls or Teardrops: $40
Icicles: $15 each or 2/$25
Bells: $45
Teapots: $50