Brain Melt
Taught by Joshua Raiffe
While pursuing a BFA at Tyler School of Art Joshua Raiffe worked for Belle Mead Hot Glass, producing blown chandelier parts. As a student he also taught classes at the Crefeld School. Upon graduating from Tyler, Raiffe received the Steve Stormer Award and the Penland Partner Scholarship, which allowed him to attend the Penland School of Crafts. He has also been fortunate enough to attend classes at Pilchuck and the Bullseye Resource Center in Santa Fe. Joshua has taught glass classes at the Tyler School of Art, East Falls Glassworks, Brooklyn Glass and UrbanGlass. In addition to teaching, Joshua Raiffe also assists with the fabrication of glass by artists Thaddeus Wolfe, Rob Wynne, Michiko Sakano, Jamie Harris and Deborah Czeresko. He has shown his art at the Philadelphia Art Alliance, the Sculpture Gym, and the Spirit of the Artist in Philadelphia.
Explosive energy, raw materials, and engaging tactile experiences dominate this hot glass casting class.
The workshop will begin with a brief lecture on hot casting techniques and applications, then students will be thrust into the hot flowing world of molten glass, as Josh demonstrates ladling molten glass out of the furnace and into a colorful variety of objects.
Participants will be asked to respond viscerally to the material and their own subconscious mind, as they play with this hands-on, fast-paced process. Metal, wood, plant matter, your own body - all will be utilized to make alternative castings, with plenty of fire and smoke of course.