Water Street Glassworks is a proud participant in the Berrien Springs Partnership Program. We offer classes in Glassblowing and Glass Beadmaking. Our qualified instructors will guide students through the exciting learning process of working in the fire arts. Students can learn how to blow molten glass, and form glass beads over a torch.
The Art of Creating with Flat Glass
- Grade or Age Levels: 12+
- Format: In-person
- Day and Time of the Week: Thursdays, 11:00am-3:00pm, 4 weeks beginning September 18th
- Mandatory Class Orientation: September 18th, 11:00am
- Location: Water Street Glassworks, 140 Water St., Benton Harbor
- Instructor: Gina Edwards
- Phone: 269.925.5555
- Email: gina@waterstreetglassworks.org
Students will explore the art of creating with flat glass. Students will learn glass cutting and shaping skills to create art in two very different art glass techniques: Fused Glass and Stained Glass. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY.
Fused Glass: A brief introduction to kiln schedules will be followed by hands-on exploration of various techniques in glass fusing. Students will complete several projects including a coaster, nightlight or suncatcher, and a piece of garden art or a plate/tray/bowl.
Stained Glass: Students will learn to prepare and cut a pattern, foil the glass pieces, and solder, patina and polish to create a beautiful stained glass piece of art using the copper foil method of stained glass.
Playing with fire: Glass Blowing and Flameworking
- Grade or Age Levels: 12+
- Format: In-person
- Day and Time of the Week: Thursdays, 11:00am-3:00pm, 4 weeks beginning October 2nd
- Mandatory Class Orientation: September 18th, 11:00am
- Location: Water Street Glassworks, 140 Water St., Benton Harbor
- Instructor: Gina Edwards & Eli Zilke
- Phone: 269.925.5555
- Email: gina@waterstreetglassworks.org, eli@waterstreetglassworks.org
Students will explore the art of creating with in both of our Hot studios! In this class students will participate in both the Glassblowing Studio and our Flameworking studio. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY.
Glass blowing- here students will learn the fundamentals of glassblowing through shaping and blowing glass as well as glass casting using sand and found objects. Students will finish this class with 2 “blown glass” pieces and multiple cast pieces.
Flameworkings - students will learn to use colorful rods of glass and various flameworking techniques to create beautiful art glass beads. Additionally, wire working and jewelry making techniques will be explored enabling students to create a finished project such as jewelry or a beaded suncatcher or sculpture.
Glass Blowing and Flameworking Syllabus
INSTRUCTORS:
Instructor: Eli Zilke
Eli Zilke began glassblowing at the age of 12 as a student in Water Street Glasswork’s FIRED UP! After-school program. He eventually became a studio tech and teaching assistant under Jerry Catania, founder of Water Street Glassworks. Eli assumed role of Studio Manager and primary Glassblowing
Instructor in 2018.
Instructor: Gina Edwards
Gina Edwards has been working as a glass artist for over 20 years, and has been a Fused Glass and Beadmaking instructor at Water Street Glassworks for 13 years.
Fall 2025 Registration:
FALL 2025 Registration will begin Monday, July 28th at 9:00 a.m. and continue only through Friday, Aug. 8th at 5:00 p.m. for non-public (homeschool and BSPS area private school) students. BSPS students may continue to register through Aug. 25th.
Register: Berrien Springs Parent Partnership
If you have questions about the courses, program, or registration, contact the office at 269.925.5555 or contact officemanager@waterstreetglassworks.org
Berrien Springs Partnership Program
This a free program paid for by your tax dollars and generously provided and supported by Berrien Springs Public Schools. Because BSPS is a district of choices, we offer all students an array of options. The Partnership is available to district students, homeschool students from Berrien, Cass and VanBuren counties, and in-district (Berrien Springs residents) private school students.
Students, grades K-12, sign up as part-time Berrien Springs students. According to HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association), homeschoolers retain their status as homeschool students as long as parents provide 51% of the students' total education including all core subjects: language arts (reading, spelling, English grammar, writing, literature), arithmetic, science, history, and federal and state government. The school district receives tax dollars and in turn provides extremely valuable and fun non-core (elective) educational opportunities families might not otherwise be able to enjoy.
Visit the Berrien Springs Partnership Program website for more information and registration dates.