Glass Gatherings Fuse Art and Community

“Gathering people together. To gather glass together. To create beautiful fused glass art.” That’s the motto of Julia Christoferson, owner of Glass Gatherings of Bend and a self-taught artist.

“While I really enjoy making my own fused glass art, it is bringing this creative art medium to other interested people that inspires me the most,” said Christoferson, originally an elementary school teacher. Today she applies her teaching skills and passion for fused glass to teaching adults and children at the Art Station in the Old Mill District.

“Julia is talented, and her students love her,” said Deborah Allen, Interim Executive Director, Arts Central (the nonprofit that runs the Art Station).

Fused glass differs from both blown and stained glass art. Fused glass art is made by placing glass pieces together and melting them at high temperatures in a kiln. Unlike blown glass or stained glass, students can master the basics in a short time.

This fall, Christoferson will teach two classes at the Art Station: fused glass fundamentals and glass jewelry. In the fundamentals class, students will learn the basic science of fused glass, such as the surface tension of molten glass, the process of fusing and slumping (shaping pieces of glass over a rigid form) and the raw materials necessary for making fused glass. The jewelry class features dichroic (two color) glass for making beautiful jewelry for personal use or holiday gift giving.

Once students have been introduced to the basics, Saturday open studios at the Art Station are a perfect way for people to “come create to their heart’s content,” she said.
– Lee Lewis Husk