Watch the Film about Lino Tagliapitra at The Glass Furnace Istanbul (You will be redirected to YouTube)!

The Magnificence of Glass by Lino Tagliapietra at The Glass Furnace

The Glass Furnace will host one of the world's most eminent glass artists, Lino Tagliapietra between May 19-23 for his glass demonstrations. The Maestro Lino Tagliapietra will perform total 10 demos during five days with his team and thus share the magnificence of glass with audiences. The Glass Furnace accepts only 50 participants for the demonstrations and only few seats left. For details of the demosntrations and registrations please e-mail info@glassfurnace.org.

Jelveh Jaferian: The Glass Furnace itself far surpassed any glass school I have ever visited

The Glass furnace is set in a sleek, modern building with all of its well appointed studios and galleries set around a central atrium that houses a fantastic infinity pool in which new graduates of the school floated their works on glass platforms. It was quite inspirational, especially given the high quality of work produced by students, many of whom had been introduced to the glass arts only a couple of weeks before. And the hospitality of the school staff was heartwarming—they treated us to the most yummy Turkish barbecued beef sandwiches on baguettes, and we weren’t even teachers or students when we were there!

Rob Stern: Anything is possible at Cam Ocagi (The Glass Furnace)

I have felt exceptionally welcomed at Cam Ocagi and have had the privilege of being able to teach numerous students, some of whom have helped me make and install many site-specific sculptures on the campus. I feel that this ability gives us the idea that anything is indeed possible at Cam Ocagi. My experiences at Cam Ocagi have contributed to my personal and professional growth. I have gained many friends and colleagues who no doubt feel the same as I do about this exceptional school. The student feedback over the years has been incredible and, in fact, I maintain correspondence with many of my past students. Many of my students have returned to continue study with me and this is a validation that we are doing great things there...

Advices from Cees van Olst for The Glass Furnace

We hosted the founder and owner of The Dutch Museum for Glass and Glasstechniques , Cees van Olst from PUM Netherlands Senior Executives on our campus between March 2-10. As a member of PUM, Cees van Olst stayed voluntarily making interviews with departments and studios and giving advices on improving our conditions. Olst shared his previous experiences and informed on the establishment process of Glass Museum. During his stay, he also worked at the hotshop and lampworking studio and donated his work to the school. We all appreciate his advices for improving our conditions and enjoyed hosting him. We now look forward to seeing him at the school in October.

Vote for Glass Design by Banu Oyman in TGK Glass Competition

Glass bead and jewelry desiger Banu Oyman participates in TGK Glass Competition with her design of 'shabani necklace 2008'. You may vote for this design and thus contribute to the art of glas in Turkey. Banu Oyman will donate the prize of the competition to The Glass Furnace. How to vote: First click on the orange banner on the home page of www.tgk.de. Then enter your e-mail address in the box on the right. You will see all designs in the competition and join the public voting. The design of 'shabani necklace 2008' is in the last second row down the page.

We Got Glassy at The Weekend

During the weekend workshops of March, all participants spent their weekend full of glass. 9 participants in glassblowing, 5 in beadmaking and 6 participants in kilncasting had the chance of learning the technique they chose and made their own work. During these two days, all participans nejoyed the grren campus of the school and had new friendships in other studios.

We hosted The Culture Committee of TURSAB

We hosted members of TURSAB (Association of Turkish Travel Agencies) Culture Committee on March 21 and therefore had the chance of introducing our school and activities in details. After we made presentations of hotshop, beadmaking and fusing studios, we once more underlined that The Glass Furnace is a great alternative for cultural trips. Before leaving the school all members came to consensus that The Glass Furnace is a unique place full of glass in Turkey.

The glass was rediscovered during weekend fusing workshop

The participants rediscoverd glass at the fusing workshop during this weekend and made their own creations in this technique. All participants including those from the neighbourhood city enjoyed The Glass Furnace and the green campus during these workshop and all were happy to lend the weekend with their own works.

Japanese Glass Artists at The Glass Furnace

Japanese glass artists Ushio Konishi, Fujika Enami ve Fumi Atsuuro visited The Glass Furnace on March 9 after their workshop in Fine Arts Department of Anatolian Universtiy, Eskisehir. The glass artists also made a demonstration in the hotshop and donated their work made in filigrano technique. Before leaving, the glass artists stated how they enjoyed being at our school.

Learn Glass in an International Environment!

The Glass Furnace announces 2008 course program and invites you to its international environment for two weeks of art, glass, nature and Istanbul! At The Glass Furace, students have a chance to work with world renowned glass artists and masters while creating unforgettable memories. For more information on application and payment, you may contact arts_education@glassfurnace.org.

A Glass Day for Alarko Istikbal Club

Alarko Holding Istikbal Club spent a day full of glass at The Glass Furnace on Sunday, January 20. The members of the club in other words employees of Turkey's leading holding, firstly joined beadmaking and fusing workshops and made their own glass beads and panels/plates. They watched how the glass is shaped in hands of our masters and then they tried glassblowing: they blew their own vases at the hotshop! At the end of the day they all enjoyed working with glass and they were looking forward to coming again.

The Unique Object of The Glass Furnace: The Whirling Glass Dervishes

The Glass Furnace since 2003 has been dedicated to unite the philosophy of Mevlana with the transparency feature of glass through the whirling glass dervishes designed by American glass artist James Minson. The great interest by artists, glass lovers and leading firms, prove how unique this glass object is. The Glass Furnace invites everyone to see the magical dance of the whirling glass dervishes in fire and how Mevlana’s philosophy exposes. The whirling glass dervishes are under the legal protection of Turkish Patent Institution.

Evil Eye Bead Making Tradition at The Glass Furnace

Traditional Evil Eye Furnace was opened on November 21, 2007 by Beykoz Lieutenant Aydın Ergün and Beykoz Mayor Muharrem Ergul. The tradition now proceeds at The Glass Furnace along with İzmir Gorece and Bead Village (Kurudere). At the Traditional Evil Eye Furnace established by valuable contributions of Altan Sungar, the bead master Ibrahim Yildirim will give one week intensive course on traditional evil eye beadmaking. The details of this workshop will be announced with our 2008 program.

Julie Anne Denton’s newsletter on GBUK Newsletter

Beadmaking artist Julie Anne Denton wrote about her expressions on her teaching experience at The Glass Furnace on GBUK Newsletter. July 2007 will be my fourth year of teaching at The Glass Furnace. (Cam Ocagi) I teach a beadmaking/sculptural course there, as a rule. The Turkish ladies and gents cannot get enough of beads, and it is also my job to teach the other skills associated with flameworking such as sculpture off the mandrel, blown forms, filigree vessels etc... The flameworking studio (Boncuk) boasts twelve work stations, a plentiful supply of effetre/clear borosilicate and a limited amount of Northstar colour. In the summer I generally have a multicultural class filled with half Turkish, Israeli, South Africans, Brits, Austrians etc… and in the latter part of the year the class (which is always full) has about three quarter Turkish....Please click to read her article.

A Message from Edward T. Schmid "LET'S TALK TURKEY!"

AMAZING! OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME!
I am currently teaching at the GLASS FURNACE, (CAM OCAĞI pronounced: "KAM O-JAI") roughly 1 hours drive from ISTANBUL on the Asian side, not far from the Black Sea. I am having a wonderful time & absolutely amazing teacher experience. Let me explain...

To read the whole message, please click images above...

You may visit our web page for more information on our 2006 program. Please do not hesitate to contact us from arts_education@glassfurnace.org if you have any questions.

Dale Chihuly, world's leading glass artist visited The Glass Furnace on June 24, 2006

Dale Chihuly, one of the world's leading glass artists and founders of Pilchuck Glass School visited The Glass Furnace on June 24, 2006 and participated in the cocktail party held on behalf of him. Before the cocktail party, Dale Chihuly came together with Beykoz Mayor Muharrem Ergul and masters/artists and students from session 3 of The Glass Furnace. He presented a slide show of his work and installations in all over the world to all guests.
After the slide show, he joined the cocktail party and was informed of activities of the Glass Furnace as Turkey's only glass school and its contribution to the Turkish Glass Art.
At the cocktail party, Chihuly expressed his gratitude of being at The Glass Furnace. He also stated that The Glass Furnace has great facilities, well-equipped studios, qualified masters and experienced personel. He congratulated Yilmaz Yalcinkaya, founder of the Glass Furnace for establishing such a great glass school in Turkey.
The Glass Furnce had the honor of hosting Dale Chihuly on Saturday, June 24, 2006 and is looking forward to working with him at the Glass Furnace in coming years.

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