Kilncasting

Mark Abildgaard

This class will be an intensive learning experience that will give participants the knowledge necessary to kiln cast glass on their own. We will use clay to create forms that can be transformed into glass with the kiln casting process. Through hands on participation we will cover mold making, kiln firing, glass annealing, and basic cold working techniques. I will bring over twenty years of experience in my own studio to the class. You will bring your energy and ideas about working with glass. I welcome beginning as well as advanced students with or without previous glass experience.

Click to enlarge the image

Mark Abildgaard

He began his art education as a ceramic major at San Francisco State University in 1976. He became involved in the Raku firing process of taking ceramic objects out of a hot kiln. The spontaneity of this process led him to work with hot glass. For him hot glass became the most compelling material to attempt to work with. After graduating from San Francisco State he continued to work with glass as part of his graduate program at the University of Hawaii. He was exposed to many images from the Polynesian culture through Pacific Art history classes at the university. His work in glass was mainly devoted to exploring blown vessels and color during this period. He graduated in 1983 from the University of Hawaii with a Masters of Fine Arts degree. In 1984 he went to work at the Tokyo Glass Art Institute as a visiting artist. At this time he was still involved in making blown glass vessels with elaborate colored designs. In Japan he was exposed to the Pate de Verre process of making glass objects by fusing crushed glass into plaster molds with an electric kiln. After nine months he returned to the United States. In 1985 he received a five month fellowship at the Creative Glass Center of America in Millville New Jersey. He had been blowing glass for seven years when during the fellowship at the C.G.C.A. (Creative Glass Center of America) he decided to concentrate on casting solid sculptural pieces. Artists like Bertil Vallien, Howard Ben Tre and Hank Murta Adams were inspirational to him in his pursuit of casting glass sculpture. During his fellowship he was able to make a range of totem and boat images using the sand casting technique. He has been working Studio of the Corning Museum, Pilchuck Glass School, Red Deer College. http://www.markabildgaard.com/