Kids Design Glass

2009 – Ongoing

Exhibition Overview

Creating unique works of art in the medium of glass requires technical prowess matched with equally compelling ideas. For centuries, European glass houses (small factories) hired artists for their designs and glassmakers for their expertise in turning the designs into functional or decorative objects. 

Museum of Glass asked, “what if children were the designers?”

To illustrate the roles of designer and glassmaker, the Museum introduced the “Design Your Own Vessel” contest. The program went spectacularly awry. Kids do not design vessels. They draw creatures—characters and monsters and imaginary beings. Kids do not write artist’s statements. They write fanciful descriptions and wild stories. And kids are not designers. Experienced designers know the limits of the material and understand the traditions of glassmaking. Kids do not know these rules, so they are free to create without constraint. The program was renamed Kids Design Glass.

Each month, MOG’s Hot Shop Team selects one child’s masterpiece to create the work in glass. The young designer, with family and friends, has a front row view, inspecting the work as it is created. After the work is cooled and cold-worked, one sculpture is given to the young designer and its near-twin becomes a part of the Museum’s collection.

Learn more about the Kids Design Glass Program →

Designed by Ashley Teifke (age 5), made by Museum of Glass Hot Shop Team. Bob the Box Head, 20008. Blown and hot-sculpted glass with applied bits; 19 x 15 x 3 3/8 inches. Collection of Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington. Sponsored by Click! Cable TV. Photo by Russell Johnson and Jeff Curtis.

Making Kids Design Glass in the Hot Shop

Making Happy Melting Ice

Making Girls Night!!!

Featured Images

Image Credits

  1. Designed by Cameron Day (age 8) and made by Nancy Callan and Deborah Czeresko with Museum of Glass Hot Shop Team. Pip, 2007. Blown and hot-sculpted glass with applied bits; 17 x 14 1⁄2 x 8 1⁄2 in. Collection of Museum of Glass, sponsored by John Sullivan and Paula Stokes.

  2. Designed by Karl Berner (age 9), made by Museum of Glass Hot Shop Team. Cyborg 652, 2009. Blown and hot-sculpted glass with applied bits; 18 1/2 x 9 1/2 x 3 1/4 in. Collection of Museum of Glass. Photo by Duncan Price. 

  3. Designed by Trenton Anderson (age 9 1/2), made by Museum of Glass Hot Shop Team. My-Mceequ, 2008. Blown and hot-sculpted glass with applied bits; 18 1/2 x 5 x 5 inches. Collection of Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington in partnership with Mary Bridge Children's Hospital, Tacoma, Washington. Sponsored by Jim and Patty Morton. Photo by Russell Johnson and Jeff Curtis.

  4. Designed by Josiah Cramer (age 11), made by Museum of Glass Hot Shop Team. Jolt, 2007. Blown and hot-sculpted glass with applied bits; 10 1/2 x 7 x 11 1/2 inches. Collection of Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington, Sponsored by Rush Commercial Construction, Inc. Photo by Russell Johnson and Jeff Curtis.

  5. Designed by Marion Emme (age 9), made by Museum of Glass Hot Shop Team. Coyote in Socks, 2007. Blown and hot-sculpted glass with applied bits; 15 x 11 1/2 x 29 inches. Collection of Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington. Sponsored by Rick and Rosanne Nichols. Photo by Russell Johnson and Jeff Curtis.

  6. Designed by Macay Fischer (age 8), made by Museum of Glass Hot Shop Team. Banana Bam!, 2007. Blown and hot-sculpted glass with applied bits; 7 x 15 1/2 x 6 inches. Collection of Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington. Sponsored by Republic Parking Northwest, Inc. Photo by Russell Johnson and Jeff Curtis.

  7. Designed by Andrea Garcia (age 10), made by Museum of Glass Hot Shop Team. Mixed up flamy!, 2007. Blown and hot-sculpted glass with applied bits; 10 1/2 x 22 x 5 inches. Collection of Museum of Glass in partnership with Mary Bridge Children's Hospital, Tacoma, Washington. Sponsored by Mikal and Lynn Thomsen. Photo by Russell Johnson and Jeff Curtis.

  8. Designed by Massima Glass (age 10), made by Museum of Glass Hot Shop Team. Untitled, 2006. Blown and hot-sculpted glass with applied bits; 13 1/2 x 7 x 6 inches. Collection of Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington. Sponsored by Geoff Isles. Photo by Russell Johnson and Jeff Curtis.

  9. Designed by Kaylee King (age 9¾), made by Museum of Glass Hot Shop Team. Pizza Cat!, 2006. Blown and hot-sculpted glass with applied bits; 12 x 6 x 26 inches. Collection of Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington. Sponsored by George H. Weyerhaeuser, Jr. and Kathleen McGoldrick. Photo by Russell Johnson and Jeff Curtis.

  10. Designed by Jimmy Mulinski (age 10), made by Museum of Glass Hot Shop Team. The Pickle Buck, 2008. Blown and hot-sculpted glass with applied bits; 11 1/2 x 16 x 4 inches. Collection of Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington. Sponsored by Bruce and Ainslee Marshall. Photo by Russell Johnson and Jeff Curtis.

  11. Designed by Lucie Saether (age 11), made by Museum of Glass Hot Shop Team. Chickenpox, 2005. Blown and hot-sculpted glass with applied bits; 15 1/2 x 13 x 8 inches. Collection of Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington. Sponsored by Russell Investments. Photo by Russell Johnson and Jeff Curtis.

  12. Designed by Blake W. Toney (age 10), made by Museum of Glass Hot Shop Team and Dante Marioni (American, born 1964). The Octupusy, 2008. Blown and hot-sculpted glass with applied bits; 15 x 10 3/4 x 10 inches. Collection of Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington. Sponsored by Janet and Mike Halvorson. Photo by Russell Johnson and Jeff Curtis.

Exhibition Credit

Organized by Museum of Glass.