INSTRUCTORS
John Owen
Owner
Instructor: Glass Blowing
John Owen is the owner of Aurora Borealis Glassworks. A gifted teacher and enthusiast of all things glass, John has introduced hundreds of people to the wonder and artistry of glassblowing.
Beyond his vibrant glassblowing classes, he delves into a myriad of captivating pursuits. As an accomplished jeweler and seasoned hunting guide, John's diverse skills reflect his passion for adventure and craftsmanship.
Jonathan Casto (Casto)
Instructor: Marbles, Lampwork, Sculpture, Glassblowing
I have been a full-time glass artist over 20 years, it's the only job I've ever had! I studied at the Penland School of Crafts in innovative sculpture and went on to Murano Italy studying under Lucio Bubacco, focused on human anatomy and architecture in glass (sculpture). I am now focusing on making holographic images and using them in my glass art.
Instagram link: https://www.instagram.com/c.a.s.t.o
Christele
Merrick Baird
Instructor: Stained Glass & Etching
Christele Merrick Baird is a leading stained glass artist based in Albuquerque, NM. For over 35 years, she has created stained glass for spaces anywhere from creative remodels to multi-million dollar residences.
Her windows have been recognized in several award winning homes. Furthermore, she has worked on a variety of commercial projects, including offices, restaurants, retail stores, churches, museums, and other public buildings.
Jeffrey J. Schmitt (Smitty)
Instructor: Paperweights, Glassblowing
Smitty is a third generation artist and has been involved in the glass arts since 1979. He is self-taught, does commissioned pieces and displays work in galleries and shows throughout the Southwest. Smitty has taught hundreds of students over the years. His passion is glass. He also works in the areas of glass fusing, slumping, and casting.
Stephanie Baness
Instructor: Fused Glass
Stephanie Baness received her BFA from Mundelein College (Loyola University, Chicago) and her MLA from the University of Chicago. In 2012, she left her career to study glass for three years at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario. After completing her studies, she relocated to New Jersey and started Moxie Sorbet Designs, her fused glass studio.
In 2022, she relocated her studio to Corrales, NM. In addition, she teaches fused glass classes at Creativity Warehouse and Aurora Borealis Glass in Albuquerque. Moxie Sorbet Designs specializes in fused glass furnishings, jewelry, and tabletop accessories for the home. The creations combine beauty with function using jewel tones and unusual shapes. Each piece is designed, hand-cut and fabricated by Stephanie.
For more information, please visit https://www.moxiesorbetdesigns.com/
Fran Hahn
Instructor: Lampwork
I fell in love with melting glass in an open flame over 30 years ago, while still working in Wisconsin. Using glass made in the USA, Europe, and China, I'm able to create beads with brilliant colors, textures, and shapes using multiple techniques.
Upon retirement when most people get a gold watch, I asked for an oxygen concentrator instead and upgraded my torch to oxygen/propane. Then I started making bigger, more technically-challenging beads and then moved to Albuquerque. With past classes from Larry Scott, Stephanie Serchik, and JC Herrell, I began teaching glass beadmaking at Aurora Borealis about 12 years ago. As a member of the Arizona Society of Glass Beadmakers (ASGB), I continue to learn new techniques via Zoom videos from some of the best lampworkers in the USA ... which also leads to new ideas!
My beads are sold to individual jewelry makers to be incorporated into their designs, sculpted sheep turned into spinning wheel hooks, and Minions (TM) donated to Beads of Courage, a nonprofit organization that donates colorful lampwork beads to hospitals for children undergoing cancer treatment.
Dani Collette
Instructor: Stained Glass, Blown Glass, Fused Glass Jewelry
Dani Collette is a glass artist with a BFA in Sculpture and Glass specializing in Stained Glass. She received her degree from Southern
Illinois University Carbondale in 2013 and has been working with glass ever since. Although Stained Glass is her current focus, she also
incorporates Blown and Kiln-Formed Glass into her art practice. She is inspired by bright colors, light, and line work.
Glass is a medium with a language of fragility and strength, transparency and opacity, stillness and movement; playing with those
dichotomies is the fulcrum of my work. I look to create magic moments between the viewer and the properties of light as it passes through colored and textured glass. Creating with the intention of challenging the expectations of what glass is and what it can be is the most important ingredient, along with a healthy dose of play as a practice of fulfillment for the audience as well as the maker.