Tacoma, Wash. (May 13, 2009)— The Museum of Glass Mobile Hot Shop is a fully equipped glass blowing studio designed to take the Museum of Glass Hot Shop experience to far-flung audiences. The 36-foot truck holds everything needed to blow glass, including the raw material, glass-heating equipment, an array of tools, work benches and a large tent to shelter crew and equipment from the elements. The experience includes a complete glassblowing demonstration, with highly skilled artists working with molten glass while a trained commentator explains the art and science of glass and interacts with the audience. An audio-visual system enhances the presentation with additional information about the glassblowing process.

Although the Mobile Hot Shop demonstration has been available for over two years, the Museum has had to rent trucks for both short and long journeys, including a quick trip to McIlveigh Middle School in Tacoma and a cross-country jaunt to Little Rock, Arkansas.  The acquisition of this new truck, custom designed for the purpose of providing a state-of-the-art glassblowing demonstration, will allow the Mobile Hot Shop Team a more efficient mode of transportation, set-up and break-down.  The eye-catching graphics on the truck promote the Museum of Glass and, by association, the Tacoma area as a cultural destination.

The primary focus of the Mobile Hot Shop is education.  For schools, programming includes a selection of curriculum that meets state requirements and can be customized for different age groups and learning styles.  Glass and glass-making provide a kinetic experience with scientific properties.  Glassblowers use principles of physics, chemistry and math, and actively demonstrate the value of critical social skills like teamwork and communication.

The Mobile Hot Shop truck and glassblowing demonstrations attract diverse audiences; it has been popular at art fairs and seminars and is available for community and private events.

Mobile Hot Shop Trucks Hauls:
•    Small furnace to melt the raw glass
•    Small glory hole to keep the glass heated as the art is being made
•    Mini annealer to slowly cool the completed art work
•    Small ‘garage’ used to keep smaller bits of glass hot before assembly
•    Glassblower’s bench with rails and side bench
•    Marver (a stainless steel table used in glass-making)
•    Large tent
•    Glassblowing team of two
•    Glassblowers’ tools and equipment

More information:  http://www.museumofglass.org/education/science-of-art/mobile-hot-shop/

Sample Image:

Donor Recognition:
The truck is sponsored by M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, the City of Tacoma and Cascadia International.