Blue Dog Glass is an access glass studio located at 27 Wells Road Mordialloc.  As an access studio we offer a wide range of classes and services that cater for professional artists and the layperson.  We regularly run workshops with local and international artists, giving anyone the opportunity to work with glass as a creative medium. As a community hub we offer a professional working space with specialist equipment not normally accessible. 

Our studio has been running for over 15 years and has developed into one of the premier spaces to work and learn about glass. Until recently we focused only on kiln formed glass: fusing, slumping, casting and screen printing.  Over time we have introduced other mediums and glass techniques to round out our program: bead making, silver jewellery, metal casting and glass blowing.

In order to offer the best possible studio of its kind we are looking to expand our studio equipment to include a mini hot glass studio, until now we have outsourced spaces at other locations. This new space would offer students and artists somewhere to learn techniques that cross the divide between hot glass and kiln forming: murrine, roll-ups and upcycling fabricated glass.

Specifically, we will be using this new space and equipment to offer classes and access in the area of roll-ups, murrine making and up-cycling bottles.  Our focus will be to build a glory hole and all the equipment required to make this happen. As with all of Blue Dog Glass's endeavours this will be a state of the art facility with the best possible equipment and tools available. The new hot shop will be built at the rear of our premises in Mordialloc.  

To find out more about Blue Dog Glass you can visit our website www.bluedogglass.com.au  or visit our facebook page Blue Dog Glass

All funds raised will go into building and purchasing the following equipment:

• New studio structure at the rear of Blue Dog Glass
• Glory Hole
• Glass blowing bench
• pipes, tools and pastoralli
• Marver
• Yoke, tracks and heat shield
• Safety equipment
• Annealling kiln

Along with the equipment the funds will be used to connect gas, power and airlings to the new hot shop

While the $19,500 only represents about half of the required funds to make this project happen, it will go a long way to get this underway. We are really excited about the possibilities that this new venture offers to our glass community and know that it will be a value asset to our students .

In exchange for support with our project we are offering a range of services including workshops and studio access time. 

The two workshops on offer are:

• Murrine Workshop: This class covers the basics of making murrine cane. The designs are pre fused in a kiln as small solid blocks, these are then stretched out in the hot shop to a long glass cane with the pattern running through the middle. Once cooled the cane is cut up and used as decorative elements in fused glass projects. This class is suitable for beginners with little or no experience with glass. All materials are included in this workshop.

• Roll-up workshop: A roll-up is a 3d vessel or form that that is made by taking a pre fused glass tile and rolling it into a form in the hot shop. Students will make 2 tiles in the main studio, these will be blown into a form by a glass blower. This class is suitable for beginners with little or no experience with class. All materials are included in this workshop.

Studio time on offer are:

• 3 hour one on one gaffer slot: This is open to anyone who has attended a workshop in the past on murrine making or rollups. Students will work with a professional glass blower to have their work blown into a roll-up or have murrine pulled. Students will need to provide the pre fused glass elements as no materials are included in this session.
• 3 hour shared session with gaffer: This slot will be shared with another student, working with a glass blower to make either murrine or roll-ups. 
• single roll-up or murrine: This is a slot where students can have a glass blower make a single roll-up or pull 2 murrines, no materials are included with this session, students will need to provide the appropriate pre fused glass elements.
• 3 hour slot for professional artists. This slot is only open to professional blowers who know how to run and operate the equipment without assistance.

Not sure which one to book? Just give us a call and we will answer any questions, 03 9580 7302 or email us on [email protected]  The prices on offer are an introductory offer only and may change for future bookings when the facility is up and running.  Please make your selections carefully as not exchanges or refunds will be offered after the Pozible's campaign finishes.

The Pozibles campaign is our way of gauging if this project has popular appeal, so if you support our new hot shop please show it here. If we don't reach our target on Pozible we will reconsider the viability of the venture.  Thanks for your support