Fused Glass Plant Portraits

Studio Tak Tak is hosting a fused glass workshop at Cheer Up Charlies on Sunday, August 23, from 12 PM to 3 PM. The goal is to make a 5x6 hanging plant portrait—basically a small piece of glass art that you can hang in a window and let the light shine through.

If you've never worked with fused glass, here's the gist: you build your image on a clear glass base using a mix of sheet glass, frit (crushed glass), and stringers (thin glass rods). You can also use glass paint to get the details just right. Once you're happy with your design, it goes into a kiln to melt together into a single, solid piece. The workshop provides everything you need: the 5x6 clear glass base, the sheet glass, frit, stringers, glass paint, and nichrome hooks for hanging. All materials are included in the price, so you just show up and start creating.

It's a three-hour session, and the instruction is built right in, so you'll be guided through the process rather than left to figure it out on your own. One thing to keep in mind: the firing happens after the workshop, so your finished piece will be ready for pick-up two to three weeks later. If you're not in the city by then, shipping is available for an additional fee.

The workshop is held outdoors in a covered area at Cheer Up Charlies (900 Red River), which they describe as an 'Ambiguous Everybody space'—an LGBTQIA & friends hangout for music, art, and dance, with local kombucha on tap. A few practicals before you sign up: enclosed shoes are required, participants must be 13 or older (ages 13-18 need to attend with a parent or guardian), and you'll need to sign a waiver. It runs from 12 PM to 3 PM on Sunday, August 23.