Lampwork 101: Hot Glass Beads July - Nantucket Historical Association

Lampwork 101: Hot Glass Beads July with Don Parkinson

July 6 July 7 9:00 AM–1:00 PM

Member Fee $250 Nonmember Fee $300 Materials Fee $25 Register

The NHA reserves the right to cancel any class due to low enrollment or instructor emergency and will automatically provide refunds for these. Otherwise, payments for class registrations are non-refundable. Travel and accommodation expenses are the sole responsibility of the enrollee.

Learn to make beautiful, unique glass beads using traditional lampworking methods. In this class students will learn how to safely use a torch to melt and manipulate glass.  Students will learn how to use different colors to create design and texture. This process is the basis for other kinds of glass work that is possible

Maximum class size: 6

Bourne’s Don Parkinson is a glassblower, photographer and programmer whose art has been featured locally, regionally and nationally.

A self-taught glassblower, his interest in the craft began through observation and experimentation, leading to an apprenticeship at Pairpoint Glass in Sagamore. There, he worked under master glassworkers Robbie Mason and David McDermott.

Following a four-year stint at Pairpoint, Don moved to Key Largo in search of new adventures, working under the Florida sun as a kayak guide. Don eventually returned to the Cape where he rekindled his passion for shaping glass thanks to the Sandwich Glass Museum’s newly built glass studio. Don became the nonprofit’s first glassblower, leading demonstrations for museum visitors.

Shortly after landing that job, Don started shooting sports as a freelance photographer for the Enterprise Newspapers. He parlayed his freelance work into a full-time gig, becoming a staff photographer before he assumed the dual duty of serving as the Enterprise’s photo editor and web developer. During his time at the Enterprise, Don won multiple New England Newspaper & Press Association (NENPA) awards for his photography which encompassed everything from sports to nature to funerals to parades to the people and events that contribute to making Cape Cod such a special place. His experience at the Enterprise allowed Don to sharpen his eye and hone his technical skills, all while telling a visual story to readers.

In 2015, Don left the Enterprise so he could concentrate on glassblowing; his current focus is creating pieces that provide a personal connection between the artist and his customers..

Follow Don on Instagram at @capeglass and like his Facebook pages.