Workshop Registration
James Labold
Labold Molds - Lost Wax Molds in the Hot Shop
Mold Making and Blowing
May 26 - 30, 2026
This 5-day hot glass intensive will explore the Hot Blow Mold and Lost Wax processes. This process utilizes aspects of lost wax casting combined with glass blowing to create blown glass forms with highly detailed surfaces with a finish similar to cast glass. Time will be split between sculpting, mold making, and the hot glass studio.
Students will start with a blank wax form which they will be able to carve into or build upon to create their individual sculptures. A selection of rubber molds of various found objects will also be available for students to collage textures, forms, and additional embellishments into their work. These forms will then be invested and melted out of the mold material, leaving a mold that can be used to create an exact replica of the wax in hot glass!
In addition to wax we will explore using fabric, cardboard, and a variety of other materials to create our original forms as well as incorporating other blown glass inclusions in the molds. Demonstrations and lectures will cover basic rubber mold making and simple ways of finishing the blown glass forms, through cold working and a variety of mixed media surface techniques.
While familiarity and basic understanding of the hot shop is necessary, any student with the knowledge of how to make a bubble and take a few gathers can blow a hot mold! Students do not need a prior experience with mold making for this course. This class is appropriate for students of a variety of skill levels, from beginner to advanced.
This class meets from 9am to 5pm each day, Tuesday through Saturday, with additional studio time Tuesday through Friday, from 5pm to 9pm. Materials for participating in the course are included. If you have specific colors you are interested in working with please bring them with you.
James Labold is an artist and educator focused on exploring the creative possibilities of hot glass as a sculptural medium. His work utilizes a variety of glass processes and draws on contemporary and historical imagery to create narratives reflecting on the bridges between past and present culture. A love of history, mythology, and philosophy drives his curiosity into how we define and redefine our cultures via images.
James received his BFA in Glass from Tyler School of Art in 2004 and his MFA in Glass at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.
As an educator he has led workshops throughout the U.S. as well as the International Summer Academy Bild-Werk Frauenau, Germany. Currently he is an adjunct professor at Salem County College in Penns Grove, NJ and Bucks County Community College in Newtown, PA.
His work has been included in multiple editions of New Glass Review, an annual survey of innovative projects in contemporary glass. He has been Artist in Residence at Starworks Center for Creative Enterprises, as well as a visiting artist at many university glass programs. He was selected for the Glass Art Society's 2016 Saxe Emerging Artist Award and presented his recent explorations into digital technologies for glass makers at the 2023 GAS Conference.
www.jameslabold.com
@jameslabold
Additional Course Information
- Participation limited to students 18 years of age and up.
- Lunch is available for an additional fee; $100 for 5-day workshops.
- Classes meet 9 am to 5 pm each day. Students will have additional practice time the first four evenings of the course from 5 pm to 9 pm.
- Materials for participating in the course are included. If you have specific colors you are interested in working with please bring them with you.
- Any work from the final day of the course remaining in a kiln will be available for pick up beginning the following Monday. Students may have finished worked shipped for an additional fee.
Cancellation and Refund Policies
- Salem Community College is not responsible for non-refundable travel expenses. There is always a chance, due to unforeseen circumstances, that a class could be cancelled unexpectedly. In these instances, refunds on registration will be issued, and Salem Community College will not be responsible for non-refundable travel expenses.
- Classes are subject to a minimum enrollment policy. In the event that we do not meet our minimum enrollment for a course we will refund your purchase. Students will be notified no later than 45 days prior to their class start date if their workshop is subject to cancellation due to enrollment.
- Student cancellation/refund policy- Cancellations made more than 45 days prior to the start of the class are subject to a $150 cancellation fee. Cancellations made 2 weeks prior to the start of a course will receive a 50% refund for the registration fee. Cancellations within 2 weeks of the course are not eligible for a refund.
Discounted Hotel Information
Lodging information coming soon...
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