Day Six - The Pittsburgh Glass Center

The last day of our glass and ceramics quest takes us to the Pittsburgh Glass Center.

Pittsburgh Glass Center (PGC) is dedicated to reviving the glass industry that once rivaled steel as the primary economic engine for Pittsburgh. Just think, the Pittsburgh Steelers could have been the Pittsburgh Glassblowers.

In today's world market economy, the glass producers that were once numerous in and around Pittsburgh have been driven out of business by the low labor costs in China and other developing countries. Glass production in the Ohio River Valley has moved from the industrial mass market to the art market. PGC is facilitating the revival of glass making by by offering classes in hand-blown glass to the general public.

PGC offers individuals the opportunity to produce their own glass products from paperweights to ornaments to pumpkins. They offer classes in hand-blown glass for those interested in learning the craft and demonstrations for schoolchildren to promote the industry. They offer long-term residencies for those interested in seriously producing hand-blown glass as a marketable product. The images below are of works by artists active in the center.

Coral Reef Scene

Octopus Eating a Turtle

Sea Urchin

Layered Glass Vase

After leaving Pittsburgh Glass Center, our intrepid band headed for I-79 and the road to Huntington. After learning that the industrial production of glass has largely moved to other countries with lower labor costs, we discovered the glass industry is still very much alive in the Ohio Valley. It is in the process of transforming itself into a cottage and small factory industry producing high quality fine glass products for the art industry.