Pittsburgh Glass Center

What an amazing way to end our journey, Pittsburgh Glass Center. We had the opportunity to blow glass again! The pieces that we created were truly works of art. Before we began our projects we were given a demonstration by Lyla Nelson . She was an expert in the field for over 8 years and attended college at Appalachian Center for Craft located in Tennessee, where she earned a BFA degree. 

Each of us worked cooperatively with a partner to blow a glass Christmas ornament. We first began with a blow pipe of molten glass gathered on one end, then we chose the color of frit we wanted to add to the molten glass. Next we began blowing the glass to create a sphere full of beautiful colors. Some people chose a spiral design and some chose speckled, my design was purple and white speckled! 

 After creating our ornaments we got to tour the facilities and their art gallery. PGC, was currently hosting a show called , Lifeforms. Each of the pieces in this show focused on life in our environment. Many of the works inspired me to discover the world in which we live. Task: After viewing the pictures below, you will explore our own backyard. Generate a list of things that are in your own backyard. How do the glass sculptures portray the lifeforms? Are their likenesses and differences? Do they sculptures give an accurate representation of real life? If they differ, explain how?  Decide what tools you would need to explore and keep safe during your exploration!

Carnegie Museum and Phipps Conservatory : Where stories are discovered!

Today I was inspired by beautiful works of art at Carnegie Museum and Phipps Conservatory. I began thinking as I toured both facilities of the stories that could be told. Everyone has a their own personal story . Who they are? Where they have been? Things they have seen and experienced. The art and plants I saw today could not communicate their story. I was given an amazing power, the opportunity to create the stories for each piece. The art that made a great impression on me were the sculptures that were the from the collection of H.J. Heinz and were focused on Japan. There were sculptures that were based on legends from the Japanese culture. One in particular was of a samurai warrior. There is a legend from Japan called, The Samurai's Daughter. A legend is a story about people, places, or events that have some historical fact and they are often embellished, exaggerated, or have magical qualities. As we read The Samurai's Daughter find examples of what makes it a legend and share your thoughts with your team using the round robin strategy. Your team must also create visual aids explaining the following vocabulary words: samurai, ama, getas, kimono, mino, and banished. You may use imovie, poplet, or another app to illustrate and define each word. After discussing the qualities of a legend use the ipad photo album labeled " Legends" and choose a photo that your team will use to create the own legend. Use the link for the story rubric to guide your team through the writing process.

Mosser Glass: What is time?

What is time? Does the unit of time effect your daily life? How does it effect a business and an assembly line? Respond to each of these prompts in your journal and give detailed information. 

  Real World Situation: 

Imagine you are a glass blower that works for "Pirate Glass", you are a skilled craftsman that works on the factory floor with a team of other skilled glass makers. Today your team is creating a glass pitcher. How much time do you estimate your pitcher will take? What are the steps involved in the creation of your pitcher? Will the process take an hour, half-hour, 5 minutes, or perhaps 1 minute? 

Task: Complete a think-pair- share with a partner from your team to identify activities that take an hour, half hour, 5 minutes, and 1 minute . Compare/ contrast these activities to the production of glass. Recorded your estimate on the graphic organizer , then watch the process video of a team in Cambridge Ohio from mosser glass. Generate a list of step by step directions and the amount time each part of the process took. Task 2: Work with your team and create a business plan . Include name of your glass factory, hours of operation, describe your production rate and process.Determine the cost of each piece you plan to create. After calculating the length of production, record the number pieces can you create during your business day.

Mosser Glass from Amy Maynard on Vimeo.

Day 3: Ceramics Museum and Homer Laughlin

Have you ever wondered how and where your family dinner plates, cups, bowls, and other dinnerware comes from? What is it made from? How is it created? Today, I had the opportunity to explore one of the largest china companies in the world! Homer Laughlin China Company is a ceramics factory located in Hancock County,WV. It is in a small town called Newell, that the company built for the people and they provide water and sewage services to the entire town.Before I share my experience at the factory watch this video that gives a more detailed view of how dinnerware is created.

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The Homer Laughlin factory has a scenic view of the Ohio River that stretches almost 2 miles long. There are many buildings and even a factory outlet on the grounds. The pictures below show some of the machines and employees designing, polishing, and creating a variety of ceramic products. They design for businesses like Apple Bee's and Bob Evans; and other companies across the United States and around the world. I enjoyed my day of new experiences and I hope to help you understand how human labor and machines work together to help make our lives easier and a bit more beautiful!

WV Glass and Ceramics Day One Adventure

Today has been an amazing day! I have learned so many things on this trip. I have created a video using I-Movie but I'm having technical problems with the upload. So for now I will share a couple of photos from Gabbert Cullet Glass, Fenton Glass, and Olgebay Park! I hope you enjoy them, and keep checking back for the video!

My video finally uploaded! I hope you enjoy a few of the pictures and the story of my journey.

Day one adventure from Amy Maynard on Vimeo.

My friend Carl said.......

Wow! A word I'm not sure can begin to describe today's adventure. After getting our grab and go breakfast, we loaded up in our vans and began our journey to Wissmach Glass. I met the most interesting man named, Carl. He had retired from the factory but ,enjoyed his work so much, he went back to work there. He taught me so many things in such a short time frame. 

At the Wissmach glass factory they produce art "sheet" glass. The factory has the potential to create about 5,000 different colors and tints; with a variety of 18 different patterns. The tools used at Wissmach involved the traditional tools discussed in previous blog posts, and a tool I hadn't seen before. The tool used was a wheel and ladle. This simple machine increased their productivity. 

 This tool allowed for the molten glass to be scooped and wheeled to a rolling press, where it was mixed by two men. The level of collaboration at this factory was impressive. 

The factory wouldn't be as successful without their employees cooperation and teamwork. In each part of the factory from mixing,cutting,shipping and packing, and even our tour involved a level of collaboration. 

Wissmach's efficiency allows them to produce a sheet of glass every 1 minute 26 seconds and about 700 square ft an hour. The company sells, packages, and ships their glass craftsmanship around the globe. What an amazing demonstration of dedication and combined effort.

Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster

Windows are our part of our everyday life. We look out windows at home, at school, cars, and buses. We can also look inside windows and they help us understand what is behind the window. In the book, Hello, Goodbye Window, by Norton Juster, a young girl enjoys a special window at her Nanna and Poppy's house. As you read the story generate a list of things she experiences with the window. Does she see different things when looking from the outside to the inside of her grandparents home? Do things look different at different times of day? Also please note any other special qualities you think the " Hello, Goodbye Window" has. Do the properties of light have an impact on what the young girl views from the window? After completing the above literacy task, work with your team to create a visual aid of the different things she saw from the window. Explain how light effected the window and describe if the window was transparent, translucent, or opaque. You may use the link below to help you explain and give examples of each type. Brain Pop Jr.