Columbus Glass Art Center

Hubby took me here for mother's day knowing I've always wanted to try glass blowing. Exer was our instructor. She was fabulous. Patient, kind, and really good teaching us how to handle the tools and glass. We made 2 beautiful glass tumblers. We will look for more classes with her. She made the experience even more amazing.

My husband and I had a great time at our class! We did the blown pumpkins. We have never done glass blowing, and it was a good mix of getting to be hands-on and having help from our instructor to make sure it turned out well. Sophie was a great teacher and very friendly! We'll definitely come back for another class! It takes about a week for the pumpkins to be ready for pickup, but I'll update with pictures (if I remember).

My husband and I took the pumpkin class todsy. Maddy was an excellent instructor and we had a great time. Can't wait to see our finished products.

So glad to hear about the new space!

Heads up: New location and new name! Previously known throughout Columbus as Glass Axis, now the Columbus Glass Art Center, is a non-profit org offering glass blowing and glass art classes to the general public, no membership needed! I went to their Grand Opening of their new building and the space, and it's fantastic! Ample space for several different glass art technique classes. The teachers I met are absolutely wonderful, too! Willing to help/guide if necessary, creative minds, and just plain genuine and personable. I got the chance to make a glass mosaic (think glass art to hand in a window) and a simple smoking pipe (torch melting glass and all!), and it was phenomenal! I'm seriously looking into taking a few classes; and, besides, I know my money is going to an excellent org that's promoting art, culture, and creative partnerships throughout central Ohio!

Great work by local artists!! Spoke to one of them while visiting and just so happened that the 2 pieces we purchased were hers. They also offer classes.

Classes here are so much fun and educational. Now that they are in their new facility, I'm excited to take an advanced class with my adult son. Lots of cool art glass to purchase, too.

I did the tumbler class and had a great time. The class is small so you get a lot of hands on participation and they really teach you about the process. The instructor was fun and very knowledgeable and it really got me interested in learning more.

1. Scheduling was hard to find a date that worked for our schedule . So not schedule friendly. 2. After finely getting a scheduled didn't have much to pick from. 3. We were told we would have to wait and come back and pick up our pumpkins. So we came back the website said open 11-6. Guess what they were not open!!! So are we to drive 3/4 times a week Downtown to see if they are open? Not a good experience!!! And how do I get my pumpkins that we paid for and this was not cheap!!!?

We went in for their Franklinton Friday class making glass paperweights and it was awesome! Our instructor was incredibly knowledgeable and made the class interactive and engaging even for a first-timer like myself. Would definitely be interested in participating in future classes here!

So nice, I went twice to take advantage of all they have to offer, both from their artists as well as classes to make your own creations. I took advantage of the spin art class and purchased a beautiful piece as well. In other visits I have made a glass bead for a bracelet while attending their holiday glass sale event. I love buying their glass ornaments for myself and for others as they make beautiful & personal holiday gifts for anyone. They also offer an ornament making class that I hope to take advantage of in the future. They have free on-site parking.

I stopped by this weekend for their annual holiday sale. So many beautiful pieces. We have such wonderful local talent in Columbus! I had to add a few pieces to my never ending glass art collection :) You can also sign up for classes to make your own pieces. I haven't taken advantage yet but I know many people who have, and they are a blast! Definitely nice for a date night or group activity.

Our friends won a glass making class for beginners and invited us to join them. Our instructor, Rose, was very patient and informative. She walked us through the steps of making our individual paperweight designs. We had a ton of fun playing with glass and fire. We can't wait to see the finished product in a couple of days!

Visited Glass Axis with my dad to make our own glass ornaments, and we both had such a great time! I had pre-purchased tickets for this class as a Christmas gift for my dad, so we were very excited to make it in. Glass Axis is a non-profit located right in Franklinton, and they do a lot of good for the community and offer so many cool classes for all to attend! We opted for the ornament one, but would love to make it back for others. Our instructor, Jeff, was so good at introducing us to the space, the art of glass blowing, and guiding us through the process. He also handled my dad's joking attitude, which is always appreciated! We loved getting to know the intricacies of glass blowing and the hands-on nature of the class - you really are making the things yourself! Jeff helped us with the basics and made sure safety was maintained always, but it was so cool to have the glass on the stick and see it through all the stages, all the way through the final product. Our ornaments turned out beautiful, and I'm so excited to hang on the tree next year :) This would be a great group activity or a fun date night for any couple. Would love to come back for other classes. Thanks for a fun Christmas gift, Glass Axis!

Amazing class! We loved Qetarah and our ornaments. We got to do so much more than I thought!

My wife took us here to do some glass blowing. This looked like a fun activity to do with a date or a friend. The class we took cost $39/person and you get to blow/mold/sculpt your own ornament. I have to say, this is probably better to do during the fall or winter. I'm not a fan of heat and it was hot as heck. I mean you're standing next to a furnace that is 2100F! Lisa was our instructor and she walked through the process with her doing everything that you will be doing. This helps a lot since this can be intimidating. Then we each take turn and pick out our colors and begin the process. She shows you how to hold the stick and the method of moving it to keep the molten glass centered. Since this is a beginners class, don't expect too much freedom. Your safety is their main priority so there will be a lot of hand holding during this process. It was a cool process overall to see how it's done firsthand and then get to do it yourself. It takes 3 days for the ornament to be ready for pick-up. I would definitely go back but when it's colder outside so I can manage.

Took a class making a glass flower. Matt was very pleasant to work with. I would strongly recommend trying these classes. Couple caveats: You will be dealing with hot, molten glass in some classes. Be prepared to feel the heat, literally. Wear clothes that you won't mind getting dirty. Shoes, not fancy slippers. These are mentioned in general guidelines on the Glass Axis website. Research your creation before you go there. Develop an idea of what you want to create. The people there are very helpful, but they are artists, not mind readers. Tell them your vision. They will try to help. Otherwise you could end up with something you will not be happy with.

What a fun class! Went in over the holidays for the ornament glassblowing class and it was wonderful. Class size was small enough that instructors had time to talk with everyone about what they wanted to make. You're given a few "mixes" if you're unsure what colors you want your ornament to be, or you're free to make up whatever you'd like. Instructions were given clearly so that everyone was working safely. It was a little chilly when first entering (December class), but once you started working you definitely didn't have to worry about that! It's something I would love to do again.

I won a gift certificate for a blown glass tumbler class as part of a Tweet and Go Seek campaign. While it had never really dawned on me to look into a glass blowing class, I was really excited about the opportunity! Unfortunately, I'm not the most logical girl in the world, so I scheduled my class for a 100 degree day in July. Not the wisest choice. :) Obviously, the furnaces used for glass blowing put out a TON of heat, and it would be ridiculous to try to air condition the space. So, there was a lot of sweating going on. If you do venture here in the summer, I'd recommend bringing a water bottle. But, even if you forget, the water fountain in the room has very cold water. When I pulled up to the building, two other people who were taking the class were sitting in their cars outside. The building was locked up. I'm glad they were there, or else I would've thought I had the wrong day! Our instructor was about 15 minutes late. Luckily, someone in the building saw us waiting outside and let us in. He then made some calls and the instructor came rushing in shortly after. The actual instruction part of the class was great! He took us through things step by step, including showing us common mistakes and how to fix them. This helped to put everyones' minds at ease to see that nearly all mistakes are fixable. My only complaint about the class is that the furnaces and fans are pretty loud, so it was sometimes hard to hear what the instructor was saying. He would sometimes walk over to a different furnace, and it was hard to tell when we were supposed to follow him, or if he was just grabbing something real quick. I think that this would actually be a fun date spot, as long as you don't mind getting a little sweaty in front of the person you're trying to impress. :) All in all, it was a great time! I would definitely like to come back for another class.

My significant other and I celebrated our one year anniversary with an ornament making class as a date and we can't wait to take another class! Our instructor was incredibly personable, informative, and really helped to execute our individual visions for the ornaments. The class was a small (four people), which made it feel very individualized. Neither of us had prior glass blowing experience, but our instructor laid everything out step by step and provided support along the way, making it feel easy. Although as beginners, we needed a lot of help from the instructor, she still gave us the freedom to make the ornaments our own. My significant other had a specific idea of the type and shape of ornament he wanted to make and she did her best to help him create it. Unfortunately, the ornament broke in the process, but our instructor let him start over and we ended up walking away with two ornaments we love! I think this is such a cool and unique date idea because you get to share an experience and walk away with a memento. I've already suggested these classes as a "family night" to my significant other's and my families and would highly recommend them to anyone!

did my first class with Maddy and it was awesome! she was very engaging and very helpful especially it being my first time ever blowing glass. definitely plan on doing another one

We just moved to Columbus three months ago so weren't quite sure what to do when family flew in to visit us. The glass blowing class at Glass Axis was a HUGE hit with everyone, but especially my mother in law! She described it as a "bucket list worthy" experience. The instructor was very personable and made us all feel very comfortable with the process. We all had a great time, even my husband, which kinda surprised me. I would highly recommend this to anyone entertaining guests, or if you're just looking for something fun and different to do.

I highly recommend the beginner stained glass class! Our instructor, Roberta, was patient, clear, thorough, and fun! We definitely want to go back and do more classes with her. Our projects came out great and we were able to complete them in one morning and take them home with us.

I took my Mom to the paper weight class last week. It was our second class there. We had so much fun at the first class that we had to go back. Erinn was our instructor. She did a fantastic job. I was nervous about burning myself, but with her instruction and assistance I came out burn free. We will definitely be back to take a glass blowing class.

I went for something like an open house where they were selling different pieces. I can't say what one thing wouldn't bring me back to this location, whether it was the fact that I struggled to get the attention of the few staff people that were around, or that I didnt know what was being offered that day until I spoke to someone-that was hard to flag down. I've also signed up for a class here, before I visited, and after it was cancelled due to equipment breaking down, it was hard to me to get an answer as to when the class was being offered again. By the time they got back to me, it was months later and I didnt have the extra time or money to spend on it.

We attended a First Experience Class to make ornaments and had a very fun time! I had expected, perhaps, a bit more formal introduction to blowing glass (for example, the instructor did not introduce herself or tell us about Glass Axis as a non-profit glass works center). However, the informal "jump right in" style really worked out wonderfully. We had a lot of fun making our ornament and are looking forward to picking it up when it has had time to cool. What a cool thing to say you've done in Columbus Ohio!

I can't go on enough about how much fun this place is. Today my family made glass pumpkins they will be ready to make the journey home tomorrow. In the past we made beads we also made Christmas bulbs. It's so much fun safety is a big thing tennis shoes and cotton are a must they provide safety glasses to be worn. It's a blast. They also have a coffee house attached that has set hours not positive on them

I took a glass blowing class - we made glass pumpkins. It was so much fun and the instructor was great. I was apprehensive before, as I was worried that I would mess things up, but the instructor gave enough assistance that my piece turned out beautifully. I'd love to learn more, and I'll come back to Glass Axis.

Toured yesterday! You can make a glass ornament, paperweight, flower and more through hands-on workshops with guidance from a professional artist. If you're not into blowing your own glass you can watch a demonstration & browse their gift shop filled with beautiful locally made glass art!

My husband and I took the paperweights class recently. our instructor was very clear about safety around the hot glass, and demonstrated the techniques. She walked us through the process telling us each step of the way exactly what was going to happen and helping us produce beautiful paperweights. I had some experience with glass, but my husband had not and the class was so informative and clear that we each exceeded our expectations. I would not hesitate to take another class soon, it was way fun, and glass is so satisfying to work with because it pretty much always turns out beautiful!

This place is great. I highly recommend the glass blowing classes- I made my own pumpkin and the instructor was so great with me and so helpful to make sure I got exactly what I wanted. I definitely will be back it was a fun experience, a great date idea!! Be sure you dress appropriately though it can be a dangerous spot.

As a kid my family always watched the glass blower when we went to museums, Cedar Point, etc. I've always wanted to try it and took advantage of Glass Axis glass pumpkin workshop event to check it out. It is a good intro to glass blowing. There is an instructor with you every step of the way so you don't burn your face off by mistake. The instructor does some of the harder things for you like preparing the molten glass and some of the shaping but i was surprised at how much I got to do instead of picking out colors and having them do it for me. It was fun and I'd love to do more classes. The only downside is I don't really have a lot of room in my house for glass doodads.

My daughter and I just did the First Experience ornament class. It was a great experience. Ray, the instructor, did a great job of explaining everything and making it very fun and enjoyable.they had plenty of safeguards in place and the process was very easy and enjoyable. Would love to take another class. We arrived early, or greeted promptly and invited to watch a demonstration. The instructor kept up a running commentary explaining every step of the process and showing each step as he went along. It was a great experience.

Our 10 year old granddaughter is participating in a week long summer camp there. The teacher is wonderful with the kids...they are making beautiful pieces and having fun. The facility is safe and clean...very important considerations for us. I am sure we will be taking her back to Glass Axis for future camp or instructional experiences.

I took the "Make a Bead" class and was unimpressed. It's a lot of fun learning how to make the small glass beads over your own flame and in total, the class took about 45 minutes. My complaint is that you were only allowed to make three beads, which doesn't allow you to really experiment with the glass and try different techniques. I would have much rather had a limited amount of time (like 2 hours) and been allowed to make as many beads as I wanted in that time frame. For the cost of the class ($30 per person), I think that they could have given me a little more for my money.

Took the Mother's Day class with my mom, my boyfriend, and his mom and we all loved it! The demonstration was fast-paced, but by the time we each took our turn making our ornament everyone felt confident in what to do, and there's a pro with you every step of the way. Our ornaments turned out beautifully, I can't wait to display them! Also before I signed up online I called just to ask a few questions and they were very helpful and patient. Highly recommended to everyone!

So much fun and the instructor, Rose, was great! We have never done anything like this before but she obviously knew what she was doing. We will definitely be back!

I took a glass ornament class with my 10 year old nephew who traveled in from out of state. It was our first glass blowing a experience, our instructor was excellent and we both had a great time. Highly recommend!

My friend and I did a girls day out at Glass Axis and had so much fun and made beautiful pumpkins. The staff was wonderful. You won't be disappointed!

Took my niece today. Made my second glass ornament. And can't wait to make more. Diffinatly worth the money.

Seriously the best time you will have. I want to take every class they have. I cant wait to this again! Definitely do this!

Where to begin? I wanted to schedule an appointment for an ornament blowing class for myself and my girlfriend. Three e-mails went unanswered. I left FIVE voicemails before speaking to a person to set up an appointment. This is a red flag that I should've heeded, but I made the appointment nevertheless. We drove up from Cincinnati on 11/22/2013 to take this class and make our ornaments, as this was a special trip for something we'd looked forward to for a long time. When we arrived we were told our instructor wasn't there yet. 15 minutes after our scheduled class our instructor was ready. The class lasted nine minutes. After the class ended we were told we could have our ornaments shipped to us, since they wouldn't be ready to pick up until Wednesday. I gave the girl at the front desk my address three times, because she read it back wrong the first two times. I paid the extra shipping and we left, looking forward to putting our custom made ornaments on our Christmas tree. A week went by. No ornaments. Two weeks went by. No ornaments. SIX voicemails left. No call back. Finally I spoke to a person, who said they hadn't shipped yet but would be shipping that day. A couple days later I received a call from the girl from the front desk that asked if I could describe the ornaments we'd made, because they'd mixed them up and didn't know which ones were ours. I described our ornaments and she said she'd ship them that day. She read to me the address she had for me---which was wrong, again. I corrected her again, with my confidence dropping by the minute. I asked specifically, "Will we get them in time for Christmas?" to which she replied, "You'll definitely get them before Christmas." I checked for packages every day for the next two weeks: I received all the other holiday packages from other sources and carriers; nothing from Glass Axis. Between 12/14 and 12/24 I called Glass Axis NINE times with no person answering and no voicemail returned. My girlfriend called another dozen times or so and finally got someone that attempted to help. Beth, who was identified as a boardmember of Glass Axis, told her that the package was shipped, but they have no tracking number, confirmation number, or any record of the address is was sent to. Beth then said that they think they shipped it to the wrong address and that someone else is "enjoying our creations." Beth offered to send us ornaments made by someone who hadn't picked up their ornaments, which defeats the purpose of experiencing the glass-blowing process. Why would I want someone else's ornaments? Beth then blamed all of these problems on the fact that they are non-profit, staffed by volunteers, and busy at Christmas. No responsibility for any of these failures was taken by someone who is supposedly a boardmember of this organization. Finally, a refund was offered and accepted. A check will be mailed to my home: hopefully it doesn't get sent to the same place as the ornaments. This doesn't seem to be a mistake or goof; Glass Axis showed themselves to be systematically inept at every step of this process. Don't waste your time or money.

I took the introduction to neon glass class and my instructor was very knowledgeable and made it awesome to actually learn about what I was doing with the glass!

Glass Axis is a fantastic place to go with friends/ family even if you claim to have no art skills (like myself). When you are looking for something fun to do that is out of the ordinary this place has it. Their new location has allowed them to expand what they offer, and support the up-and-coming Franklinton neighborhood of Columbus. This non-profit organization offers several programs from workshops and classes for all skill levels to live demonstrations and more. Unlike most public glass facilities, Glass Axis teaches several different forms of glass like stained, fused, torchworking, and neon. I have had a chance to try glass blowing and torchworking so far, and plan to go back again for more. The classes are both fun and interactive for a reasonable price, plus you get to keep what you make! The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. During my classes they explained everything very well and helped me out during the parts I struggled with. Even if you don't want to take a class, you can check out live demonstrations, the art gallery, and gift shop free of charge. I can't wait to go back and do more in the future!