Hot Shop Glass, located in Downtown Racine, has been a home for artists and creatives for 20 years. The studio, founded by Amanda Cosgrove Paffrath and Daniel Sviland, offers classes in glass blowing and fusing, as well as workspace for practicing artists.
Getting Started
In 2005, Cosgrove Paffrath and Sviland met for burgers and beers to discuss starting a glass art studio. Three weeks later, they purchased 239 Wisconsin Ave. and opened the studio in November 2005, after six months of renovations.
- Although Cosgrove Paffrath has been involved in art since taking her first art class at 5 years old, she was introduced to glass work while attending The Prairie School.
- She created a business plan for the studio and modeled it after Funky Hannah’s Beads & Art, a store she owned and operated at the time.
The Studio Today
Five years ago, Daniel Sviland joined the business and became a co-owner. Sviland was familiar with Hot Shop Glass, as he was a student of Cosgrove Paffrath’s original partner, Doug Chaussee.
| Equipment | Description |
|---|---|
| Electric glass furnace | Holds 300 pounds of molten glass and maintains a temperature of 2,100 degrees. |
| Hot glass fusing equipment | Used for creating glass fusions. |
Classes and Workshops
Visitors can take classes in glass blowing, or working with hot glass in liquid form. Participants can also learn glass fusing, which includes layering pieces of cut glass like a mosaic and melting it to create an image.
- Some people prefer glass fusing because it’s not as hot, dangerous or expensive.
- Others gravitate toward glass blowing because the material is “more mesmerizing” in liquid form.
Ambassadors for Downtown
Hot Shop Glass attracts people from Racine and other places, with many students traveling to Racine for classes.
- About half of the studio’s visitors are from out of town, driving up to 3 hours to attend classes.
- Cosgrove Paffrath recommends local restaurants and businesses to visiting students.
The Business Side of Things
Cosgrove Paffrath handles the marketing and business side of the studio, while Sviland takes care of the equipment.
- Cosgrove Paffrath creates items, such as pumpkins, for art shows in Chicago and the Twin Cities.
- Sviland has started on the fall pumpkins, aiming to finish them by June.
Making Mistakes
Cosgrove Paffrath likes making functional pieces, such as stemless wine glasses, water glasses and pendant lights.
- She teaches students about color choices and design ideas.
- She has learned to fix mistakes by pivoting and using recycled material.
A Tradition of Errors
Cosgrove Paffrath has started a tradition of hiding glass peeps for Hot Shop Glass’s 20th anniversary.
- She hid 20 peepers, and people went crazy on social media.
- She started the tradition two years ago, after making a glass peep with a chip.
Loving the Community
Cosgrove Paffrath believes that Hot Shop Glass is an ambassador for downtown Racine, and that it’s an opportunity for the studio to be involved in the community.
- She sees the economic impact of art and tourism each day.
- She recommends local businesses to visiting students.
Conclusion
Hot Shop Glass has been a part of Racine’s arts community for 20 years, and it continues to attract visitors from across the region.
“I think glass is such a cool material that even if you aren’t artistic, even if you can’t paint or draw, you can make something pretty with glass because glass itself is so beautiful.” – Amanda Cosgrove Paffrath, co-owner and founder of Hot Shop Glass.
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