Want to learn how to make your own stained glass art, or even take home a piece from a local artist? Glass of Life is a wonderful studio from local artist Jodi Chemes. It’s a place where beginners can take classes, artists can rent studio time and equipment, and a gathering place to display local art. Glass of Life is located at 499 7th Avenue N in the Historic Uptown District of St. Petersburg.
Want to take a class at Glass of Life?
If like me, you’ve stumbled into an hours-long stained glass-making Tiktok obsession – you’ll be happy to know you can now learn how to wield this magic yourself. Beginners can join one of their “Intro Stained Glass” Classes. The intro course is split into two two-hour classes. The dual-class combo is priced at $150 per person. The price includes both sessions and all of the supplies and materials. Students will learn the essentials of the craft: how to score and break glass, grind, foil, and solder. You’ll have a finished suncatcher at the end of the second class. Classes run on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6pm to 8pm and on Saturdays from 11am to 1pm.
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Making stained glass art accessible to the community
Jodi Chemes has worked as a stained glass artist for the last eight years. She crafts whimsical nature-inspired pieces and the most darling pet portraits. Previously, Chemes belonged to the St. Pete women’s collective Venus and ran the community space All the Things St. Pete in the Warehouse Arts District.
She hopes that this new studio will be a place that makes the art medium accessible to more people. This art form requires several tools and materials that can make getting started in the medium rather expensive. Glass of Life offers studio time by the hour or monthly rate where other artists can work in the space and use the tools on location. If interested, you can contact her for more information via the Glass of Life website.
In fact, the studio space is available to any local creatives who want an inspiring and artist-friendly workspace. Chemes welcomes anyone who wants to come paint, write, draw, or even just hang out to rent a worskhop space for only $20 per hour. Artists can even have their own workshops if they like, as Glass of Life is also open to hosting classes of other mediums
A home to display an array of local artists
The studio currently is home to an exhibition of local artists, including Alex McCaffrey, as well as Glass of Life instructors Veronica Dunn and Addie Padgett. The artist Xzanthia also has a display of steampunk-inspired skulls, flasks, and other curiosities on display. Next to art by Chemes and the comic and superhero-inspired glass of her partner – Glass of Life is chock full of color and inspiration for your own stained glass art.
Visit Glass of Life’s website if you want to take a class or learn more about studio hours. Follow Glass of Life on Facebook and on Instagram to stay up to date on new classes, shows, and more. Stay tuned later this fall for Halloween decoration and Christmas ornament workshops at Glass of Life.
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