A One-Person Madison Glass Studio Hands First-Timers the Torch
Shape an ornament, stirring rod, pendant or watering globe at the torch, with the studio's one glassblower beside you.
Gurn Glass is a one-person glass studio at 3600 Marsh Road in Madison. Its owner found glassblowing at a Milwaukee studio in 2015, taught at two other glass studios for three and a half years and earned a fine art degree from UW-Madison before starting the business.
The craft here is flameworking: borosilicate glass shaped in the flame of a high-temperature torch. The person who schedules your lesson is the person who teaches it. The owner's site names a favorite part of the job: "watching the spark light up in someone else when they shape their very first piece."
Pricing on this listing is per person and falls as the group grows: USD 79.99 for one, USD 59.99 each for two, USD 53.99 each for three and USD 52.50 each for four. Every booking also adds a mandatory USD 10 fee at the studio—listed as "Shipping" on the checkout page, though the listing does not say what it covers.
The class is private to your group, and one booking takes four people at most. The studio confirms each request by hand. Book at least two days out: the listing stops taking bookings 48 hours before opening time on your date, and all sales on it are final, with no refund for cancellations.
Introduction to Glassblowing ClassA private 90-minute flameworking class at Gurn Glass in Madison: shape one ornament, stirring rod, pendant or watering globe.www.viator.comFour Pieces, Pick One
The intro class ends with one piece from a short list: a blown glass ornament, a drink stirring rod, a pendant or a watering globe. The glass itself is included.
Each technique is shown to you first, then you do it while the owner supervises. Safety sits at the top of the owner's own list, along with the right way to handle tools, equipment and materials. If you are visiting from out of town and do not want to travel with glass, the studio's site notes that shipping options can be arranged.
The Cup Class Comes Second
The same listing sells a second level, which the studio describes as shaping and blowing your own cup on a glass lathe. The owner prepares a colored base, and you complete the rest under close guidance.
On this listing, the cup option can only be booked after you have taken the intro. A combined intro-and-cup option sits on the same booking page.
Ten and Up, Monday to Saturday
The studio's own class page sets the intro at ages 10 and up, with no experience needed, even though this booking form accepts guests from age six. Plan on ten as the floor when you bring kids.
Lessons run Monday to Friday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturday from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Central time, by appointment only. The listing recommends viewing the studio's booking calendar before you pick a time. It also ticks wheelchair access and suitability for all physical fitness levels.
Finding the Door on Marsh Road
The studio sits in a split-unit warehouse. Turn into the parking lot and its front door is directly ahead.
Arrive on time. The studio's policy treats anyone more than 15 minutes late as a no-show, with the class canceled and no refund.
📍 Gurn Glass, 3600 Marsh Road, Madison, WI 53718. The class starts and ends at the studio.
Ninety minutes after you first take the torch, there is a piece of glass on the bench that you shaped yourself.