August 2025 Newsletter

Art in the Shop: Fusing by Joan Schwartz (Featured Artwork)

It’s been a lively summer here at the studio, with many new projects taking shape in the shop. We’re especially excited to show off the artistry of Joan Schwartz, a talented artist and longtime customer who fires in our studio when residing in Minneapolis for our glorious summers.

Joan takes full advantage of our firing facilities while she's in town, and we’re always glad to support her process and see the thoughtful detail she brings to each piece. Her work is a wonderful example of how fused glass can blend technical skill with expressive design, and we’re proud to be part of her creative journey.

Art in the World: Dieterich Spahn

Dieterich Spahn was a beloved stained glass artist and painter, born in Cologne, Germany in 1938 and living in Minneapolis, MN before passing away in 2021. With a full stained glass career of more than 5 decades of artistry,  Spahn created work that can be seen in over 200 places of worship, hospitals, universities, libraries and private residences throughout the United States. The University of St. Thomas and St. John’s Abbey house some of his most notable work. (See Spahn's work at St. Thomas on Page 3 of their newsletter.)

Spahn began pursuing his glass studies in Düsseldorf, producing his first experimental panels in 1958. He traveled extensively throughout Europe as he developed his glass repertoire, paying special attention to the effect of light through colored glass in architecture as he went. Upon an invitation to join the Peter Dohmen studio in St. Paul in 1961, he moved to Minnesota and continued his artistic and entrepreneurial pursuits here.

“I kinda like subtleties … When you look at life, life is very seldom big events.” 

Much of Spahn’s work is known for its ability to shift with the viewer’s perspective, creating a unique experience with each viewing due to the layered texture and selective color shifts he employed. Spahn was also known for beginning research years before a project was to be completed and consulting personally with both architects and clients to ensure a design would achieve the highest excellence possible.

The repair team at Potekglass is currently in the process of restoring a window designed by Dieterich Spahn from Emmanuel Lutheran Church! Keep an eye on our Facebook (@Potekglass) and Instagram (@potek_glass) for upcoming posts with more details.

Upcoming Classes at Potekglass:

Beginning Stained Glass

Learn the Art of Stained Glass!

Join us for this beginner-friendly, 4-week course designed to teach you the Tiffany copper foil method of stained glass. Whether you're new to glass art or looking to refine your skills, this class will guide you through the steps to creating your own stained glass masterpiece. Class is 2.5 hours each week for 4 weeks. Students will have 2-4 hours of homework each week. No experience necessary.

Class Dates:

Session 1: Saturday, August 9th | 2:00pm - 4:30pm

Session 2: Saturday, August 16th | 2:00pm - 4:30pm

Session 3: Saturday, August 23th | 2:00pm - 4:30pm

No class Saturday, August 30th due to Labor Day Weekend

Session 4: Saturday, September 6th | 2:00pm - 4:30pm

Try-iT! Italian Soft Glass Bead Making
$95.00

Experience the Art of Italian Soft Glass Bead Making!

Discover the joy of working with vibrant Italian soft glass as you learn to gather, shape, and decorate molten glass beads. In this beginner-friendly torchwork class, you’ll explore essential techniques for creating beautiful, handcrafted beads.

Thursday, August 14 | 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Wild Color Mosaic Pet Portrait with Erin Ward
$195.00

Learn the Art of Mosaic Glass!

Join this three-day workshop to create an abstracted and boldly colored glass mosaic based on a photograph of your pet or an animal of choice. Under the guidance of Erin Ward, an experienced glass artist, you’ll explore the nuances of color, line, and shape as you bring your subject to life in mosaic form. Over three sessions, you’ll learn how to prepare the mosaic base, cut and shape the glass using a variety of scoring knives, glue pieces into place, and grout the final piece. Please note, this class will have homework, students will need to complete glasswork during the week between classes.

Class Dates:

Session 1: Saturday, August 16th | 10:00am - 1:00pm

Session 2: Sunday, August 17th | 10:00am - 1:00pm

Session 3: Saturday, August 23rd | 10:00am - 1:00pm

Beginning Stained Glass
$115.00

Learn the Art of Stained Glass!

Join us for this beginner-friendly, 4-week course designed to teach you the Tiffany copper foil method of stained glass. Whether you're new to glass art or looking to refine your skills, this class will guide you through the steps to creating your own stained glass masterpiece. Class is 2.5 hours each week for 4 weeks. Students will have 2-4 hours of homework each week. No experience necessary.

Class Dates:

Session 1: Wednesday, August 20th | 6:00pm - 8:30pm

Session 2: Wednesday, August 27th | 6:00pm - 8:30pm

Session 3: Wednesday, September 3rd | 6:00pm - 8:30pm

Session 4: Wednesday, September 10th | 6:00pm - 8:30pm

Try-iT! Kiln Class: Fusing and Slumping
$95.00

Create Stunning Kiln-Formed Glass!

Explore the art of fusing and slumping glass in this beginner-friendly kiln class. Over three hours, you’ll learn the fundamentals of glass shaping and kilnwork while designing your own 5" x 5" glass tile, which will be slumped into a functional catch-all dish.

Saturday, September 6 | 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Glass Casting I: Relief Sculpture Workshop with Chad Holliday
$675.00

Cast your own glass masterpiece!

Join us for “Thick & Thin, Light & Dark,” a 4-day, two-weekend workshop that offers a truly rare opportunity to explore the fascinating world of glass casting with world-renowned visiting artist Chad Holliday. This is the first in a series of 4 classes, that Potekglass will host over the next year.

Class Dates:

Session 1: Saturday, September 13th | 10:00am - 4:30pm

Session 2: Sunday, September 14th | 10:00am - 4:30pm

Session 3: Saturday, September 20th | 10:00am - 4:30pm

Session 4: Sunday, September 21th | 10:00am - 4:30pm

RODS ON SALE!

Get them before they're gone!

Kimble glass rods from 1981
11.18mm diameter, 60" long
90 COE, excellent for fusing projects

$50 for 50 lbs!

Sheet of the Week Playlist

July Review

At Potekglass, we invite you to join us on an artistic journey that unfolds each week as we hand-select a sheet of glass. Each selection is paired with a thoughtfully chosen song that resonates with the unique essence of the glass. Each week, we offer a 15% discount on this exquisite piece, providing an excellent opportunity to enhance your collection. We encourage you to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for real-time updates.

Here is our review of last month's selections:

"Wake Me Up" by Norah Jones

• Mississippi River Glass MRG5000IR

"Under My Thumb" by The Rolling Stones

• Youghiogheny YU6549

"Her Mind is Gone" by Professor Longhair

• Oceanside OGT6022-82

"Thirteen" by Big Star

• Kokomo KO265V