October 2025 Newsletter

Art in the Shop: Abby Kosberg

Featured: Masking by Abby Kosberg (Stained glass)

Abby Kosberg is a stained and fused glass artist who works at Potekglass as an instructor and in our repairs department. In addition to working at the shop, she is also an active artist in the Twin Cities art community, vending at markets, participating in group shows, and working as a curator across the region. 

Her work is inspired by bodies, especially those that are seldom aestheticized because they take up too much space to be considered beautiful, inspiring, or publicly adored. In response, Abby builds colorful & sometimes surreal scenes–complete with thick thighs, rolling bellies, & confident poses–all to challenge the viewer & expand their perception of what’s considered beautiful enough to hold aesthetic space. 

Pictured here are two of her most recent works. The top stained glass piece, Masking, portrays the idea of how people put on different ‘masks’ to get through their days, battling both internal thoughts and outside voices (highlighted by the ghost-like figures encroaching on the two masked women). The bottom piece, Pasta-Shaped, is part of a larger series of fused glass pasta bowls, all depicting women paired with different types of pasta that closely resemble their various body shapes. 

More about Abby:

You can find out more about Abby's work on her Instagram (@thepampledmousse) and website: AbbyKosberg.com

Buy her Artwork:

Buy Masking and more by Abby Kosberg at Potekglass!

Art in the World: Einar and Jamex de la Torre

"Collidoscope: de la Torre Brothers Retro-Perspective", an exhibition supported by the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino, features the work of Einar and Jamex de la Torre, two brothers and collaborating artists who were born in Guadalajara, Mexico in 1963 and 1960, respectively. Growing up navigating life on both sides of the U.S. Mexico Border, they share an artistic vision that represents their bi-national and bi-cultural background, as well as reflects their celebration of artistic freedom. Their artworks, spanning various mediums such as glass, resin, lenticular, and material culture, are unashamedly baroque, maximalist, vibrant, and toy with perceptions of high and low art, challenging us to re-evaluate our understandings of beauty and good taste.

Einar and Jamex immigrated to Dana Point, California in 1972. Jamex recollected, “And so we grew up on both sides. And that greatly informs the way we think and the way we collaborate.” Their early experiences with culture clash carry into their works as they mesh the indigenous iconography they experienced in their youth, such as the ubiquitous Aztec calendar visible in Ya Sabritas (2023), with contemporary iconographies of consumer and pop culture common in both Mexico and the U.S., which are seen in Bolivar’s Burden (2001).

Following a high school job packing small glass figurines for a local lampworker, Jamex set up a business with Einar making and selling small figurines out of their garage at mass production. Jamex later enrolled at Long Beach City College in the Art department, and Einar joined him soon after. It was then that the brothers began blowing glass together, and they started their art career in the 1980s. Their artistic career displays their rich lampworking and glassblowing experience, from early pieces such as the blown and lampworked-glass effigy on top of Baja Kali (1995), to more recent pieces such as Mictlantecuhtli and also Chacamotas (2009).

The brothers opened their first exhibition in the early 1990s at the Galería de la Raza in San Francisco, followed by a museum exhibition in Arizona. Since the 1990s, the brothers have continued to collaborate, creating public and site-specific artworks, participating in exhibitions in the United States and Europe, and even starring as guest judges on Netflix’s “Blown Away” glass making competition. Today, as seen in ¡2020! (2020), their artwork continues to utilize various glass techniques and mixed media to combine ancient iconography with symbols of our contemporary consumer culture, play with humor and irony, and mesh experiences from both sides of the U.S. Mexico Border.

Want to know more?

Learn more about "Collidoscope: de la Torre Brothers Retro-Perspective"

Upcoming Classes at Potekglass

Try-iT! Italian Soft Glass Bead Making
$95.00

Thursday, October 9, 2025 | 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

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.

Beginner Class - No Prior Experience Required

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

Saturday, October 18, 2025 | 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

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.

Beginner Class - No Prior Experience Required

Digital Stained/Fused Glass Patterns Tablets
$95.00

Wednesday, October 22, 2025 | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Learn How to Create Patterns on Any Tablet!

In this 3-hour workshop, students will be guided through a follow-along style demonstration where they will learn how to translate their ideas into digital drawings and then on to glass. We’ll also cover how to use basic drawing software, how to create proofs using actual pictures of glass, and how to incorporate vinyl patterns into their process. 

Beginner Class - No Prior Experience Required

Totem Shadow Box Lamp
$165.00

Thursday, October 23, 30, November 6, 13 | 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Learn the Ins and Outs of Light Boxes!

In this 4-week intermediate level course you will be guided through all of the steps to create your own 4" x 14" shadow box lamp. You will get a refresher on cutting glass, learn some trade tips for working with small pieces, and how to prep & wire your own shadow box. The shadow box will be provied to you as part of your class purchase. Please note: this class will have 1-3 hours of homework between classes each week.

Intermediate Class - Prior Stained Glass Experience Required

Halloween Special: Little Monsters
$115.00

Thursday, October 30, 2025 | 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Learn Sculpture and Powder Application!

Gather your friends for a ghoulish good time this Halloween season! Capture the ghostly spirit and create little monster pendants and glow-in-the-dark beads. Learn to create your own glow-in-the-dark rod and manipulate larger gathers for sculptural endeavors. Focus for these mini-misfits will be Glo-powder and Thompson Enamel application/techniques, basic sculpture color striking, and annealing. You will be using soft glass to create your little monsters.

Intermediate Class - Prior Torchwork Experience Required

Beginning Stained Glass
$115.00

Saturday, November 1, 8, 15, 22 | 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM

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.

Beginner Class - No Prior Experience Required

Stained Glass Jewelry Box
$115.00

Saturday, November 1, 8, 15 | 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Create a One-of-a-Kind Stained Glass Jewelry Box!

Take your stained glass skills to the next level in this intermediate-level workshop. Over three sessions, you’ll design and construct a stunning, three-dimensional jewelry box with the glass of your choice. Add an extra touch of elegance with optional bevels for a sparkling finish—perfect as a gift or keepsake!

Intermediate Class - Prior Stained Glass Experience Required

Artistic ReUse-A-Thon

Join the community to learn how to make art with reused materials! Free make and take workshops all day long! Plus vote on your favorite piece of art made from trash in the Mystery Trash Remix. Bring your old art supplies to participate in the Art Supply Swap.

All activities are FREE thanks to funding from Minneapolis Public Works' Innovative Waste Reduction Grant.

Details for the Three Part ReUse-A-Thon!

1. The Mystery Trash Remix: 20 Art to Change the World artists have transformed single use items into Art! Exhibited October 24th to November 9th. Open to the public 10:00 to 5:00 Monday-Saturday with Grand Opening on November 1st. Come and vote for your favorite piece! The winner gets $500. Contact Liisa Le for a full list of the artists: liisaleart@gmail.com
2. Make and Take Workshops: Teacher's design and lead workshops with single use and reused materials. Our classes and schedule are posted on the Art to Change the World website.
3. Art Supply Swap: Clean out your closets and refresh your tool kit. You can drop off art supplies anytime before November 1st at the Flux Arts Building or bring them on November 1st where you can also pick out some new-to-you supplies to take home and create with! It's Free!

Find out more here: https://www.arttochangetheworld.org/re-use-a-thon/

Sheet of the Week Playlist

September 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:

• Youghiogheny Y5069SP | "Saturday Sun" by Nick Drake
• Ruth Glass - Rare Misc. Sheet | "Rich People" by Carsie Blanton
• Bullseye Misc. Sheet | "Sweeter Tomorrow" by Margie Joseph
• Bullseye 3045-30 | "Extraordinary Machine" by Fiona Apple