College Park resident Beth Hess uses rods and hollow pipes to spin glass and produce solid and blown glass products at DC Glassworks.
Instructions are displayed in front of the furnace that contains melted glass for use by members of DC Glassworks.
College Park resident Beth Hess shapes molten glass with a tool as she forms it to create a paper weight at DC Glassworks
Clear molten glass is dipped into crushed colored glass to add color to the final piece.
College Park resident Beth Hess plunges a rod with molten glass into a heater to keep the glass heated as she makes adjustments to form a paper weight at DC Glassworks.
Beth Hess then proceeds to put a hole in the molten glass in order to allow for air to flow into glass before she puts on another layer of glass.
Beth Hess carves the inside of blown glass to make the object symmetrical.
Beneath an outer layer of glass, multiple flower petal design are visible in the almost completed paper weight as it cools and shifts colors due to air exposure.
The final step in the process of glass art is inserting the piece into the annealer which allows pieces to decrease from approximately 1900 degrees Fahrenheit to room temperature over a period of hours.
DC Glassworks also features a gallery where studio owners can display their most prized pieces.
Birds are one of Beth Hess’ products which she sells at markets in DC.
