Skylab Glass Arts Ignites Creativity
There’s a business in Golden Valley that’s sparking creativity. Skylab Glass Arts is fueling a new generation of artists.
If you’re not familiar with lampworking, consider this your introduction.
“It’s not like standard glass blowing, you use a fix mounted torch and use that to manipulate the glass,” says David Schuster, owner of Skylab Glass Arts. “The things that people make astonish me everyday.”
A glass blowing class at Anoka-Ramsey Community College several years ago, inspired Schuster to sell off a Jimmy John’s franchise and start this business.
“[I] saw this as an opportunity. It’s a growing, expanding market,” says Schuster.
There’s an expanding market for the raw materials Schuster sells at Skylab Glass Arts, the classes he offers, and the studio space he rents out to artists.
Glass Art Popularity Surges
Twenty-five-year-old Chris Eberhardt makes a living selling his glass pints, pendants and pipes.
“A pint glass from me is usually $200 to $300,” says Eberhardt. “You know you can come out with a pendant for $50 bucks.”
Eberhardt runs classes at Skylab Glass Arts in exchange for space to work on his art.
The most expensive pendant Eberhardt sold cost around $1,000.
“I’m amazed. I’m truly amazed by what people are making,” says Schuster.
The legalization of marijuana elsewhere also fuels sales of elaborate pipes that can cost thousands of dollars.
Classes at Skylab Glass Arts
At Skylab, however, classes focus on the basics.
“What you learn to make is a marble, so right now we’re doing a basic, two color marble,” explains Amy Sutton of Robbinsdale while taking a beginner class.
It’s the first class for Sutton and her son, but it won’t be their last.
“It’s been pretty easy, and I think it will be really cool. I can’t wait to take more classes and make some more elaborate things. Maybe an ornament or something,” says Sutton.
Skylab Glass Arts offers classes weekly for $50.
