Athens Hot Glass studio brings unique pieces of art to life through glass. The small business is centered around the art of glassblowing, which is the technique of shaping molten glass by inflating it with air and cooling it to create both artistic and functional objects.
The studio provides the area with a place to shop local art made by glass artists. The small business started in December 2022 by Tiffany McCann, the gallery owner, director and instructor. Athens Hot Glass offers many ways to immerse one into glass making through *various classes.
Glassblowing classes currently offered by Athens Hot Glass include shaping a glass ghost, pumpkin, ornament, suncatcher, tumbler and paperweights starting at $80.44 a person. Classes last one to two hours depending on party size.
Athens Hot Glass is located on 21 Kern St., Athens, Ohio. It includes a studio to create the glass artpieces, and also features a gallery of glassblown creations for purchase. The costs for creations in the gallery range from $30 to over $100 depending on the piece.
Athens Hot Glass looks to give customers a unique, hands-on experience of blowing glass. Bringing people from different areas, the studio welcomes anyone interested in learning about what glassblowing is.
Gordon Blozy, studio manager of Athens Hot Glass, started working at Athens Hot Glass a year after the business was established. Blozy is an Ohio University alumni, and started blowing glass while in college in Athens.
Blozy shares how Athens Hot Glass attracts local tourists from areas surrounding Athens, supporting other local businesses in the process.
“We’re doing very good for the local economy,” Blozy said. “We’re definitely turning into a destination. We bring people down here. Even today, first two classes, people coming from Parkersburg, West Virginia or McArthur, and they’re coming down here just to do this. So we’re drawing people, which is special to us.”
Athens Hot Glass continues to bring those new to the art of glassblowing to Athens. The immersive experience allows customers to find ways to create hands-on artwork. Blozy shares what it means to see people experience glassblowing for the first time.
“Yeah it’s fun,” Glozy said. “Makes us feel warm and tingly. It’s kind of like any art or showing anybody anything for the first time. They enjoy it. You can see their faces light up. Everyone always has fun here.”
For students, seeing the growth of small businesses can inspire new creative paths in different art mediums such as glassblowing. With more visitors coming to visit small town Athens, it stimulates support for the college town and Athens county overall.
Maggie Kletrovetz, a junior studying graphic design, shares her opinion on the importance of supporting the Athens community.
“I think that everyone needs to visit Athens,” Kletrovetz said. “It’s so beautiful, and I think that also bringing in people from the outside also helps really support the local economy, which is fantastic. It’s always needed, especially in such a great community like Athens, and I think it brings different perspectives from different places which is always needed especially when building a community.”
As a growing small business, Athens Hot Glass’ visibility grows throughout the community and across campus. Now, students can see how a small business is making its way through Athens' economy.
Trevor Ing, a freshman studying international business, shares what it means to him as a student in an area that supports unique art businesses such as Athens Hot Glass.
“Supporting those kinds of lucrative, almost, unique styles of art opens a lot more doors to people,” Ing said. “It makes it a lot more interesting, especially for college students who are from big cities like Columbus or Cincinnati. They have plenty of opportunities to draw and stuff like that. But the opportunities like glassblowing, you don’t get that every day. So I think it’s amazing that a small town can provide that opportunity.”
With many students attending OU, there is an opportunity to support the local businesses that call Athens home. Ing talks about the importance of students and other businesses coming together to support local art.
“If we can help those economies thrive by bringing in more people with things like glass blowing or more local businesses, it can help reduce the poverty rate and help people survive,” Ing said. “You know, help people live, help people thrive and I think that’s amazing.”
As Athens Hot Glass continues to grow, the studio always welcomes those interested in all things glassblowing to learn more through a creative experience.
