Announcing the return of the ultimate glass blowing competition! Glass blowers from Chicago, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and beyond will descend upon our studios for two days of head-to-head battle in the hot shop and flame shop. Witness the thrilling action as they clash to capture the victory belt in a series of artistic competitions. Cheer on your favorite performances and cast your vote to help decide who receives cash prizes, trophies, and bragging rights for the year!
In the months leading up to Battle, patients at Bronson Children’s Hospital have created drawings related to their own battle with illness as well as their hopes, dreams, and recovery. Today, each Glass Blowing Team will randomly select one of the drawings and will have two hours to recreate the image in the form of a glass sculpture.
2:15-4:15pm | Bench 1: “Local Yokels” (John Rath, Jesse Baker, Mike Ouding)
2:15-4:15pm | Bench 2: “Dream Team #1” (Marc VandenBerg, Josh Davids)
4:30-6:30pm | Bench 1: “Chris Nordin Studios” (Chris Nordin, Israel Nordin, Max Clair)
4:30-6:30pm | Bench 2: “Team Wyandotte” (Tim Southward, Rebecca Silverman, Joey Walker)
6:45-8:45pm | Bench 1: “Glass Academy Tank Yankers” (Jacob Nordin, Matthew Hannah, Oliver Schihl)
6:45-8:45pm | Bench 2: “Baigelman Glass” (Aaron Baigelman, Conor O’Brian)
9:00-11:00pm | Bench 1: “Team Ouding” (Mike Ouding, Jesse Baker, John Rath)
9:00-11:00pm | Bench 2: “Team Wildstar” (Sam Brown, Jessica Bowman, Michael Bowman)
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This individual competition is focused on functional art made on the torch, including goblets, bowls, spoons, and more. If you can use it then it counts in this no-holds-barred throwdown! Each competitor will have 5 hours to put together their functional masterpiece.
5:00pm-10:00pm:
Justin Bennett (Jesusonadinosaurr)
Andrew Emmons (MichigoonGlass)
Dan Foster (FosterGlass)
Joshua Kitchen (KitchenGlassDesigns)
Casey Niemi (Boro_Boost)
Oliver Schihl (OliverSchihlGlass)
Kyle Walters (KyruGlass)
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A team competition consisting of a Gaffer (lead glass blower) and up to two assistants. Each team is allowed the use of one of our two hot shop stations, and allotted 90 minutes to create a 3-piece set of functional blown glass objects designed for the tabletop.
11:15am-12:45pm | Bench 1: “Team Wyandotte” (Tim Southward, Rebecca Silverman, Joey Walker)
11:15am-12:45pm | Bench 2: “Glass Academy Tank Yankers” (Jacob Nordin, Matthew Hannah, Oliver Schihl)
1:00pm-2:30pm | Bench 1: “Local Yokels” (John Rath, Jesse Baker, Mike Ouding)
1:00pm-2:30pm | Bench 2: “Chris Nordin Studios”(Chris Nordin, Israel Nordin, Max Clair)
2:45pm-4:15pm | Bench 1: “Baigelman Glass” (Aaron Baigelman, Conor O’Brian)
2:45pm-4:15pm | Bench 2: “This Team is Fire!” (Marc VandenBerg, Ekin Aytac)
4:30pm-6:00pm | Bench 1: “Team Ouding” (Mike Ouding, Jesse Baker, John Rath)
4:30pm-6:00pm | Bench 2: “Team Wildstar” (Sam Brown, Jessica Bowman, Michael Bowman)
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For this individual event, participants are invited to create the most dynamic and intriguing marble they can in the allotted 3-hour time slot.
11:00am-2:00pm:
Justin Bennett (Jesusonadinosaurr)
Ashley Cappelletty (Wyandotte Glass Center)
Dan Foster (FosterGlass)
Matthew Hannah (Glass Academy)
Joshua Kitchen (KitchenGlassDesigns)
Casey Niemi (Boro_Boost)
Kyle Walters (KyruGlass)
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Competitors will make the perfect wearable pendant in this individual event. Participants will be given a 2-hour time slot to complete their piece.
3:00pm-6:00pm:
Justin Bennett (Jesusonadinosaurr)
Ashley Cappelletty (Wyandotte Glass Center)
Dan Foster (FosterGlass)
Joshua Kitchen (KitchenGlassDesigns)
Casey Niemi (Boro_Boost)
Kyle Walters (KyruGlass)
Glass Blowers Battle is FREE to attend and fun for ALL AGES. Save the dates and stay tuned for full details including a list of competitors, sponsors, prizes, and more.
Thank you to our sponsors:
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