instructors

ELIZABETH LYONS, Director of More Fire Glass Studio, has a BFA in sculpture and glass from Alfred University and a Masters in Education from Rochester Institute of Technology. She founded More Fire Glass Studio 1998. Her sculptural work, and work in lighting and design, can be seen at the Corning Museum of glass and in galleries and collections throughout the country. Elizabeth was the recipient of the Anonymous Was a Woman Foundation Award in 2005. Her work in sculpture as well as design and lighting can be seen at   http://www.lyonsglass.com/

MAHINE RATTONSEY received her BFA from Columbus College of Art and Design and her MFA from Rochester Institute of Technology. She has received scholarships to attend Pilchuck Glass School and one to attend The Glass Art Society Conference at Seattle in 2002. She is currently the Educational Coordinator here at More Fire Glass Studio. Her work can be seen on her website www.rattonsey.com.

SARAH GILBERT began blowing glass at More Fire Glass Studio when she was in high school. She received her BFA in glass from RIT. Sarah has been a teaching assistant at Penland School of Crafts and has been an instructor for the summer youth program and glassblowing classes at More Fire Glass for the last several years. Sarah is currently the Shop Coordinator at the University of the Arts in Philly.

JENNIFER SCHINZING received a BFA with a concentration in sculpture and glass from Alfred University in 2004. During her senior year she assisted David Naito and was his T.A. for the advanced summer glass class at Alfred. She later became a glassblowing instructor at Bucks Rock Creative and Performing Arts Camp in New Milford, Connecticut. Jen works full time at More Fire Glass Studio. She is First Assistant to Elizabeth Lyons, Studio Coordinator and a Time Architect.

PARISSA HESHMATI has a Ph.D. degree in Chemistry from Kingston University, England UK and is an adjunct professor of chemistry at Monroe Community College. As a chemist, she was fascinated by the colours and reactions involved with glass. She pursued her interest by taking a bead making class in June 2001 at More Fire Studio and has been actively perfecting her skills. Her specialties include pressed, encased, and reduction frit, beads using Moretti soft glass. She is an instructor for Open Torch time at the studio. You can also find her work at the Memorial Art Gallery gift shop, Rochester NY.

NANCY VALLE is a sculptor who specialized in large scale ceramic vessels when she is not making beads. Her beadwork can be seen at the MAG Gallery Store and throughout the country. Valle has been an art educator for 28 years. http://www.nancyvalle.com

SALLY PRASCH began working in glass in 1970 with Lloyd Moore. She has received her BFA, Applied Science and Scientific Glass Technology degrees. Prasch has taught flameworking at Pilchuck, Urban Glass, Penland, Public Glass and Niijima Glass Art Center; Japan. She produces scientific glass as well as artistic glass and her work is shown worldwide.

SHELLY DUGAN has been teaching beadmaking at More Fire for a number of years. Shelly holds a degree in art from Potsdam Collage. She creates stunning glass bead jewelry under the name of "Firefly." Glass has become the perfect medium for Shelly because of the infinite color and shape possibilities..