ICTC Stained Glass Classes
Shelley Brandon grinds the edge of a piece of glass
to make it smooth and for a better fit.
photo: Renee Fite
by Renee Fite
City of Stilwell Director of Public Relations and Media
Creating stained glass art can be as difficult as it looks, but admiring a finished piece through light makes all the effort worthwhile.
With practice a person can learn to cut a straight line by hand, and even more practice can cut glass in a circle. There are many steps, from grinding a piece to fit perfectly in place, like a puzzle piece, to fluxing, soldering and applying patina.
In the class setting, the sound of breaking glass or the sharp sigh of a person who just cut their piece too short on the grinder is met with immediate empathy by the others. Students are also cheerleaders for each other, complimenting the efforts of others color choices or completed step in the process.
Indian Capital Technology Center offers the classes in Tahlequah and Muskogee, with Rhonda Cravens teaching.
One student, Shelley Brandon, loves working as the business manager for the Eastern Oklahoma Library System.
“I am always eager to participate in enriching experiences and have always been fascinated with stained glass windows,” said Brandon.
She said “patience” is what she’s enjoying learning in the class.
This is her third stained glass class: Introduction to Copper Foil, Advanced Copper Foil and Introduction to Came.
“Precision is key and I am learning to appreciate the intricacies of the art,” Brandon said.
Sherry Wofford fits a piece of came onto the glass to secure it.
photo: Renee Fite
It’s an art that requires attention to detail and hands that will move where needed with practice to guide a cutter to follow the lines drawn on glass with a marker. Some glass has texture which is even more difficult to cut straight.
“Rhonda has challenged me in ways that I never expected. I enjoyed the learning process as well as the new friendships I have made,” Brandon said.
Her advice to someone thinking about enrolling, “don't be afraid to try something new, something out of your wheelhouse. Creativity is good for your soul.”
Another student, Melissa Wofford, joined the class with her mother-in-law Sherry Wofford. This is their third class also.
“I have always loved stained glass art and have wanted to take a class for a while,” said Melissa Wofford, a social worker.
For a couple years, she tried signing up to take classes at Tahlequah's ICTC campus but always got wait listed or the classes wouldn't have enough students to make.
“Then I noticed that that the Muskogee campus had added a stained glass class so I signed up and this one made it. I've taken Introduction to
Copper Foil, Advanced Copper Foil and am currently in Intro to Came,” Wofford said.
She enjoys many parts of the stained glass process.
“The beginnings of a project really taps into a creative process I love, from choosing or creating a pattern, deciding on the colors and choosing the glass I want to use. I find the physical elements of creating the piece fascinating, from scoring and cracking the glass, foiling, soldering, bringing all the pieces of this beautiful glass puzzle together and finally seeing it with light streaming through it once it's finished,” she said.
The learning experience at ICTC has been awesome.
“I would encourage people who have been eyeing classes there to sign up. We have definitely gotten our money's worth in terms of what we have learned, awesome working facilities, all the tools we need and staff support,” she said.
The teacher has 30 years experience.
“Rhonda has a wealth of knowledge, tips and experience that she generously shares with her students,” she said.
And students learn from each other.
Mel Wofford solders her piece together.
photo: Renee Fite
“The students in our class have been fun to get to know too, as we've learned and practiced together. It's amazing to see everyone's choices of pattern, color and texture become such incredible and different creations.,” Wofford said.
The Wofford’s ride together to class, from Tahlequah, and leave early to enjoy dinner out before class in Muskogee.
“I took the class to learn about stained glass,” said Sherry Wofford, a retired nurse. “I enjoy working with my hands and seeing the finished piece.”
Rhonda has been very helpful and knowledgeable, she said.
“The class was challenging, just picking out what you want to do and getting it to come together. I also appreciate all the others in the class because they were ready to help as needed,” Wofford said.
Her co-worker, Shelly Mathews, is employed by OU Health Science Center and works in the department of child abuse and neglect. She signed up to take stained glass to have an evening out with her best
friend Melissa Wofford, and because she has always loved stained glass windows in churches.
Mathews had taken two other classes before that were one day classes and wanted to learn more about the art of stained glass in bigger projects.
“I have learned that you will make mistakes but even in the broken there is beauty. Many of my pieces will now have mosaic counterparts,” said Mathews.
She has also taken Spanish classes at iCTC.
“I always find their classes helpful and the facility enjoyable,” Mathews said. “In taking other classes for stained glass before I have found that Rhonda has filled in the gaps from what was missing in information that has made stained glass work easier and understandable. I would recommend that everyone give this a try and enjoy your time being creative.”
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City of Stilwell, Oklahoma
Address: 20 S. 1st St., Stilwell, OK 74960
Phone:
918-696-7143
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