Artistic Chemistry: a beuatiful collaboration

I'd never heard of Frog Valley before reading the April 2012 Chem Matters article, "Artistic Chemistry: a beautiful collaboration," and to be quite honest, the article didn't exactly tempt me to drive six and a half hours to see an artist collective. As the last paragraph of the article says, "you may want to try raku pottery or stained glass. Classes are offered throughout the United States, and chances are, classes are available near you." 

Apparently there's no reason to go to Frog Valley. Thanks, Helen Herlocker.

The other part of that last paragraph, though, "while you learn about the properties of the materials and how they interact with each other, you will discover that it really is all about chemistry!"

The article covers the science of raku pottery (oxidation, reduction, metals, and metallic oxides) as well as the copper foil method of making stained glass windows (chemical reactions, production of hydrochloric acid, tarnishing of the copper foil).

Plus you get to see some really pretty artwork.

Get out there and take a class this summer, folks. Make a stained glass piece (don't leave it out for your custodian to knock over like I foolishly did with mine). Throw a raku pot. Blow glass.

Learn something.

Make something beautiful.