Glass Workshop - Introductory Course

Crédit photo : Gullaskrufs Glasbruk, Småland.
Fönsterglasblåsning i samband med filmning den 12 juni 1941. Nedläggning i välsklump. par Anderbjörk, J.E. – Swedish National Museum of Science and Technology, Sweden – Public Domain.

GLASS WORKSHOP

January – June 2025

INTRODUCTION WORKSHOP

The  Fondation d’entreprise Martell offers a new experience within its glass workshop: a one-day introductory immersion workshop alongside glass artisans.

Participants will discover several glass techniques such as blowing, sculpting, and using color, and will create 3 pieces per person (2 tumblers and 1 custom piece created with the artisans).

Objectives of the workshop :
– Discover the various tools used for glassblowing : ovens, cane, etc
– Learn about glass techniques
– Shape and blow simple shapes and glass pieces with a cane

Safety Instructions :
– Participants will be provided with safety overshoes to wear over flat, closed-toe shoes.
– We recommend wearing cotton clothes with a long-sleeved top
– Please bring a water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the session
– Please tie long hair

Registration (adults only)
Sign up with the glass artisans: https://valenverre.reservio.com
€280 per person, payable on-site by check or cash only
Maximum of 5 people per session

In 2025: one Saturday per month, 9 AM – 5 PM
January 11
February 1
March 1
April 5
May 3
June 14
July 5

Valentin Rizzo is a passionate glass artist specializing in stained glass and glassblowing. Trained at Cerfav and with Jean-Pierre Bellion, he has developed expertise ranging from production to research and creation work for designers, notably at Fluid in Brittany. Valentin has collaborated with renowned artists and won the third national prize at the Prix Avenir Métiers d’art competition with his piece “Instant suspendu.” In addition, he is an international highline athlete (a balance sport involving slacklining at height), a discipline he has practiced for around ten years.

Gaëtan Oheix is a glass artist. Although his career initially took a scientific direction with studies at ENTPE and a master’s thesis on river renaturation, Gaëtan has been passionate about glassblowing since childhood. After a pivotal experience at Jeremy Maxwell Wintrebert’s workshop, he decided to switch careers and obtained a CAP in glass and crystal arts, specializing in glassblowing at the Bayel glass workshop and CERFAV. There, he gained a solid technical and artistic foundation, exploring various glassworking methods. Currently, he is furthering his artistic development through the Créateur Verrier program, where he has completed several projects showcasing his creativity and mastery of glass techniques.

by Elisabeth Ricard

Cultural Programming and Ordinaire Extra !

© ETH-Bibliothek Zürich, Bildarchiv / Fotograf: Schmid, Walter / Com_L27-0110-0001-0004 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Cultural Programming

Register

Download the program (in French)

Meeting and Conferences

Throughout the year, the Foundation offers meetings echoing the exhibitions.

ORDINAIRE EXTRA!

The Foundation offers a playful and creative program to extend the visit of the two exhibitions with family during each school vacation as well as initiation workshops throughout the year.

Akiyo Kajiwara – Ready, Set … Weave !
For ages 11 and up.
Wednesday, October 30, from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm :
Akiyo Kajiwara will introduce you to Shimekazari decoration using traditional weaving techniques with natural raffia.

Rose Ekwé – Gather and Weave  Workshop
For ages 12 and up.
Wednesday, November 6, 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm :
In echo to the work of JB Blunk, this workshop offers a sensitive and poetic perspective on the plant and mineral materials that surround us. Using materials gathered from nature, textile designer Rose Ekwé invites participants to view raw materials from their environment as surprising new textures to transform, spin, embellish, and assemble, ultimately creating a woven object!

Akiyo Kajiwara – The Art of Furoshiki
Family workshop, for ages 7 and up.
Wednesday, December 11, from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm :
Akiyo Kajiwara will share the art of Japanese wrapping : Furoshiki. You will learn to fold and tie this Japanese square cloth to create reusable and original gift wraps and bags. Perfect for practicing Christmas gift wrapping.

Akiyo Kajiwara – Creating nuno-zôri
For ages 11 and up.
Wednesday, December 18, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 2 pm to 5 pm (6-hour workshop) :
A workshop designed by textile designer Akiyo Kajiwara to make Nuno-zôri, traditional Japanese fabric slippers. Each participant must bring a used or new piece of cotton fabric measuring at least 100 cm × 200 cm and another used or new piece of cotton fabric measuring 40 cm × 100 cm (with a different pattern).

Wood Workshop – Blunk Apprentices!
Family workshop, for ages 8 and up.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
One Saturday per month from 10 am to 12:30 pm
Saturday, September 21 / Saturday, October 19 / Saturday, November 23 / Saturday, December 14.
Each child, accompanied by cabinetmaker Mathias Heinisch, will create two cedar wood spatulas in the spirit of what JB Blunk created for his home.
Registration: ateliers_bois@orange.fr
€45/child

The Sensory Tour
Young audience, ages 8 and up
Every Sunday, 4 pm :
A tour “beyond sight” to discover the exhibition by engaging all your senses, thanks to a mediation kit specially designed by students from DN Made Angoulême. Let’s go on a treasure hunt for artworks!

by Elisabeth Ricard

Woodworking Workshops

Woodwork workshop – Copyright: Benoit Chenudeau

WOODWORKING WORKSHOP

The Foundation is pleased to launch woodworking initiation workshops. Open to the public upon registration, these initiation sessions, designed by the cabinetmaker Mathias Heinisch, offer participants the opportunity to familiarize themselves with traditional woodworking tools (planes, chisels, saws, etc.) with the aim of learning to create a stool with their own hands using reclaimed local wood (oak and cedar), through simple cutting and assembly, without screws or glue.

Workshop Objectives:
– Discover the workshop and become familiar with the tools: planes, saws, rasps, etc…
– Learn about the material and textures of wood
– Initiate oneself to manual techniques to produce a stool

Safety Instructions:
– Wear closed-toe flat shoes (safety shoe covers provided)
– Wear comfortable clothing
– Tie back hair
An apron, cut-resistant gloves, and noise-canceling headphones will be provided before the workshop
Participants will not use machines

Registration (for adults only): Register with Mathias Heinisch via email: ateliers_bois@orange.fr
Cost per session: €90 (duration 6 hours), payable on-site by check or cash
Maximum of 4 people per session

Upcoming Sessions (from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM):
October 9
October 23
November 6
November 20
December 4 
December 18

Mathias Heinisch has a background in cabinetmaking. He designs and creates custom fittings and furniture for individuals, professionals, or artists. He primarily works with local woods and whenever possible, reclaimed wood (oak, walnut, cedar, boxwood, maple, ash). He also previously worked in a luthier workshop where he crafted and restored guitars.

Workshops in partnership with Cassano, the Gallic oak.

by Elisabeth Ricard

Glass Blowing Workshops "Baptism of fire"

Glass workshop – Photo credit: C.K. Mariot

Baptism of fire

From September to December 2024 

GLASS BLOWING INITIATION WORKSHOP

The Fondation d’entreprise Martell invites you to experience the art of glassblowing through their introductory workshop, the “Baptism of Fire.” Led by skilled glass craftsmen Valentin Rizzo and Gaëtan Oheix, this initiation session offers participants the opportunity to create their first glass pieces using traditional glassblowing techniques.

Objectives of the workshop :
– Discover the various tools used for glassblowing : ovens, cane, etc
– Learn about glass techniques
– Shape and blow simple shapes and glass pieces with a cane

Safety Instructions :
– Participants will be provided with safety overshoes to wear over flat, closed-toe shoes.
– We recommend wearing cotton clothes with a long-sleeved top
– Please bring a water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the session
– Please tie long hair

Registration reserved for adults
The cost of the workshop is €85 (for 2 hours).
https://valenverre.reservio.com
Payment to be made directly to the craftsmen by check or cash only.
Please note that registration is limited to three people per session.

Upcoming sessions (from 5:30pm to 7:30pm)
October 9
October 23
November 6
November 20
December 4
December 18

Valentin Rizzo is a passionate glass artist specializing in stained glass and glassblowing. Trained at Cerfav and with Jean-Pierre Bellion, he has developed expertise ranging from production to research and creation work for designers, notably at Fluid in Brittany. Valentin has collaborated with renowned artists and won the third national prize at the Prix Avenir Métiers d’art competition with his piece “Instant suspendu.” In addition, he is an international highline athlete (a balance sport involving slacklining at height), a discipline he has practiced for around ten years.

Gaëtan Oheix is a glass artist. Although his career initially took a scientific direction with studies at ENTPE and a master’s thesis on river renaturation, Gaëtan has been passionate about glassblowing since childhood. After a pivotal experience at Jeremy Maxwell Wintrebert’s workshop, he decided to switch careers and obtained a CAP in glass and crystal arts, specializing in glassblowing at the Bayel glass workshop and CERFAV. There, he gained a solid technical and artistic foundation, exploring various glassworking methods. Currently, he is furthering his artistic development through the Créateur Verrier program, where he has completed several projects showcasing his creativity and mastery of glass techniques.

by Alex