The Tacoma Museum of Glass offers the unique experience to watch art as it’s being pulled straight from the furnaces into unique glass sculptures.

The Museum of Glass is a place for expression through glass and gets the museum-goers into the fun and creation in their own glass blowing studio. The Hot Shop team, as they call themselves, are a collection of resident glass blowers that often work in the early afternoon to create various items that may end up in their gift shop.

The studio, that cone shaped building that can be seen from just about anywhere, is also a place for internationally recognized glass artists to perform when they stop by. Currently 13 artists are lined up for the rest of the year and will no doubt bring their own flare.

The Hot Shop also presents a children’s contest. Children twelve and under can draw something and submit it to the shop. The crew picks their favorite every month and creates two sculptures of the drawing. One stays at the museum in the children’s collection while the winning child will be able to take their new glass creation home with them.

Being able to add your creativity isn’t just for the kids. There are ‘spontaneous glass’ shows that take the audience through an interactive game. The attendants get to vote and ultimately decide on the shape, decorations, color and pattern of the vessel. By the end, the creation is presented in the museum shop for those who may want to buy it.

Not only can anyone see these artisans at work, but they can also influence the end result and even buy it for themselves. Once admitted into the museum, the studio is free to view as are any shows currently going on.

The art presented in the shop may be a little out of the average price range, but a collector may find the prices reasonable. Even the casual museum-goer can find something to suit their taste and show off local talent.