Hot Shop Heroes Program Travels to JBLM

Submitted by Museum of Glass

Hot Shop Heroes is a program offered at Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington for military personnel and veterans, many of whom are coping with traumatic events and injuries experienced in combat. Working in a team-oriented environment, participants bond with one another, and creatively explore the medium of molten glass. The combination of social interaction, focused work on a shared goal, and creative expression provides a healing experience.

Hot Shop Heroes
Hot Shop Heroes is a program offered at Museum of Glass in Tacoma for military personnel and veterans. Photo courtesy: Museum of Glass

The program continues to gain support because of its ability to connect with the participants. “A lot of people feel that more can be done to help soldiers as they transition to civilian life. Programs like Hot Shop Heroes™ give participants something to get excited about, something that they can invest themselves in, and feel 100% positive about”, says Greg Owen, Hot Shop Heroes™ Program Manager at Museum of Glass.

Museum of Glass took their Mobile Hot Shop to JBLM on June 22-24. The goal of the visit was to promote and teach people about the science of glassmaking, as well as ignite interest in the fall sessions of Hot Shop Heroes. The 40 foot long vehicle spent 3 days on base giving those who can’t make the trip to the Museum a unique opportunity to see the glassblowing process and try it for themselves. Four glassmakers were on board, showing off their skills and techniques.

Per Owen, “We call our Mobile Hot Shop our traveling ambassador. Our goal is to show the military personnel and their families what we love and know about glass, and how much fun it can be as a creative medium.”

JBLM Museum of Glass
Museum of Glass took their Mobile Hot Shop to JBLM on June 22-24. Photo courtesy: Museum of Glass

About Museum of Glass:
Located in Tacoma, Washington, Museum of Glass is a premier contemporary art museum dedicated to glass and glass making in the west coast’s largest and most active museum glass studio. Opened in 2002, the Museum has established a reputation for hosting impactful and engaging artist residencies, organizing nationally traveling exhibitions, and creating unique programs for visitors while building a growing permanent collection chronicling the contemporary glass art movement. Museum of Glass is a non-profit organization sponsored in part by the City of Tacoma Arts Commission, ArtsFund, The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, The Dimmer Family Foundation, and the Driscoll Foundation.