INSTRUCTORS & VISITING ARTISTS

Eli Zilke
Glassblowing, Casting, Fired Up! & Homeschool Instructor

Eli Zilke began his glass journey at Water Street Glassworks at the age of 12 when he joined the Fired-Up! Program. It was love at first “gather” and really became more of an obsession. After  a couple years in the program Eli started training as a studio technician and eventually a teaching assistant under Jerry Catania. In 2013 Eli departed Water Street Glassworks to Co-Found Hot Shop Valpo a production glass studio in Northwest Indiana. During this time HSV installed several large architectural installations and supplied over a dozen galleries across the region.

In 2018 Eli returned to Water Street to assume the position of Studio Manager/ Production Designer as well as the core glassblowing instructor. Eli hopes to launch the passions of new generations of glassblower for years to come.

Gina Edwards
Flameworking, Glass Fusing, Fired Up!, Homeschool & Cardea Bead Instructor

For as long as she can remember Gina has liked to create things.  It wasn't until she discovered the joy of melting glass that she finally felt she could be an artist. "Glass is such a satisfying and unique media to work with," she says. "There is always a new technique to try, or I'll see something that sparks an idea.  I've been working with glass for 18 years and it continues to inspire and challenge me." Gina has been teaching at Water Street Glassworks for several years.  She has a relaxed and enthusiastic teaching style that she hopes conveys her passion to her students. "Working with the torches and molten glass can be intimidating at first. I believe my relaxed style helps the student get past that so they can focus on the glass and experience the joy that comes with working with it." Gina has been experimenting with mixed media art pieces - creating with re-purposed wood, metal, paper, and fiber. She believes that anything has the potential to be an art supply. "But," she says with a laugh, "it almost always comes back to glass."

Gina lives in Sodus with her husband.  She has a glass art studio where she meets with people by appointment. You can find her on Facebook @ Merehawk Designs.

Tina Tavolacci
Torch-Fired Enamels and Light Metals Instructor

Tina is an artist, and instructor in the jewelry  studio. "I love teaching and making art, which is perfect because I am an art teacher in Dowagiac Public Schools. I have three great kids, one cool dog and have lived in and love the area my entire life." Tina offers adult classes at Water Street Glassworks including Torch Fired Enamel and Light Metals for the jewelry studio, specializing in metal finishing techniques and jewelry construction.

Mary Alexander
Mosaic Instructor 

My love of all things glass began over 20 years ago after taking stained glass instruction in the Kalamazoo and Lansing areas. I continued to experiment with the medium over the years, studying the works of other accomplished mosaic artists, while learning different techniques in design and composition of glass art. I have taught mosaic instruction for several years to children and adults in Plainwell, MI, as well as the Gull Lake Partnership in Bedford, MI.  I love sharing in the excitement my students feel as they take shards of glass and create a beautiful work of art! I now reside in the St Joseph area, continuing my work in my home studio, selling at area art shows, various shops, and private commissions. I am excited to continue my exploration of glass work at Water Street. 

Heidi Martin
Stained Glass Instructor

I moved to southwest Michigan in 1991 and fell in love with the area. I have been a public school teacher since 1996 and a stained glass artist since 1993. When I had the opportunity to become a stained glass teacher here at Water Street Glassworks, I did not hesitate! I absolutely love teaching for Water Street Glassworks and bringing my passion for both glass and teaching together!

Lexi Ziebarth
Glass Fusing, & SPARK Volunteer Instructor

Lexi Ziebarth has been with us since she was first able to take classes at 12 years old! She continued her glass work through our fired up program during her high school years and is now enrolled at grand valley state university to study ceramics. All together that is 10 years of fusing experience and 5 years working in the blowing shop. she has come back to work around the shop and teach in our glass blowing and fusing studios. Now Lexi runs our SPARK  volunteer program and helps stock our gallery with blown and fused art works.

Jordan Rose
Glassblowing Instructor

Jordan Rose grew up in Saint Joseph, MI and earned her BFA in Crafts with a focus on glass from College for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI. Before joining Water Street Glassworks as an instructor and artist Jordan blew glass for the Glass Academy based in Dearborn, MI, and for the Henry Ford Museum as a member of their hot shop. One of the highlights of her time at the Henry Ford was the opportunity to work with artists Janusz Pozniak, Mark Petrovic, and Paul Stankard. Sharing her enthusiasm for glass blowing is one of Jordan’s favorite parts of teaching glassblowing classes and experiences at WSG.  She loves that every encounter in the hot shop is a new opportunity to create beautiful art and fall in love with blowing glass!

Jackie Baker
Enamel Jewelry Instructor

Jackie Baker started in enameling with a class at Water Street Glassworks with Neil Kraus. Prior to this she had made jewelry for about 15 years, and hoped to incorporate enameling in her business, Dragons Fly Beads. Unlike other glass forms, enameling gives instantaneous results. It is forgiving and one can redo almost anything if the results are disappointing. “I learn something every time I fire my kiln.” Jackie has taken an additional enameling class at OxBow with Veleta Vancza and learned to torch enamel from Tina Tavalocci at Water Street Glassworks.

Becky Wehmer
Glassblowing Instructor

 Becky Wehmer is an artist, teacher and cook, who moved to Southwest Michigan in 1999, six years after her first glass class at Ox-Bow School of Art and Artists Residency, with Kathy and Jerry Catania. Becky discovered an Ox-Bow catalog while attending The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and noticed they offered glass blowing classes. Becky had been mesmerized by glass art since an early age when her grandparents took her to the Corning Museum of glass each summer, and the opportunity to learn the craft herself felt predestined. Wehmer became a regular at Ox-Bow, returning each summer for classes and volunteer jobs. During that time, her love of glass, Michigan, and The Catania’s vision for what would be Water Street Glassworks grew, so she moved here to be part of it. She learned along the way, and was given the opportunity to teach as well as administrate. “In the beginning, we all kinda did everything”, says Wehmer. Becky’s art practice now includes glass as well as ceramics to make mostly functional work, and she is grateful to still be involved in the evolved school that WSG has become.

Kathi Anserello
Glass Fusing Instructor