"The physicality of glass, the excitement that comes with the molten material and the heat, a little danger involved ... once I started it was pretty obvious I wanted to do it."

In The Frame is an occasional Post-Gazette video series on artists and the arts scene in Pittsburgh. Reporting by Mary Thomas; videography by Nate Guidry.

The work: Artist Jason Forck uses as his studio the Pittsburgh Glass Center, where he is also an instructor. The state-of-the-art, environmentally green studio, exhibition and educational facility is a practical alternative to maintaining a continually running furnace in a private studio, and it offers the benefit of community. Mr. Forck uses glass as a sculptural medium creating pieces that reflect his interest in nature. He was raised on a small Kansas farm where he learned the values of respecting the land, working hard and using one's hands to accomplish tasks. In the video, he is shown working with assistant Steve Stens.

The artist: After completing a BFA in glass and painting at Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas, in 2005, Jason Forck moved to Pittsburg to work at the Pittsburgh Glass Center as a Tech Apprentice. Since 2008, he has been the Center's Youth Education Coordinator, working with high school students at the Center and giving presentations in area high schools. He also teaches beginning, intermediate and advanced classes in the hot glass studio. Mr. Forck has exhibited in solo and in group exhibitions in Emporia; Kansas City, Missouri; and Pittsburgh. His work is included in the exhibition "From the Earth to the Fire and Back" at the Glass Center through June 13, 2010.

Other In the Frame art videos:

• John Kelly
• Charles Biddle
• Adrienne Heinrich

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