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Snake Oil Glassworks began 14 years ago in the Fall of 1998 when we lit our furnace for the first time in a 350 sq ft space in the basement of a garage in Skaneateles, NY. Back then all of our work was sold either on the road at Art Festivals or through galleries. We would occasionally hold an open house in the garage above.
Today we are enjoying our eighth year in our new studio which was erected in 2004. It houses our Hot Shop, Coldworking Shop, Offices, and has a Retail Store and Gallery where you may see and purchase our glasswork.
Snake Oil Glassworks is the creation of Phil Austin and his wife, Peg. Phil is a Glass Artist and Assistant Professor of Art. He received his Master of Fine Arts degree from the Glass Program at the School for American Crafts at Rochester Institute of Technology. He describes himself as the head glassblower, equipment builder, maintenance supervisor, and janitor. All the furnaces, ovens, and most of the other pieces of equipment were designed and built by Phil.
Peg is in charge of public relations, managing the store, and show schedule. She's our financial department and head task master, being one of the few on earth that Phil's afraid of.
In addition to producing the work that we sell in our store and gallery, we also work on commissions from architects and designers. Phil has also occasionally built equipment for other glass shops.
Besides making and selling glass Snake Oil Glassworks supports local art initiatives such as the Skaneateles Arts Council. We also give demonstrations to educational groups. See the news and events page for more information.
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