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Barbarella, I'm sorry you had such a negative experience at Studio 19 in Spanish Village. I am a student glassblower there and I can affirm that it represents a unique opportunity for the public to observe the art up close. Outside of Seattle, San Diego is perhaps the most active glassblowing region in the country, and of the many privately owned "Hot Shops" in San Diego, this is the only one I know of that allows the public to observe glassblowing sessions. What you saw was a lesson, not demonstration (this is a teaching studio). Andy Cohn is a master of glassblowing and a gifted instructor who is especially good at facilitating a successful experience with a difficult medium for complete beginners. This is a rare opportunity, as most hot shops want nothing to do with beginners. That being said, she can be a bit overprotective of her students. Trust me, a dozen camera flashes in your face is not helpful when learning to work with molten glass, and safety is a concern. There is nothing like the excitement of blowing glass and I enjoy sharing my experience with any interested (respectful)observers. I know you enjoy new experiences, so I invite you to come during one of my Sunday afternoon sessions and I will donate an hour of my lesson time to you, so that you can experience first hand (with Andy's expert help) the magic of making art from molten glass.— October 22, 2010 8:24 a.m.