Glass Studio Technician (6 Month Seasonal)

POSITION SUMMARY

Ox-Bow School of Art and Artists’ Residency is an 115-year old organization which connects artists to: a network of creative resources, people, and ideas; an energizing natural environment; and a rich artistic history and vital future.

Ox-Bow’s Glass Studio is a three-season, open-air facility housing a hot shop with one furnace, three reheating furnaces, three annealers, and a cold shop. The Glass Studio hosts an average of eight 1- or 2-week intensive classes each summer season, serving a total of approximately 80 for-credit and non-credit students; as well as supporting the practices of artists-in-residence, rental guests, and workshop students.

The Glass Studio Technician works in a direct, hands-on capacity with the Glass Studio Manager, faculty, and other staff to ensure a quality, supportive learning environment for a range of skill levels and to cultivate a community of learners. The Technician supports the successful educational and technical function of the glass studio; builds and maintains effective relationships with students, studio members and faculty; and utilizes strong communication skills and professionalism. The Technician will work with other glass studio staff, the Campus Manager, and the Deputy Director to ensure an organized, cohesive working environment.

This position is ideal for candidates within a 40 mile commuting radius. Limited on-site housing may be available for candidates residing beyond that range. This seasonal position runs from spring (April or May) through early November, exact schedule to be determined. Schedule will include evening and weekend hours and will be determined by the Glass Studio Manager. This position is a 1-season contract with the option for annual renewal up to 3-seasons pending satisfactory performance review.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform studio preparation, organization and maintenance
• Assist with studio equipment improvements and upgrades
• Assist faculty with demonstrations as assigned
• Assist students with techniques and processes taught in courses
• Assist with the teaching of private classes, working directly with rental guests and students
• Facilitate discussion and engage with students
• Maintain a clean and safe classroom studio
• Additional tasks as assigned by the Glass Studio Manager
• Produce art items for promotional and fundraising purposes as assigned
• Present glass-blowing demonstrations to public
• Other project- and event-based support as determined by the Deputy Director; including but not limited to office, housekeeping, maintenance, and event/ hospitality support

EDUCATION/JOB EXPERIENCE/CERTIFICATIONS

• At least two years experience working in a glass studio with a hot shop
• A solid fluency in foundational glass skills using hot and kiln casting, cold shop methods, and glass blowing

SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong communication and organizational skills
• Strong working knowledge of glass working equipment; including furnaces, glory holes, annealers, garages, kilns, and torches
• Expresses enthusiasm for Ox-Bow’s mission and programs
• Keen sense of professionalism
• Highly organized and reliable
• A savvy multi-tasker
• Finds inspiration in the distinctive or idiosyncratic
• Comfortable taking creative risks
• Thrives in dynamic environments
• An eye for detail
• Must be a team player, able to work independently as well as in a group
• Must be innovative, reliable, patient, tenacious
• Must be able to travel to and from Ox-Bow Saugatuck campus and/or various vender locations in the West Michigan region
• A passion for the arts and familiarity with artist communities preferred

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to stand and walk for extended periods of time and be able to move about in indoor and outdoor environments.
• Operate computer, tools, and vehicles and must have the ability to use hands to move, set up, adjust, assemble, control, operate, or feel objects, tools or controls and reach with hands and arms.
• Must be able to traverse uneven terrain and stairs
• Constantly communicate and exchange information with team members and must be able to effectively communicate correct information
• Read/comprehend, write, communicate orally, reasoning, and analytical abilities, and mental flexibility
• Frequently move objects up to 50 pounds
• The employee will routinely climb, bend, squat, kneel, crouch, and reach above shoulder
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus to compare and distinguish administrative data.
• Hearing ability to perceive the nature of sounds at normal speaking level with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication and to make discriminations in sound.

Work Environment:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly working in an indoor and outdoor work environment, at times in high heat and humidity.
• Working environments will sometimes involve hazardous materials and loud noise
• Requires wearing common protective and safety equipment
• Position may involve extended work hours, weekends and holidays

Working At Ox-Bow

Ox-Bow School of Art and Artists’ Residency, founded in 1910, offers a wide range of opportunities for artists at all stages of their careers. Our campus is nestled on a peninsular interdunal wetland in Saugatuck, MI. With programs that target degree-seeking students, professional artists and those new to the field, Ox-Bow builds a supportive frame in which artists can push their practices in new directions. Ox-Bow’s community is expansive and ever-evolving. Working at Ox-Bow is a unique experience. Our staff consists of both year-round and seasonal positions. Some staff live on campus during their working months, while others commute or work remotely both within the state of Michigan and beyond. 

Working at Ox-Bow is working at the intersection of education, hospitality and culture. Together we seek to create a welcoming environment that nurtures the creative process while building community across generations, career stages, disciplines and identities. With over 100 years of arts education behind us, we have a vast community of alumni, including staff, students, resident artists, faculty, and community supporters, who love and care for Ox-Bow. Working at Ox-Bow is to become part of that community, and help sustain a historic non-profit arts organization for current and future generations of artists and art lovers. 

At Ox-Bow we have a vision to be a place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come, lend their creativity, and work in support of an evolving, yet historic, art school. We pride ourselves on thinking and acting creatively, and recognize that part of what makes us a unique place for both our staff and students, is the talent and dedication of our employees. 

Ox-Bow is committed to diversity and inclusion, we believe deeply in diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity and national origin and work to reflect that in our classrooms, programming, faculty, staff and board.

Equal Opportunity Employment

Ox-Bow School of Art and Artists' Residency is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for its students, visitors, faculty, and staff, and to ensuring that educational and employment decisions are based on an individual’s abilities and qualifications. Ox-Bow does not tolerate unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or former military status, or any other status protected by federal, state or local law, in its programs and activities, public accommodations or employment practices.

Salary : $18