Artist Talk & Workshop

Heirloom Fire: Czech Glasswork with Andrea Turini

Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 1pm

Rochester Art Center

Minnesota jewelry artist Andrea Turini brings audiences inside the living traditions of Czech glass and beadmaking. Drawing on firsthand experiences in Jablonec nad Nisou, a region long recognized as a world center of bead and button production, Turini shares stories, history, and techniques that illuminate this remarkable craft tradition.

Artist Talk | Heirloom Fire: Czech Glasswork

1–2 PM | Free and open to the public

Cultural Storytelling

• The evolution of the Czech glass industry, from family workshops to state-run factories under communism, and how artists adapted their craft during these changing eras

• Generational traditions, families who have passed down lampworking, pressing, and cutting techniques for centuries

• The cultural significance of beads and buttons, both as local artistry and as exports that shaped global fashion

• The resilience of a cottage industry that once fed an entire region, where survival depended on glass and beadmaking. The fact that many workshops remain in business today is nothing short of astounding

Interactive Demonstration

• Step-by-step look at how a bead and a button are made

• Sample beads at different production stages for audiences to handle

• A Czech button mold and examples of finished jewelry featuring Czech glass

Czech Glass Jewelry Design Workshop

2:30–4 PM | Registration Required

Following the presentation, participants are invited to take part in a hands-on jewelry design session. Each participant will create a coordinating jewelry set using authentic Czech glass beads from Andrea’s curated collection.

Participants may choose to design either:

• Earrings + Bracelet: $55

• Earrings + Necklace: $60

Andrea will demonstrate design concepts and assist participants in selecting beads and arranging their designs. She will complete the technical finishing (wrapping, crimping, and final assembly) during the workshop. This program is limited to the first 15 people to register.

Participation Requirement

Enrollment in the jewelry workshop is available only to those who attend the 1 PM presentation. Ages 12+

This program was awarded a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) in recognition of its artistic and educational value. While the grant supports a tour throughout southeastern Minnesota, Andrea also shares the program with arts centers, libraries, cultural groups, and community organizations across the region.