David Martin started the glassblowing tradition at Iowa State in the mid-1960s when he came to campus. The furnaces, originally in the old Engineering Research Institute Building, today reside in the Engineering Annex. While the Gaffers Guild is interested in creating art, the glassblowing process also serves as a teaching tool for ceramic engineering students, Steve Martin noted. For example, students learn about the corrosion, insulation and casting of materials. The lab also is popular with school children, Veishea guests and other campus visitors.
Bleachers occupy a permanent section in the lab just to handle the crowds.
The guild is happy to provide demonstra-tions for any type of group, Martin said. The guild's alumni do their part to keep the practice alive. Among donations are special blocks and bricks to make up the furnace. If so, an alumnus is ready to donate more to the group. While other colleges and universities may have glassblowing operations, they usually are found in the fine arts departments.