Watching red-hot, molten glass gather on the end of a long metal rod (a punty), it’s hard to conceive that in mere minutes it can be blown and shaped into a delicate utensil. At Red Flower Studios, hands-on experiences allow people to try (with expert guidance) the fascinating process of glassblowing.

Red Flower, which opened its Park City space in 2018, recently expanded to a larger space in Salt Lake, where it can take on grander projects, including custom lighting and chandeliers. In addition to beginner glassblowing courses, the studio also offers a monthly “cooking on hot glass” program, which features a five-course dinner with demonstrations that include searing steak or pork belly on newly made glass. The dinner experience, says co-owner Jeremy Wilstein, has been “wildly popular” since its introduction.

While Wilstein manages business operations, co-owner Daniel Bell brings the glassblowing expertise: He was honored with a Best Local Artist award at this year’s Kimball Arts Festival. The dinners were inspired by the merging of Bell’s creative interests, as he also has a background working in restaurants.

To work with glass, it needs to be at a scorching 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit. At this stage, it moves like honey, but it cools and hardens quickly. “Working with a medium that’s both hot and malleable is just a mesmerizing experience because you only have a certain amount of time to work with the glass,” Wilstein explains. It’s “this beautiful dance of heat, a little bit of danger with the temperatures, and working swiftly and smoothly in order to produce a nice piece.”    Things move fast during the creation process—an individual item takes just 20 minutes per person—and it’s amazing to see a piece form shape, color, and texture in that time using varied tools and techniques.

“We’re always trying to come up with creative and unique experiences for the community to be in an artistic environment,” Wilstein adds. “We strive to create an environment that’s welcoming for everybody.”