Behind the scenes at Bicycle Glass
At Bicycle Glass Co., recycled materials are part of more than just our finished lighting. Newspaper also plays an important role in our hotshop, where our glassblowers use it to shape molten glass by hand.
How Newspaper Is Used in Glassblowing
Before a piece of glass is blown into its final shape, several sheets of newspaper are folded together and soaked in water. The wet newspaper creates a protective barrier between the artist’s hands and the extremely hot glass.
As the blowpipe turns, the glassblower gently presses the newspaper against the molten glass to create a smooth, even form. This traditional technique gives the artist a close, hands-on connection to the material while helping prepare the glass to become one of our pendants, globes, or other lighting designs.
Why We Need Your Newspapers
For years, we received a steady supply of pre-read newspapers from a neighbor near our studio. When our neighbor retired, we lost that reliable source and quickly realized how much newspaper our glassblowers use.
We have since partnered with a local library to pick up a stack of newspapers every few weeks. Their support has been incredibly helpful, but it is not quite enough to keep up with the needs of our hotshop.
That is where our community can help.
Drop Off Your Newspapers Anytime
We are now accepting newspaper donations from the community. To make donating easy, we repurposed an old newspaper vending machine and placed it outside our studio.
You can find the newspaper donation box beneath the flagpole at:
Bicycle Glass Co.
7631 Baker Street NE
Fridley, MN 55432
Our studio is located just north of Minneapolis, and newspapers can be dropped off at any time. No appointment is needed if simply leaving a donation.
See Your Newspaper in Action
Planning to bring us a donation? Contact us before your visit to schedule an appointment! As a thank-you, we would be happy to give you a short studio tour and show you how newspaper is used by our glassblowers in the hotshop.
Studio visits are available by appointment. Call us at 952-952-9253 or reach out through our contact page to arrange a time.
Every newspaper donation helps support our artists, our traditional glassblowing process, and our commitment to finding creative new uses for everyday materials.
Thank you for supporting Bicycle Glass Co. and helping us keep the hotshop supplied!