Jack Pine Studio’s Beautiful Glass Pumpkins

Jack Pine’s memories of the Circleville Pumpkin Show inspired him to create his first glass pumpkin. He was working in Boulder, Colorado, at the time, after previously honing his craft in Seattle — what the artist refers to as “the glass mecca of the world.”

Pine had grown up near Circleville, so he made a slew of glass pumpkins at the studio he worked at after hours and ultimately filled up a trailer with the creations, which he brought back to Ohio in 1994. His multicolored pumpkins were a hit in his hometown. He later opened a studio in Columbus’ Short North Arts District before relocating to the Hocking Hills in 2017.

Today, Jack Pine Studio features the artist’s creations, while also offering glass-blowing workshops, where a skilled instructor leads participants through a hands-on class during which they create a piece to take home with them.

“There’s something about all this really beautiful crystal, molten glass … the colors seem to radiate outward,” Pine says. “The more you do, the more you want to do. I feel pretty lucky to have found a medium I love so much.”

Pine’s works are also sold at New York’s Corning Glass Museum and Columbus’ Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, and they continue to be a hit in Circleville. Since 2000, Jack Pine Studio has crafted a Pumpkin of the Year that is sold at the city’s annual show. Pine also founded the inaugural Glass Pumpkin Festival at his studio in 2020, which serves as a mini version of Circleville’s event. Local food vendors, fellow artisans, musicians and pumpkin carvers are all part of the fun.

“It’s all outdoors, and it’s really incredible to come down and just see the sight of all of those glass pumpkins spread out everywhere,” Pine says. “We put them in this little corral outside of our shop.” 

For more information about the Glass Pumpkin Festival, visit glasspumpkinfestival.com. 21397 St. Rte. 180, Laurelville 43135, 740/332-2223, jackpinestudio.com