EVAN CARAVELLI/Arizona Daily Wildcat Seth Hawkins competes in a glass blowing competition at the Sonoran Art Foundation Glass Studio on East 18th St. to raise money for the non-profit organization. The Glass Studio offers classes in the fiery discipline for university credit.

Spectators, including UA students, were blown away at the fourth annual Flame Off, a glass blowing competition that took place Friday.

In teams of two, 24 glass artists had approximately two hours to complete their works at the Glass Studio of the Sonoran Art Foundation, 633 W. 18th St.

Participants included professional glass artists from Phoenix and other parts of the United States who have come to town for the Tucson Gem and Mineral shows.

"They get in on the fun while they're here," said David Morden, executive director of the studio.

Sarah Addis, a studio art junior with an emphasis on sculpture, has taken several glassblowing classes at the Glass Studio, and she received university credit for taking Beginning Glassblowing II last fall.

"There's so much to do in glass," Addis said. "You can't do it all and be good at it all. They're really good at encouraging you and helping you figure out what you want to do."

Other UA students included members of the Creative Minds Group, who came to watch.

"We're busy not watching, 'cause if you look at the flame, you'll go blind," said Daniel Zamora, a senior majoring in English.

Competitors and spectators were required to wear special eyewear made of titanium in order to safely glare at the flame.

"I made (Zamora) go," said Mia McDonald, a creative writing alumna who founded the Creative Minds Group.

"I think it's a really interesting art form," McDonald said.

When Natalie Fruciano, fine arts senior and president of the Creative Minds Group, watched glass artists create pumpkins in October, she decided to bring her friends to the Flame Off.

Only one delicate sculpture broke while the final products were being transported, Morden said.

"We only had one casualty," Morden said.

The surviving pieces were sold in a silent auctioned at The Best Bead Show over the weekend at Kino Veterans Memorial Community Center, 2805 E. Ajo Way.

What Morden describes as a "tricky and mysterious art form," furnace glassblowing dates back to the ancient Egyptians, but its origin is still a mystery itself.

Glassblowing classes begin today and tomorrow at the studio. UA art students interested in learning how to become professional glassblowers can receive university credit by taking classes at the Studio.