John and Ian Whitt, father and son, began blowing glass in 2002 after an inspiring trip to Hawaii, playing in the lava and visiting glassblowers there. They began studying glassblowing at the New Orleans School of Glassblowing for a year, advancing quickly in skill and commitment. They built their own hot shop in 2003, currently the only operating and demonstrating hot shop in Mississippi. Both Ian and John are members of the Glass Arts Society and attend workshops and conferences annually.
Ian Whitt has worked with Sweetwater Studios for ten years. He is currently enrolled in Tennessee Tech’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in Glass program located at the Appalachian Center for Crafts under the direction of glassblower, Curtis Brock.
John owns and operates Sweetwater Studios, Inc, stained glass studio and hot shop. Primarily self-taught, John attended glass classes at Arrowmont School of Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN and returned home to open Sweetwater Studios in 1978, completing commissions for residential, commercial, and ecclesiastical clients ever since.
Sweetwater Studios is located 10 minutes from I-59 between Hattiesburg and Laurel, Mississippi in Moselle. Call 601-584-8035 for directions and come visit our gallery, glassblowing demonstrations twice a year at our Open Studio Show, and look through our extensive portfolio for ideas just for you.
