Making Glass from Seed Stories: Workshop at The Kampong

At The Kampong, a compact but rich garden at 4013 Douglas Rd in Miami, a two-hour workshop titled "What is Gathered Remains" invites participants to transform plant stories into glass. Led by artist Lauren Shapiro, the session guides visitors through pattern-making with kiln paper to create low-relief forms that will be cast as translucent glass tiles. The project draws direct inspiration from the Naples Botanical Garden’s Seed Bank; the tiles will join pieces made across South Florida to form a public art screen slated to open at Naples Botanical Garden in January 2027.

In about two hours you’ll press and shape kiln paper over botanical textures—leaves, seed pods, and bark—producing subtle surface details that translate beautifully into glass. No prior glass experience is required; the workshop emphasizes observation, careful handwork, and an appreciation for plant morphology. Participants are contributing to a larger narrative: the installation will operate as an interconnected screen that draws together scientific archiving and cultural storytelling about the region’s flora.

Practical details are straightforward. The meeting point is 4013 Douglas Rd. Miami, FL 33133; please arrive at least 15 minutes early to check in. Parking is very limited, so carpooling, ride shares, or public transit are recommended. The group size is capped at 30, which keeps the setting intimate and hands-on. Materials and instruction are provided, and the resulting tiles will be fired and later installed at Naples Botanical Garden, offering contributors a tangible legacy.

Why this workshop stands out in South Florida is its collision of creative practice with conservation. The Seed Bank’s specimens inform pattern choices, so the work honors both scientific preservation and cultural memory. For artists, gardeners, and curious travelers, it offers a rare chance to make with meaning, to learn about plants up close, and to leave a permanent mark on a public artwork that will travel back to Naples. Bring sun protection, comfortable clothes that can tolerate a little clay and pigment, and a curious eye. The result is quietly powerful: a small hand-made tile that carries place, science, and story across South Florida’s garden landscape. Workshops like this also create learning opportunities for local schools and community groups, and the collaborative nature of the project emphasizes shared stewardship of plant heritage. In short, this is less a class.