Do I need experience with glassworking?

No. The workshop uses kiln paper and hand techniques that require no prior glass experience; instructors guide all steps.

Where exactly is the meeting point?

The meeting point is 4013 Douglas Rd. Miami, FL 33133; arrive at least 15 minutes early to check in.

Is parking available?

Parking is very limited; organizers recommend carpooling, rideshare, or public transit.

Will I get to keep my tile?

Tiles produced in the session will be fired and become part of the installation at Naples Botanical Garden; contributors will be notified about final pieces.

Wear comfortable clothes that can tolerate a little pigment or clay and bring sun protection for outdoor portions.

What is the age requirement?

No minimum age was provided; check with the organizer for youth participation policies.

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.

About The Kampong - National Tropical Botanical Gardens

The Kampong — part of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens — is a historic tropical garden located in Miami, Florida on the shores of Biscayne Bay. The site preserves the Fairchild-Sweeney House and showcases the legacy of plant explorer David Fairchild through extensive exotic fruit trees, rare tropical species, and curated collections. Visitors can choose docent-led guided tours that highlight the estate’s history and plant collections, or self-guided tours that allow leisurely exploration with a provided map.

The Kampong hosts a rotating schedule of hands-on workshops and classes set in the garden landscape. Offerings include cyanotype printing for fabric, community indigo dip workshops teaching Shibori resist dyeing, edible gardening programming presented with UF/IFAS (recommended for ages 12 and up), watercolor courses led by local artist Eileen Seitz, and all-levels yoga with Sam Reynolds. Forest bathing sessions guided by neuroscientist Karina Del Punta focus on sensory practices grounded in science; evening Moonrise Forest Bathing is offered under the full moon.

Several specialty experiences such as macrophotography, ikebana, functional movement, and seasonal events invite creative engagement with plants and place. Cyanotype workshops note limited spaces to encourage advance booking. The Kampong combines plant conservation, education, and cultural programming on a historic estate, offering both structured interpretation and independent discovery for visitors interested in botany, art, sustainability, and Miami’s tropical landscape.

Public programs emphasize hands-on learning, conservation-minded practices, seasonal plant highlights, and the site supports research, education, and community engagement for residents and visitors from Miami and beyond, with year-round programming and volunteer opportunities available.