About Us

MJ Brovold and Colin Jemmott co-lead Glass House Arts, an Escondido-based studio building large-scale public sculpture that celebrates geometry, embraces playfulness, and stays approachable. Each piece is a learning engine and a community magnet - an excuse to teach, try harder problems, and widen the circle of people who see themselves as makers.

Glass House Arts grew out of our home workshop and has stayed rooted there (literally). What started as two artists making things together has become a community hub where hundreds of people have learned to weld, grind, and build alongside us. We're not a traditional makerspace or a formal nonprofit; we're a home that opens its doors, a partnership that expands to include whoever shows up ready to work. We prototype in public, document what works, and fold those lessons back into safer, more durable civic pieces.

Over the past decade, more than 300 people have gotten their hands dirty building alongside us. We've taught 30+ first-time welders and introduced over 100 people to power tools they'd never touched before. Our work has found permanent homes in Escondido, Bombay Beach, and beyond—and we've been supported by grants from the City of Escondido, SDCAP, Youtopia, Burning Man, and regional burns across the West.

Glass House Arts is a creative partnership with fiscal sponsorship through the San Diego Collaborative Arts Project for larger public installations.

"I feel like we are all learning so much and, impressivly, not in a prescriptive way. It feels like everyone is skilling up so they can make their authentic, unique visions a reality that melds with the greater whole." 

- Caitlin, first-time lead artist for AI Am, on their experience building at Glass House Arts

"Being at the glasshouse makes me feel like I can do anything.  Build anything. Like there is no limit to what I can learn. The space feels like the embdiment of.. go make some art, it's an emergency"

- Moss

"You two constantly put out such amazing art! You're a powerhouse in the SD art scene."

- Diane Hoffoss of ArtBuilds

"I have never been handy nor an artist! For purely logistical reasons, I accompanied my partner to a build day at GHA, which changed my life. I spent the rest of the summer drilling, plasma cutting and welding as part of the MOOT (later *) crew. Not only did I learn  to use tools, build confidence in using my hands and meet loads of fantastic new people, I truly think the experience has changed what I perceive to be achievable. I don't think I've yet become an artist, but it's opened up a world of possibilities in terms of what I feel capable of."

- Manon (who totally is an artist)

"Glass House builds community through art. They accepted me exactly as I am and let me express my creativity in a lot of amazing projects that have continued to inspire me. Glass House has given me shared purpose, taught me great skills, and has opened the door to connections with thoughtful and diverse people. I'm very grateful for everything that they do."

- Ander