Dan Edwards, NIU’s scientific research glassblower, held his 13th annual glassblowing demonstration Tuesday night at Faraday Hall.

Edwards created Christmas ornaments by hand in a lecture hall filled with students, adults and children.

He used a propane torch to turn glass rods into ornaments in shapes such as snowmen, candy canes, icicles and hummingbirds.

Caitlin Yilk, a student at Sycamore Middle School, said Edwards’ show was “very interesting and cool. His artwork is very beautiful.”

“The kind of glassware that Dan works on ranges anywhere from the very simple to the highly complex,” said Michael Spires, coordinator for the department of chemistry and biochemistry. “On top of that, Dan is also an artist in the medium of glass.”

While flinging a glass rod forward to create the wing of a glass hummingbird, Edwards said, “This is when I get to have fun.”

He said his position has been more than a job; it’s been a way he has learned to interact with people and has allowed him to meet people from across the world.

Other pieces he created included beaker mugs, glass earrings and small glass statues. These items and others Edwards has made will be sold Wednesday and Thursday in the main lobby at Faraday Hall West.

The money from the sale will go to fund NIU’s Chemistry Club. Edwards said he enjoys the opportunity to work one-on-one with people at NIU and, the reason he does the annual demonstration is to thank NIU for letting him be a part of the university.