Dara Alper shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Dara, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Getting lost in glassworking! I can get lost for hours watching the flame form the glass.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Dara Alper, co-founder of Molten Makerspace in High Point, North Carolina. We are a community built around creativity, curiosity, and connection. I started blowing glass when I was fifteen and was instantly captivated by the dance between fire and form. That fascination led me to earn my BFA in glass, and later, during the pandemic, a welding degree that reignited my drive to build and create.
Out of that spark came Molten Makerspace, a place where makers, gamers, and dreamers come together. Under one roof, you’ll find glassblowing torches glowing beside laser engravers, 3D printers humming alongside shelves filled with work from local artists and small businesses, and gamers enjoying community in our Gamerspace. It’s a space to learn, play, and make something that feels truly your own.
We’re opening our expanded location (tripling our square footage!) on April 1, and it’s shaping up to be our most exciting chapter yet! We will have more room for classes, gaming events, creative retail, and collaboration. To help bring it to life, we’ll be launching an amazing Kickstarter soon, giving our community a chance to be part of what we’re building together.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
When I realized I could learn and create anything. I felt that for the first time when I began blowing glass at fifteen with the help of my mentor Ed Francis. Working with molten glass taught me that with patience, curiosity, and a willingness to fail forward, I could shape something extraordinary from almost nothing. That sense of possibility and resilience has stayed with me ever since.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Building a business has been the most challenging thing I’ve ever done. There have been many days when it felt easier to walk away than to keep struggling forward.
What’s kept me going is the support and belief of my co-founder and partner, Morgan, and the shared vision of what Molten can become. Staying focused on the possibilities rather than getting lost in the moment’s challenges has carried us through the hardest days.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
That it’s worth struggling now to enjoy future success. Most people want results to come quickly, but I’ve learned that the most meaningful achievements are built through persistence, patience, and discomfort. The struggle is what shapes the strength to sustain what you build.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That we built an amazing community where everyone felt welcome to create, learn, and belong. I hope people remember that they have the power to shape their own lives and futures, and that creativity is not just about art but about building the world you want to live in.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Moltenmakerspace.com
- Instagram: @moltenmakerspace
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dara-alper-583763300?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app
- Facebook: @moltenmakerspace
- Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/molten-makerspace-high-point
