"The Last Glass Show"

I have neglected to post that I am participating in a group glass show of members of the Glass Art Association of Canada entitled "The Last Glass Show". It opened on the 15th of November and will run till December the 28th. It is taking place at the Ontario Craft Council Gallery on Queen St. West in Toronto. In the words of the curator, the concept was: "The inclusion of personal photographs provides an intimate view into how glass objects are lived with and experienced on a daily basis". Here is a video of what this show looks like.

Banff BAIR Residency

I had the wonderful opportunity this last month to participate in a five week residency at The Banff Centre in Alberta. I had a project in mind and had pre-cast glass elements to bring with me and the plan was to fit them with pieces of alabaster and soapstone,  trying to combine the two mediums in an intuitive creative way. I was happy and impressed with the facilities and found that the Centre was a genuine conducive place for experimentation. I met some really wonderful and diverse artists and was able to exchange ideas and concepts in a truly constructive way. I made real friends amongst this colony of artist and I am looking forward to our future contacts and possible collaboration. My body felt the unusual cumulative days of rock carving, but it was stimulating to try out new tools and techniques. I now know what I want to explore further and the beautiful setting of this residency made me appreciate yet another part of our wide country.

 

 

 

Apparition "In Situ"

And now to resume my account of my activities this past summer! I worked on the idea of integrating my glass "In Situ". Placing my work in a specific outdoor setting enhances it's connection with the natural surroundings from which it is often inspired, but it also creates a contrast with the surreal quality of the work. With the help of my lovely assistant, I brought my piece, "Apparition" into the woods where I walk every morning. There, we had a photo session. I am quite pleased with the result, and I plan to explore pushing my glass practice further by experimenting with ways to display and express my artistic vision more fully. I will be participating in an exhibition called "The Last Glass Show", to which I have submitted one of these experimental photos. The exhibition will run from November 15 to December 28 at the OCC Gallery in Toronto. I will post more information on the exhibition closer to the opening.

The Glass Furnace, Istanbul

I have been neglecting this blog and it is time to update you on my work for the past four months! In May I had the great opportunity of participating in a master class with the French glass artist Marie-Odile Savigny that took place at The Glass Furnace in Istanbul ,Turkey. In the few weeks I was there I met some wonderful Turkish and international artists who were incredibly welcoming and stimulating, and this created a wonderful exchange of ideas. Marie-Odile demonstrated Kiln casting techniques which involved the creation of a core, and this enabled the application of texture within a shape. She also taught us self developed techniques to save materials and speed up some of the steps of mould making. All this new knowledge will be directly applicable to my practice and will open up new possibilities. Here are a few pictures of my time in Istanbul that will describe my experience.

Beneath...

Here are a few pictures of this glass/soapstone fish that is sparking an interesting creative exploration into mixed mediums. The snow has melted and there is an exciting spring and summer ahead.

Stone is in the air

For the past several weeks I have been working on an idea I have been interested in for a long time, combining cast glass with sculpted stone. The process is exciting and challenging. I am following my instinct and will see were it will lead me. I am simultaneously thinking of a project proposal that I will submit among others, to the Banff Centre for the Arts. It would involve the creation of work with the combination of stone and glass while keeping true to my aesthetic. I still have some work to do on this piece but here is a photographic glimps at my process so far.