Contemporary Canadian Glass

Craft at Harbourfront Centre is the dynamic axis for contemporary craft in Canada and an integral part of the country’s largest public multi-disciplinary arts complex. Harbourfront Centre champions the significance of craft as an art discipline and cultivates excellence, nationally and internationally. Through exhibitions, thought-provoking symposia and lectures, they communicate new ideas and strive to shape perceptions about contemporary craft. They advocate collaboration between craft, design and art disciplines. Craft at Harbourfront Centre offers the only national, post-graduate programme of its kind in Canada that catalyzes artists to explore, pursue and accelerate their artistic potential in a comprehensive artist-in-residency programme and ideal studio environments. They commit to artists through generous subsidy and deliver access to beneficial artistic resources and conditions.

www.harbourfrontcentre.com

Arron Lowe - Malignant or Benign - 2009. Trans–exhibition installation (each vitrine 1mx1m). Blown and sand-cast glass, copper, acrylic. W 295 cm x H 80 cm x D 50 cm.

Arron Lowe www.arronlowe.com

Arron graduated with honours from Sheridan College’s Craft and Design program and received an undergraduate degree from the University of Ottawa in Classical Studies and, subsequently, a Masters degree from the University of Toronto in Ancient Art History. Arron’s most recent project, Trans, consists of a site-specific installation whose core concept is an examination of beauty.

Aaron Oussoren - Give & Take - 2008. Cut and kiln-formed glass. H 14 x W 120 cm.

Aaron Oussoren www.aaronoussoren.com /   www.timidglass.ca

Aaron graduated from the Craft & Design program at Sheridan College in 2008. He draws upon his experiences, conversations with others, and open spaces. Printmaking, writing, photography, and glass-working are the techniques he employs when distilling an object from an Idea. Recently, Aaron paired with Sally McCubbin to form ‘TIMID glass’ a design label which produces progressive, functional, and thoroughly Canadian objects.

Brad Turner - Contour Bowls - 2009. Hand blown glass, cut, ground and finished. Largest bowl - 26 cm diameter.

Brad Turner www.glassturner.ca

Native to Calgary, Brad earned his BFA from the Alberta College of Art + Design. He creates a mix of sculptural and functional glass objects with a strong focus on conceptual originality, diversity, and clean design. Maintaining an honest use of material, Brad’s glasswork seeks to elevate the medium’s unique characteristics, whether it is the rare combination of strength and fragility, the unmistakable relationship with light and optics, or its storied roots in vessel-making and functional design.

Benjamin Kikkert - Granite Pools - 2008. Sea Lion Point Installation in Situ at Open Bay, Quadra Island, B.C. Blown and hot- sculpted glass. Various dimensions.

Benjamin Kikkert www.benjaminkikkert.com

Benjamin graduated from Sheridan College’s Craft and Design program. From the waters of oceans and lakes to the geology of tectonic plates, Benjamin draws inspiration from the forces that shape these places. He creates objects layered with texture and form that allude to different histories and environments. He describes these objects as marine artifacts and landscapes. Barnacles and seaweeds, encrusted bottles, floats and rock textures synonymous with tidal strata reflect his upbringing in Vancouver.

Einav Mekori - Cases of Vanity – medium pocket watch - 2008. Blown, cut and sand-blasted glass, brass, chain. H 10 x W 10 x D 5 cm.

Einav Mekori

A native of Israel, Einav initially studied sculpture at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem. Having moved to Canada in 2004, she subsequently graduated from Sheridan College’s Craft and Design program. Among her years as a professional glass artist, her works have been featured in several exhibitions around the world. Her current work is influenced by the rich visualization of Victorian styles, and draws inspiration from jewellery and wallpaper designs.

Clayton Haigh - Hive Tumbler Set - 2009. Mold-blown glass and wood. L 25cm, w 15cm, h 25cm.

Clayton Haigh

Clayton graduated from Sheridan College’s Craft and Design program. His design company, Balance Glassworks, specializes in simple, smartlydesigned glass objects for the home. Under his own name, Clayton experiments with the sculptural properties of glass striving to create raw, organic forms that convey a sense of emotion to the viewer.

Rachel Robichaud - Unititled - 2009. Blown, hot-sculpted and kiln-cast glass, wood. 29cm H x 34 cm W x 22cm D.

Rachel Robichaud www.rachelrobichaud.com

Rachel graduated from Sheridan College’s Craft and Design program. She sees glass as the perfect medium to pursue the idea of containers and containment. She combines functional and sculptural forms with mixed media and other found objects to create a playground of opportunity for juxtaposed elements to reside. In recent work Rachel taps into the assumptions and preconceptions that we float in day to day. She alternately finds them endearing, flawed, treasured and absurd.

Irene Frolic, Adviser to the Glass Studio - Autumn Gold - 2008. Lost wax kiln-cast glass. 56 x 23 x 23 cm.

Irene Frolic RCA (Adviser to the Glass Studio)

Irene has created kiln-cast sculpture from her studio in Toronto for over 20 years. Her work is shown internationally and is held in numerous public museums and private collections. The early figurative work dealt with the crust of the glass and was noted for its emotional impact and its exploration of personal history. In her newer work, Irene explores the more formal aspects of glass - its ability to carry light and colour - and has finally abandoned herself to its beauty.