I believe that as artists, we have the capacity to change the way that people experience the world; to make the invisible visible and to find mystery in reality.

My own fascination with science, human nature and how we interact within our social and physical environment are the sources of my inspiration. Scientific glass lenses and technology have allowed us to see and experience the world with new eyes and has drawn our attention to environmental issues. I use glass to capture and communicate the underlying interconnections, structures and energies that we cannot always see. The intricate systems within our bodies mirror the earth with rivers that flow with blood, while web-like communication systems passed on as cells divide and multiply reflect larger views of galaxies and filament structures of the cosmos. I enjoy working with analogies that relate these micro and macro concepts.

Sculpting with glass is a little dangerous, challenging, and always exhilarating. It reminds me of the restless feeling one has when travelling to a foreign land for the first time. The dual nature of this material, glass, speaks as a metaphor for human nature with all of its contradictions and layers; fragility, strength, order, chaos, sharpness, reflection, malleability, transparency, translucency, opacity and an interior visual surface.  I relish the spontaneity of blowing glass and the cerebral process of composing a large scale installation in space. Sandcast glass allows me the opportunity to “paint” an interior surface with glass powders and forms.

I will continue my exploration beneath the surface.
  

Education

2000-2004    Sheridan College                                          Oakville, ON

                  Glass Program  (Diploma)

1999-2000    George Brown College,                                 Toronto, ON

                   Interior Decorating & Design Certificate

1993-94        University of Western Ontario                        London, ON

                    Visual Art specialist junior and intermediate Divisions

1983-88        University of Toronto,                                   Toronto, ON
                   Arts Administration Program (Fine Art History, Fine Art Studio)

   
Selected exhibitions

2010     Confederation of Canadian Craft (Touring exhibition during 2010 Vancouver     

            Olympics and other North American stops)
2009     SOFA (Exposition of Sculptural Objects and Functional Art, represented by galerie

            Elena Lee, Navy Pier, Chicago – November 6-8)
2009     Cheongju International Craft Biennale, Korea, Canadian Pavilion (Sept.-Oct)
2009     The Petroff Gallery, Sept. 10 to Oct. 18, Toronto
2009     Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Nathan Phillips Square (July 10-12)
2009     Between the Earth and the Ozone, Galerie Elena Lee, solo exhibition, Montreal

           (April)
2008     Nuit Blanche, solo show, Cryptic Canvas (Living Lighting) (Oct. 4-5)
2008     Contemporary Craft Museum (Gallery), Selected for an exhibition in celebration of

           the international Glass Art Society Conference, Portland, OR
2008     Collect 2008, Plateaux Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, juried by the British

            Crafts Council, London, UK
2007     SOFA (Sculptural Objects and Functional Art), Navy Pier, Chicago,
2007     It’s a Beauty, Lester B. Pearson International Airport, Ontario Crafts Council
2007     Glass Now, Liberty Museum Art Exhibition & Auction, Philadelphia
2007     Lucent, Glass Art Association of Canada, The Works Gallery, Edmonton, AB
2007     Glass Now, Lafreniere and Pai Gallery, Ottawa

2007     Walking the Fine Line, Material Matters Gallery, solo show, Toronto, ON
2007     The Petroff Gallery, Toronto, profile
2007     SOFA (Sculptural Objects and Functional Art), Navy Pier, Chicago,
2006     Feature Artist, All Canadian Glass show, West End Gallery, Victoria, BC
2006     Grand Opening exhibition, Third Dimension Gallery, Big Island, Hawaii
2006     Le Verre “Hot” innovative Canadian Glass, Centre Materia Gallery, Quebec
2006     Queen’s Park Provincial Legislative Buildings, Toronto
2005     Glass Art Association of Canada National Juried Emerging Artist Exhibition

2005     Meant Two Be, A Show of Hands Petroff Gallery, Toronto
2004     Glass Art Society International Student Exhibition, New Orleans
2004     In Direction, Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, Waterloo, ON
2003     Fabled Footwear, Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto, ON
2003     Glass Art Society International Student Exhibition, (2nd Prize), Seattle, WA
2003     Glass Art Association of Canada Members Exhibition, Harbourfront Centre       

2002     The Sourcerers, Toronto  

Public Collections
       
2009    Ministry of Culture, Saudi Arabia
2009    Canadiana State Fund Art Collection, (Federal Government), Ottawa
2008    Denmark Glass Museum (upcoming fall)
2005    Living Arts Centre Gallery, Ontario


Awards & Residencies
   
2009         Valerie Steel Award, Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition
2009         Ontario Arts Council - Exhibition Assistance Grant (Galerie Elena Lee show)
2004 -p.    Full time artist-in-residence, Living Arts Centre Glass Studio, Mississauga
2005         Valerie Steel Award, Glass, Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition
2004         Mary Collins Memorial Award - Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition
2004         William and Mary Corcoran Award for Craft (admin. by the Ont. Arts Council

               (Sheridan College)
2003         Harbourfront Centre Glass Residency, Toronto      
2003         2nd Place, Glass Art Society International Student Exhibition, Seattle, WA 
2003         Glass Art Society Scholarship, Seattle, USA
2003         2nd Place, Members Exhibition, Glass Art Association of Canada,  Toronto
2003         Gaffer’s Club Award, Sheridan College
2003         Fusion Award, Sheridan College
2002 & 03  Betty Cantor Silent Night Scholarships, Sheridan College
  
Commissions
       
2009          Private Collector – Toronto – Cell Division commission
2008          Pentax Canada – Human Resources award design
2008          Proposal stage 2 – one of ten glass artists juried to propose a public art

                project for the TTC streetcar shelters on St. Clair
2008          Dr. and Mrs. Oerbach – Cell Division sculpture and Encrusted Surface fusing
2008          Picov Estate, 20 “floating” sandcast glass art handles - Fleur de Lis Design
2007-08     Murray and Marvelle Koffler, Glaciation Series large scale sandcast glass relief

                sculptures lit with integrated  LED’s (four), Toronto
2007-08     Heys International, wall mounted sandcast relief sculptures, (series of four)
2007          Mark Ostry (Architect), B.C., Filaments Sculpture
2007          Andrew Temes, Trans Global, 25 golfing awards (Hospital for Sick Children)

2007          Private individual, Filaments Sculpture, Toronto
2006          Bohemian Embassy condos,12’ x 16’ blown glass wall installation, working with

                 II by IV Design Associates, Toronto
2006          Jib Media, Corporate gifts
2006          Filaments sculpture, Private individual, United Kingdom
2006          David Thompson Designs, (collaboration  with Tara Marsh)
2005          Peel Children’s Aid Foundation – Volunteer Recognition Award
2004,05     Oakville Mayor’s Award – Award to a business

Related Experience

2009          Glass blowing and hot working instructor, Living Arts Centre
2007          Movie consultant and glass working coach, Pope Productions, Newfoundland

                (shown in July 2008 on Global and U.S.  Lifetime, The One that Got Away)
2004-2007  Glass blowing and hot working instructor, Living Arts Centre
2005          Applied Arts Juror, Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition
2003          Coordinator of glass demonstrations, Glass Art Assoc. of Canada conference

Bibliography

Life Element – China – Feature Article (Fall 2009)
Fusion – Ontario Clay and Glass Assoc. magazine – Feature article (Spring 2009)
Contemporary Canadian Glass – Review of Solo show with images (spring edition, 2008)
Collect 2008 Catalogue, Image of Ovoid Form and artist statement, British Crafts Council
You Tube – CBC News – Silver Box Program, 2008 Toronto
Glass Now, publication of the Philadelphia Liberty Museum glass auction
Silver Recycling Boxes, Toronto Street Beautification Project (Image of work, bio) 2008
Gossip Movie (The One that Got Away), Lifetime film produced by Shaftsbury Productions
Lucent exhibition catalogue, Glass Art Association of Canada,  May 2007
American Style Magazine, Petroff Gallery show, February 2007
Bohemian Embassy Flats & Lofts Magazine, Rendering of installation and write up, Page 5, 2006
Clipper Magazine (Seattle, WA) Image of blown vessel, cover, Summer 2006
Focus magazine, Victoria B.C., Image of work and mention for West End Gallery show, 2007
Soleil (Montreal paper), Image of filaments pieces & mention, Materia Exhibition, May 2006
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition Program – “Plasma Sphere” full page image and byline
“West of Toronto” magazine, feature article on the artist, May 2005, page 108-112
Breakfast Television (City TV) Artist featured on “Live Eye”, Jan. 2005
“Contemporary Canadian Glass”, Glass Art Association of Canada (Group Exh. Review), Aug. 2004
“Glass Art Society Newsletter” – March 2004 – Artist Profile with images, page 2
Glass Art Society Annual Journal – (3 mentions of award and photo) 2004
One of a Kind Show – Image of piece used in Spring 2004 Promotional Campaign
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition Catalogue, last page, Image of Glass clothesline piece
Oakville Arts Council Newsletter – Publication of Mayor’s Award winners (2004)

Memberships

Glass Art Association of Canada, Glass Art Society (international), Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, Ontario Crafts Council, Art Gallery of Ontario, B