I have been working with glass for several years.  I am originally from California, and moved to Toronto in 2007.

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I love glass a medium.  From the moment I touched it I was hooked. I enjoy the process of manipulating the hot glass - of trying to control something with a mind of its own. Whether in the kiln or in hot pouring, I look to capture the line between control and out of control.

 

I love the way it can catch movement.  It gives the impression of something happening both before and after the moment I can capture. Whether through color, shape, holes, or bubbles, the movement seems real and allows the observer to fill in what happens next.

 

We all have an internal struggle going on – professional vs creative; proper job vs artist; serious vs fun; what’s expected of us (from our parents, our family, our society) vs what we want to do. My work manifests the push and pull of life; the inner struggle of being perfect and professional, with the creative spirit trying to break free. Sometimes the polish and proper shines more brightly. Other times, the wild side bubbles up over the top.

 

While experimenting with making color, I stumbled into a happy accident – glass that floats. The kiln was set to Cone 10. When I opened the kiln the next day, I was surprised not to see my beautiful transparent colors. Instead, they were opaque and had some air bubbles. Turns out an element was out, so the kiln never got hot enough. When demolding, I put the glass in water to clean it off. It floated! The floating, bouncing balls were too much fun to resist, as it is completely counter-intuitive. Going against the grain has always been my way of life.

 

I have taken that accident and created a new series of work. By adding oxides to glass frit and taking the glass to casting temperatures, I am able to control the height and buoyancy of these mauve and grey objects.

 

These pieces are meant to be interactive, the audience must push and play with the objects. By forcing the viewer to view and interact with the juxtaposition, it forces us to confront our own perceptions and stereotypes.