Here are some images of a recent commission for a client in Calgary. Although we are currently residing in Adelaide, we thought, why not make it here, lots of people ship glass from Australia. So we figured out a design that we could easily and safely send back home. We made the pieces at The Jam Factory and availed ourselves of some skilled glass artists spanning from Canada to Australia.
Here is a video of Tyler and I at the JamFactory during Canada Month. We are so grateful to the Jam and Brad Bonar for this reminder of my fabulous artist residency at the glass studio. I made many interesting pieces with some fabulous artists.
Canadian Glass Blowers Tyler Rock and Julia Reimer at The JamFactory: Canada Month
www.youtube.com
Since we are residing in Australia while Tyler does his masters, this is the first year in 9 years that we are not welcoming friends, family and neighbours into our studio to share our love of glass. We are sad to be missing this yearly event that we have enjoyed so much. The unique landscape of Australia has inspired new work for both of us. We are looking forward to sharing this new work with you when we return home and at next year’s open house. For further information on our projects here please check here for upcoming images and projects or on Firebrand Glass Studios facebook page. We wish you all wonderful holidays and happiness.
November is Canada month in the Glass Studio of the renowned Jam Factory in Adelaide, Australia. As part of the celebration Julia and Tyler’s work will be featured.
Julia Reimer is the artist in residence for the month of November. During this time, she will be doing a special project in the glass studio developing a series of work that reflects on nature’s ability to reclaim itself.
Tyler will be at Jam Factory for an artist talk and to demonstrate his work in the glass studio. Check out more photos of these events on the facebook pages of Firebrand Glass, The Jam Factory and Glass Art Association of Canada.
Hey, check out this article about the Natural Flow exhibit that is happening at the Alberta Craft Council. This amazing show features both Julia and Tyler’s work as well as other Alberta glass artists. http://westedmontonlocal.ca/2011/10/glass-art-takes-alberta-craft-council-by-storm/
There are two exciting things that have occurred in our lives in glass lately, a possibility to create new work here in Australia and the opportunity to display our sculptural artwork in Canada.
I have recently been offered an artist in residence position at the University of South Australia. This esteemed opportunity will allow me to develop and create work that is influenced by the Australian landscape. Over the past few years my work has focused on the theme of nature’s patient force to reclaim and heal itself. Since arriving in Australia I have researched the influence of landscape on Australian craft design and looked at how a different landscape and natural environment influences craft artists. During my position as artist in residence I intend to use the insight from this research to create work that reflects upon generative cycles and the life force of nature.
While we are in Australia creating new work we are also featured in a significant contemporary glass art exhibition titled, “Natural Flow” at the Esplanade Gallery in Medicine Hat. The show features three pieces of our work and will also travel to the Alberta Craft Council in Edmonton in the fall. Although, we could not attend the opening, it looks like a great show that highlights some great Alberta glass and for those of you like us who are not close by you can peruse the online catalogue. http://naturalflow.squarespace.com/
Part of the reason we chose to come to Adelaide for Tyler to do his masters was because I could work at The Jam Factory. Although I love marmalade, the Jam is a craft centre not a place where they create fruit fusion. Because there are studios in ceramics, jewelry, wood and most importantly glass, it serves as a hub of art activity in Adelaide. Since our arrival there have been several openings and classes going on. Last week there was a joint opening of one of our former studio assistants, Jaan Poldass and visiting instructors Ben Edols and Kathy Elliot. Jaan has used the skills he honed in the training program at the Jam to produce some nice work.
We and the rest of the hopping glass community in Adelaide attended the opening of the “Tour de Force” exhibition at the Jam Factory. The show featured the work of unconventional glass or glass that did not fit in the traditional definitions. We saw many lovely, fun and awe inspiring work by our friends Trish Roan, Deb Jones and Tom Moore and discovered new artists. It was great to see a collection of work that looked at the different aspects of what glass can be.
As many of you know, glass art is comprised of a dynamic international community. So when we had the opportunity to study and work in Australia we decided to combine our love of glass and travel. There is an incredible craft and glass community in Australia that has received a lot of recognition in the past few years. While here we will be located in the thriving glass community of Adelaide where Tyler will do his masters in visual art at the University of South Australia and I will work at The Jam Factory a vibrant craft centre with a glass studio.
This trip represents a dream come true for both of us; it’s an opportunity to learn, to get inspired by this incredible environment, develop new work and work towards our goal of increasing our international profiles.
We have decided to record our trip with a blog, this is essentially on online journal that will allow us to share our experiences with friends and family.
There is an area for comments on the site, and we welcome your feedback. Give us a week and we will have more pictures up!
