Glass blowing, just like the art of the Northwest Coast, has been around for thousands of years and it is only recently that the two have come together with spectacular results.

We are excited to share with you an exhibition of glass works made by some of the premiere Northwest Coast First Nations artists. Nuu Chah Nulth artist Joe David has many ties with artists in Washington State and in 2000 he began attending workshops at the Pilchuck Glass School.  Since then, Joe David has spent time there learning glass making techniques, sharing ideas and working with other artists, including renowned Tlingit glass maker, Preston Singletary.  In this collection Joe David incorporates his cultural heritage and shamanic influences into the works he produces in glass.  Notably, in his blown glass piece titled Sperm Whale Tooth Amulet, the surfaces of the glass recreates the polished look of an amulet, worn smooth by being held in the hand.   Conversely on his Hawk Design Shaman’s Goblet he added a rough, uneven patina to mimic the look of an aged ivory goblet that had been used for ages.

Coming more recently into the arena are brothers John Marston and Luke Marston.  After having completed work on their recent show Honouring the Ancient Ones at the Inuit Gallery, the brothers began collaborative relationships with several glass artists in Victoria, BC, to produce exquisite, sculptural works.  Luke Marston’s richly coloured sun and moon, called 13 Months, speaks of the ancient thirteen month Coast Salish calendar and incorporates both blown glass as well as a cast glass face.  John Marston plays with scale in his work, White Heart, which represents a trade bead, embellished with design, but at many times the size of an actual trade bead. 

Andy Everson’s moon design was transformed into stained glass in his work titled, Enlightened, while Alano Edzerza has had his designs sand blasted onto the surface of sculptural glass pieces.

Our collection is also graced by one work by Inuit artist, Kenojuak Ashevak, called Many Heads, as well as works by respected Northwest Coast artists Susan Point, Lyle Wilson, Mark Preston, Dale Campbell and Don Yeomans.

It is exciting to see artists exploring new mediums, especially when the outcomes are as stunning as we see today.  We invite you to join us in celebrating these artists and their contemporary vision.

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