18th Annual Eastside Culture Crawl

Drop by and say 'Hi'!...This weekend I'll be hanging out at Terminal City Glass Co-op as part of the Eastside Culture Crawl.  There will be many crowd awing glassblowing demos, alongside displays of handmade glassware available for purchase.  The Co-op is home to some of Canada’s top, award-winning glass artists, who practice their medium in this fantastically creative space.

Full event listing can be found HERE.

The Eastside Culture Crawl is an annual event where artists open their studios for public viewing.  This year 424 artists will participate in 79 buildings around East Vancouver.   Showcased will be paintings, pottery, jewellery, wood work, furniture, sculpture and many other delightful pieces of art.  All of which are available for purchase right in time for the holiday season ;)  So come out, sample the food trucks on Parker St, meet local artists, and pick up original works not available in stores.

Check it out! Scott and I will demo Sunday 12-4pm (photo by: Tony Roy)

Sasamat Creative

I experienced one of those 'small-world' coincidences this past month when I randomly ran into one of my previous glass professors!  It's been a few years since those Art School days in Calgary, so it was great to bump into each other and catch up!

Robert Geyer also now resides in Vancouver, and has opened a studio called Sasamat Creative, with partner Rena-Li Kuhrt.

Crystal Wonderland by Sasamat Creative

Their hand blown pendant series, Crystal Wonderland, is created by blowing hot glass into metal forms derived from folded paper sculptures.  The glass is then filled and illuminated with neon gas.

Interacting with 'Crystal Wonderland'

These glass objects are wonderfully interactive and unlike any lighting I've seen before!  The neon gas interior responds to touch, creating an unexpected sensory-based visual experience.  It was really  fascinating to play around with these.

Slinky pendant by Sasamat Creative

Similarly, the pendant entitled 'Slinky', is formed by blowing molten glass inside the coils of metal slinky toys.  These unique, organic volumes are also then filled and illuminated with neon gas.  Much like the toy it is formed from, the Slinky Pendant light is designed to be fun and interactive!

(All photos by Eric Saczuk, and courtesy of Sasamat Creative)