So the studio has been running for approximately two months as of today and while there are still some wrinkles to iron out, on the whole, I couldn't be happier! I've had some great people pass through the doors already and I hope to be able to welcome many more artists into the studio whether they're working in glass or some other material. (Mathieu Grodet was our first guest. Seen here doing some cane-work with my fellow Harbourfront alum; Silvia Taylor assisting.) (Even Alfred came by because of course he did. The man is everywhere! He's working on components for a large-scale installation here.) I've been hosting some groups events as we'll and it's been an absolute blast! BBQ and...
Who needs a hot shop with this weather? Wow! For once I'm not feeling the pressure to light that furnace up. I got some great news last week from Janna aver at Craft Ontario: I was chosen as winner of the Pattie Walker Memorial Award in Architectural Glass for my oversized Lite Brite installations! Very honored and can't wait to exhibit some of my work at the reception. For a taste of what's to come, here's a video I made when I first conceived of the pieces. Not so sure anymore about the royalty free music I used, but nevertheless, enjoy! Here's another one I found. A music video someone made with a regular sized Lite Brite. Pretty impressive...
Hi There!
I hope everyone is recovering nicely from an amazing weekend of Pride: both national and otherwise. I'd like to give a big thank you to everyone that organizes these amazing events and parties all across the city and invites us all to join in the fun. Furthermore, a huge congratulations to all who have fought and continue to fight in order to make our city a safer place for everyone!
Strolling down Church street on Friday I couldn't help but be reminded of this "cooking segment" I put together with some friends back when I was at Harbourfront Centre. Not sure why that is...
...it was probably all the penises.
Love Wins!,
-Clayton
Hey There!
Here a fun video from a few years ago when I was a Resident Artist at Harbourfront Centre here in Toronto. I learned how to pull these traditional Venetian ponies back when I worked in Niagara Falls as an apprentice under Master Glassblower; Angelo Rossi. Pulling a pony is seen by some as a bit of a rite-of-passage for a glassblower. I wonder when Turnstyle Glassblowing Studio is up and running, if I'll still be able to do this! Hopefully it's like riding a bike. Enjoy! Hey, it's my birthday today!
-Clayton
This was really fun. Back in 2012 (I can't believe it's been 4 years!) I was selected by Sony during The Artist Project here in Toronto to participate in their promo for a new camcorder. They asked artists to make a short film using the camera to document their process in the studio and played the films on a loop in their booth section at the show. I decided to try to view the process from a new perspective. I rigged up a custom mount that would fix the camera to my blowpipe causing the room to spin around while the glass remained stationary in the centre of the frame. I thought it was a cool effect (if a little...