EDUCATION AND PROFESSION
Graduate of Alberta College
of Art and Design, Calgary,
Alberta. Completed intensive four-year program in
Communication Arts. Received Nelson McDonald Design
Scholarship. Developed a love for the human form
and the marriage of curving, flowing organic shapes to the stability of
the geometric form.
After graduating, worked a number of years
in the advertising industry: as freelance fashion illustrator,
technical artist in a print shop, advertising artist for a large
Alberta advertising agency and public relations firm, and art
director for a California based advertising agency.
Returned to University of
Lethbridge. Graduated Bachelor of Arts
with
Distinction and Bachelor of Education with Great Distinction,
majoring
in the fine arts and received George
Ellis Scholarship. Focused on fine detail and
muted
colors in watercolors and oils and ceramics/lithography.
Since graduating, taught junior, then senior high art
and
acquired Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design from Alberta College of
Art and Design, Calgary,
Alberta.
STAINED GLASS AND HOT GLASS
Introduced to art of
stained
glass in 1992 by second generation artisan Linda Maxwell who was
trained by her father who trained in Europe. Stained glass design
immediately held a special
appeal because of absolute quality of light that is transformed
through this medium. I no longer struggle to create light,
but in
a glass piece I "paint" with light. Brilliance and
power of lighted stained glass has few rivals.
Began with
traditional two-dimensional design, but soon shifted to creating
original pieces in sculptural form. Parallels and incorporates my
interest in traditional Japanese and original paper sculpture, embodies
many of the same
concepts and media characteristics. Fine detail and qualities of
the
different glass create and enhance the designs. When layering glass to
create three-dimensional effects, I try to maintain the fluidity and
transparency
of the medium, yet balance the solidity of the form with the qualities
of glass.
Work in style of art glass
created by Louis
Comfort Tiffany, an outstanding name in American Art Deco. He
needed a way to manipulate flat glass into specialized forms,
something virtually impossible with traditional lead method of
stained glass. He developed a lighter, more flexible way to work
with glass in copper foil. This allowed for the elaborate designs
of the lamps that carry his name to this day.
In 1998 began working with "hot glass", creating
one-of-a-kind beads individually over an open flame torch. Unlike
stained glass which is rigid in nature, hot glass is “alive” as the
molten glass takes
on a life of its own.
EXHIBITION AND SALES
In recent years, became
more active in exhibiting and selling work (with encouragement and
assistance of friends).
Sold to private collections in Alberta and British
Columbia, as well as to the Alberta Foundation of the Arts.
Participated in, and have been featured in, glass exhibits at the Galt
Museum in Lethbridge, the Stephen Lowe Gallery in Calgary, and was a
featured artist at the
Alberta Crafts Council Gallery in Edmonton.
Had work
exhibited at the Canadian Glass Show at the Rowles and Parham Design.
Sold
work through the
Stephen Lowe Gallery in Calgary, the
JAPANESE
GARDENS in Lethbridge, PAPER CRANE (gift gallery) in Red Deer, Alberta,
and CKE Publications, USA (as well as from my studio). Through
internet and email, sell work online in Canada and the
United States.
Have done original designs for large custom work
for
churches. Designed a 100 square foot window for the Our
Lady of Assumption Church, Lethbridge and designed, painted and
airbrushed windows for St. Peters, Milk River, Alberta. Both
were constructed by Linda Maxwell.
ALL PRICES IN CANADIAN  DOLLARS. PRICES CONVERTED TO US  DOLLARS AT CURRENT EXCHANGE RATE. |
Copyright© Karen Ichino,
1998-2007. Covers all
designs and text in this web site. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
No part of this web site
may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means
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