At Gallery Florist we are proud to carry art from local artists in a number of different mediums. Our current featured artists are Ruth, Robbin and Andrew McColley, who specialize in art glass.
"Rainbow Blower” Peter Reuthlingerthe as a glass blower, Rosi Oldenburg, an Acrylic and oil painting artist , as well as Studio Art Furniture by Larry Books.
We are currently featuring our own glass passion artists, of East Vancouver, Andrew, Robbin and Andrew's Mother, Ruth McColley. All are extremely accomplished glass artisans, each specializing in their own special areas of glass artistry. We invite you to come in and see their work here, at Gallery Florist, or online at their web site and possibly at their studio.
Andrew is into blowing glass. Robbin, his wife and Ruth both specialize in fusing glass for art glass items from platters, wall hangings and glasscapes, to fantastic jewelry. Visit their web site to view some of their award winning work at R Visions in Glass, or you may visit their studio for a real show (by appointment). Their work can be found in a number of Pacific Northwest Galleries, such as:
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Gallery Florist, Vancouver, WA
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Purple Pelican, Cannon Beach, OR
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Portland Chinese Garden, Portland, OR
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R Visions in Glass Gallery, Vancouver, WA
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White Salmon Glassworks, White Salmon, WA
Andrew is a multi-talented artist, coming from the field of Culinary Education into his new passion, glass art, in just the last few years. He has been the chef-instructor at the Clark County Skills Center for the past seventeen years, developing a program that is the first ACF certified high school program west of the Mississippi. He is an ACF certified Culinary Educator and a Certified Executive Chef. His accomplishments in culinary education are numerous. To name just two of his many awards: having received the WA-ACTE Program Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2002, as well as being selected as the Oregon Chef de Cuisine of the year in 2008.
His eye for color and design in the world of food presentation has easily transitioned into his passion for glass blowing. Visit him at their studio and you can not only admire the magnificent beauty of his work, but the skills involved in working with a medium that can be dangerous to the artisan. Glass blowing does not allow for less than absolute focus and concentration!
In his new passion profession, glass artistry, his glass fish beads were selected to be displayed at the 2008 International Society of Bead Makers annual show. This being a very prestigious honor, only bestowed upon 13 bead makers from around the world.
Robbin and Ruth both are glassaholics. Their love of the world of art glass is expertly exhibited in their stunning fused glass work and jewelry.
Robbin lived for 10 years in Hawaii, where she developed a love of tropical flowers. Their exotic color blends inspire the color selection of her glass for each piece. She says that dichroic glass allows her to bring an intense splash of multiple colors to her jewelry. Now that she lives in the Pacific Northwest, she likes to combine the color palettes of Hawaii and the Northwest. She says that it brings an unusual fusion to her jewelry.
Ruth has been designing with glass the longest of the family. She says that glass feeds her soul like no other medium. "It speaks to me with its colors and lights. It is alive. Glass is a paradox because it is physically rigid, and yet in art, it is one of the most fluid mediums."
Her newest expressions in glass are multi-pieced, multi-dimension glasscapes. She loves the colors of nature. "The snow-covered mountains, the black-green evergreens, the blues of the Pacific Ocean produce a palette of colors that glass captures so well". Living in the Pacific Northwest, she says that she sees examples of God’s handiwork everyday. "Creating glasscapes allows me to capture some of this beauty".
The Staff at Gallery Florist love their glassware as well! It is very popular with our customers and sells quickly, so we are able to enjoy new pieces all the time. Many of us have visited the McColley's studio and enjoyed watching them create beauty in glass! We think that you too, might enjoy some of this fascinating beauty in their art glass.
