Darren Petersen

Darren Petersen is one of Canada's leading young hot glass artists. He is best known for breathtaking contemporary versions of classic Venetian glass forms, which attract international attention. Darren is also an avid outdoorsman, spending summers fly fishing, photographing and wading along foothill and prairie rivers. His trout series is indicative of his love of both glass and of fishing.

WILD TROUT REPRESENT PURE, NATURAL BEAUTY.

Glass worked molten is a perfect material for reproducing the smooth fluid forms of trout.
I am not trying to reproduce trout in exacting detail but I am interested in creating objects that are inspired by my encounters with and fantasies about these exquisite creatures.

Fly-fishing has been a way for me to continually learn about nature and interact with it in a very direct fashion.  It’s an amazing thing to bring to hand a sparkling water creature, to touch it, admire the extraordinary beauty, feel its desire to escape…and then set it free.
Darren Petersen, 2008

I think that creativity is something which virtually everyone has a capacity for.  Being creative is not just a career choice, it is a way of life and a constant exploration of self.

I am constantly learning in my interaction with glass.

Darren likes the immediacy and directness of blowing glass.  The conceptual simplicity of making functional decorative objects is refreshing.  It is the creative process that matters to him most, not how the outcome is defined or categorized.  Glassmaking starts with raw molten materials and an idea, from there you physically make something.

Darren's exploration of Venetian glassmaking techniques is exciting and very challenging.  He feels a connection to a tradition that spans centuries.  He has considerable admiration for Venetian skill and design and has a strong desire to develop these abilities.

Darren believes that all visual art forms are linked through creativity and knowledge of other disciplines is most beneficial to any artist.  He thinks strength in drawing is essential and should be cultivated regardless of one's media preference.

Darren's blown glass pieces are handmade and unique.  The glass is formed in the molten state at 2300°F.  He heats and stretches pieces of solid glass colour into 'stringers' (they are about the width of a pencil).  The stringers are cut into short lengths and arranged into patterns in an optic mould.  Molten glass is gathered onto a long steel rod.  When Darren places the molten glass into the optic mould it picks up the stringers.  In turn, this glass is heated and stretched into pencil thick 'canes' of patterned glass.  Once cool, the canes are cut and placed onto a pastorale plate (a steel plate with kilnwash which prevents the glass from fusing onto it).  The canes fuse together in the 'glory hole'.  Once fused, a blowpipe with a collar of glass is used to roll up the canes and create a bubble, which is then blown into a variety of vessel forms with very fine cane decoration.  After cooling slowly the vessel is hand polished and signed.

Darren studied art and glassmaking at the Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, Alberta (BFA 1996) and at the Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, Washington.
   
Collections:  
Alberta Foundation for the Arts
Private collections in Europe, U.S.A., Canada.