News Article

Glass art training coming to CNA’s St. Anthony campus


4/27/2010 3:02:12 PM


A unique art form is coming to the Northern Peninsula. Starting this spring, College of the North Atlantic (CNA) will introduce Fused Glass training at its St. Anthony campus. Participants will learn the process of creating unique and original artwork in glass.

“The course provides an introduction to a variety of techniques and practices associated with the kiln working of glass,” explains instructor Colette Samson. “Lectures, demonstrations and hands-on practice will cover a broad range of technical processes including; glass cutting, fusing, slumping, kiln carving, casting, fritography, cold working and basic mold making – kiln firing and programming will also be explained at great length. Projects will be assigned to encourage creative development and pave the way for more intricate product creation by the students.”

Samson is an established glass artist whose work seeks to evoke an emotion or a memory, to reflect nature in color, shape, and textured. Her latest series 'Limestone Barrens of the Great Northern Peninsula’, takes inspiration from the earth tones of the landscape of Newfoundland.

Samson creates her pieces with a practical use in mind, although, most collectors choose to display her pieces for the artworks they are. She trained under world renowned glass artists Jayne Persico (Hazelton, Pennsylvania), Johnathon Schmuck (Santa Cruz, California) and Michael Dupille (Seattle, Washington). From Dupille she learned firsthand the technique of ‘painting with powdered glass’ or ‘fritography’ which was pioneered by Dupille.

Samson has imparted her knowledge in the past through seminars and workshops and is now bringing these skills to St. Anthony. Her pieces are in private collections nationally and internationally, both in use and on display.

Frederick Russell, campus administrator for the St. Anthony campus, is very excited about this opportunity.

“The idea for this venture came from a need for local craft retailers to expand their product line and try to find a new medium to present local culture through art. This is a unique training opportunity that is rare throughout Canada,” states Russell.

The project, valued at close to $100,000, is funded through a partnership with the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development and CNA. The campus has also worked with local craft outlets such as the Grenfell Historical Society, in order to bring this idea to reality.

“Our organization is getting involved because we want a new medium for our Grenfell Handicrafts. We hope to put traditional Grenfell images in glass, and then sell this at Grenfell Handicrafts to visiting tourists,” says Agnes Patey, chair of the Grenfell Historical Society.

Beginning in May 2010, two courses will be offered; a full-time, comprehensive daytime course of three weeks duration and a shorter introductory night time course of 18-hours.

Interested persons should contact the St. Anthony campus for more information.

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Media contact:

Roger Hulan
Communications Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
(709) 643-7938
roger.hulan@cna.nl.ca