lasitaide – Page 3 – Ella Varvio

Engraving

Overlay sheet glass, this ruby red matches the autumn colours…

I recently took part in glass engraving workshop by artist-engravers Heikko Schulze-Höing ja Wilhelm Vernim. I have always been a dremel engraver and these more traditional lathes and wheels were a bit of a challenge to learn! The course was organized by the Finnish Glass Museum and glass studio Lasismi in Riihimäki, Finland. The aim was to re-introduce Finnish glass artists and designers to traditional craft of glass engraving … and well yes I finally got some sort of grip of these tools.

…jeez this is difficult, practicing engraved portraits .

Btw. Herkkyyskausi exhibition is still going on in Voipaala Art Center near Valkeakoski until 5.11. On Sunday 29.10 2pm onwards I am going to be at the art center telling about the techniques and stories behind my artworks. Welcome!

Voipaalan Taidekeskus, Sääksmäentie 772, Sääksmäki. Open Tue-Fri 11am-5pm, Sat-Sun 12pm-6pm. Admission without discounts 6 euros.

Herkkyyskausi

Voipaalan taidekeskuksen Herkkyyskausi -näyttely on auki 5.11. asti. Näyttelyssä on teoksia Carita Ahlqvistilta, Ella Varviolta, Katri Heinäseltä, Sampsa Indréniltä ja Leena Illukkalta -esillä on monenkirjavia tekniikoita ja materiaaleja, pellavasta tussipiirrokseen ja lasista kirjontaan. Taidekeskus Sääksmäellä on auki ti-pe 11-17, la-su 12-18. Tervetuloa!
—
Herkkyyskausi is Voipaala Art Center’s fall exhibition, displaying interesting variety of different materials and techniques from a bunch of artists: Artists: Carita Ahlqvist, Ella Varvio, Katri Heinänen, Sampsa Indrén, Leena Illukka. The exhibition is open until 5.11.

Voipaala manor house, now a place for art exhibitions, Sääksmäki, Finland

Also worth of visiting is the historic hill fortress of Rapola, just beside Voipaala art center. The hill itself has been formed during ice age, and it was turned into fortress in Viking Age or even earlier… So if you’re into hiking, history and arts, definetaly recommend visiting Voipaala Art Center and Rapola hill fort. Here’s a view from the hill:

Teardrop

Newest new artwork: Teardrop 2017. This piece is made with glassblower Dylan Katz in Tampere Finland. We made tests on rolling up engraved glass shards on hot glass and this one came out pretty neat!

Otherwise I’ve had bunch of good news, my artwork Tusks is featured in New Glass Review 38 by Corning Museum of Glass and next year I will be one of selected artist-in-residence at Finnish Cultural Institute in New York. Big city buzz and cultural overdose for small town girl in summer 2018- looking forward to that!

Afterglow

Nemeton– glass art exhibition ended last week in Helsinki, time to take a deep breath before new challenges! Here’s a short video from the glass studio: making of Queen of Vipers -unique Graal glass piece. Glassblowers Kari Alakoski and Marja Hepo-aho are sculpting my design at their studio in Riihimäki. Video by Ammi Lahtinen/Galleria Mafka&Alakoski.

My most sincere thanks to all support for this exhibition project: many thanks to Galleria Mafka&Alakoski for the opportunity to have a solo exhibition in Helsinki, lots of thanks to glassblowers Marja and Kari, carpenters, suppliers, national railroads, parents for lending me the car… and for Arts Promotion Centre Finland for supporting the making of the glass artworks…

And many thanks for all who visited the exhibition! Hope to see you in other exhibitions and venues – for example on 7.5. I’ll be attending Designtori, Tampere with Rajataide -organization of Tampere based artists.

The namesake of the exhibition: Nemeton-vase. Photo: Ammi Lahtinen

When it was all on the level of sketches… Photo: Ammi Lahtinen

Long long hours also in the cold workshop…

And the Ready piece! Queen of Vipers. Photo Iiro Immonen

The making of the new glass artworks was supported by Arts Promotion Centre Finland

Nemeton & Design District evening

Nemeton glass art exhibition is running still until 13.4., so remember to pop in at Galleria Mafka&Alakoski before the Easter holidays! Mythical forest made of glass reveals itself in several unique pieces and also as small series product: Nemeton-vase. The signature item of the exhibition is made of mouth blown glass with prints of different trees. The idea was to create beautiful home decor item that in multiple pieces forms up an illusion of a forest.

Galleria Mafka&Alakoski is located in Helsinki city centre, Iso Roobertinkatu 19. It is part of Design District Helsinki – cluster of design, antique and fashion stores, galleries and museums. During Design District Eve 6.4. gallery will be hosting Meet-the-artist-evening until 9pm. You’re more than welcome to pop by, see the artworks, videos from glass studio and hear about the story behind Nemeton, mythical glass forest.

Little Viper, unique piece 2017, Photo: Iiro Immonen

Nemeton

Nemeton glass art exhibition 16.3.-13.4.2017 – is now open in Helsinki city centre! Welcome to see unique art pieces and small series depicting the mythical forest at Galleria Mafka&Alakoski, Iso Roobertinkatu 19, Helsinki. The gallery is open Tue-Fri 11am -6pm and Sat 11am -4pm, free entry. The exhibition will run until 13.4.

Let it bloom, 2017 Mouth blown glass, gold enamel painting by hand Photo: Iiro Immonen

Nemeton -glass vase installation on gallery’s window display. Photo: Ammi Lahtinen

Little Viper and The Queen of the Vipers, 2017. Unique pieces, Graal technique, made in Riihimäki, Finland Photo: Iiro Immonen

The inspiration for the artworks comes from the universal myth of sacred forests. Drawings made of tree silhouettes, meadow flowers and bees collide with the imaginative world. Glass pieces are capturing images of sacred trees, imaginative spring rituals and sheer beauty of nature. All the artworks are mouth blown glass, made in Riihimäki, Finland. Welcome to the gallery, both to see the mythic glass art and videos of how they were formed out of hot glass.

Making of the new glass artworks has been supported by Arts Promotion Centre Finland.

Coming up in Helsinki

Welcome to see my art in Helsinki this month!

Ornamo Teosmyynti 2017 – designer’s sales exhibition 13.4.-16.3.2017 Kaapelitehdas, Puristamo, Tallberginkatu 1 C. Open Mon-Fri 12–18, Sat-Sun 11–17
Ella Varvio: Nemeton 16.3.-13.4.2017 Galleria Mafka&Alakoski, Iso-Roobertinkatu 19. Open Tue-Sun 11-18

Both exhibitions have free entry and you can also check exhibition’s facebook events for more info: Ornamo Teosmyynti and Ella Varvio: Nemeton. Ornamo Teosmyynti presents artworks and designs from several artists and it’s part of Suomi100 events. (centenary of Finland’s 100 years of independence is full of events).

I’m also very glad (and slightly nervous) about my first solo exhibition in Helsinki at Galleria Mafka&Alakoski, gallery specialized in glass art at Iso-Roobertinkatu 19. The theme of my exhibition is the universal myth of sacred grove and forest as a playground for one’s imagination. Most of the artworks are unique pieces made with demanding Graal technique. Hope you’ll be enchanted by eerie images, hues of greenish blue and three dimensional effects of Graal technique. More pictures coming up, and most importantly -if you’re in Helsinki -come and see the show.

Ella Varvio: Kevään noita / Spring Witch 2016

Transparent

It’s not easy to photograph glass – but I have tried my very best and learned some new tricks. Here are photos of some semi-recent artworks: Horseplay, Spring Flowers and Deep Blue Sleep. All these are unique art pieces, mouthblown glass, handmade in Finland.

Btw. you are welcome to follow me on my facebook and instagram sites – I will be posting on my up-coming exhibitions and such there too …