Salmon Run has been successfully moved to the Discovery Centre in Woody Point, and is being used as an interpretive tool for the discussion of the importance of salmon in our ecosystems by the Parks Interpreters at the Gros Morne National Park. This installation will be displayed until the Park closes this year in October; what a beautiful venue for this work! It is definitely worth a look.

Salmon Run is travelling to the Discovery Center in Woody Point, and will be displayed at this beautiful location all summer. The Center is located in Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

If all goes as planned, I will have the installation of 99 salmon, glass river, and two large leaded glass background panels up and ready to be viewed by Friday, July 16th. If you are planning a trip to Newfoundland, or to Gros Morne (or if you are already here), please make sure you stop by the Discovery Center to see the fish and sign my guest book!

When my installation Salmon Run was displayed at the Devon House Main Gallery in St. John’s, many of the salmon were individually purchased… I am now short of salmon, and consequently, am spending a good bit of time making new ones. Here are a few samples of the new students in the school of 99 salmon.

I’m constantly busy in the studio; right now, my main project is to get all the giant fish fired at least once so that I can work on where to place them on the metal netting. If all goes well, I will have everything ready by the end of July to be installed at the Deer Lake Airport. Can’t wait!

I just received a commission to restore part of an old church window that was salvaged from a fire many years ago from the church in the Daniel’s Harbour area (NL). My starting point was a brief discussion with my clients, a box of broken glass from the salvaged window, the partial frame with one panel of glass intact and the other cracked, and a photograph of a painting of what the original church looked like.

What fun! I love this sort of thing!

I decided to fuse an image of the church to be used in the center panel. This was leaded between pieces of the remaining glass that I was able to use for borders. I needed help with the finishing of the frame– I am in awe of the workmanship that went into this construction, no nails, everything joined and set with such care! Then, I used what left-over glass I could to lead the third panel, mixing the blue and the red bits to get the shape that was required. It was nice that I used only the original glass, even though the result was not symmetrical– I enjoy the fact that this tells the story of this particular piece.

Mating pairs of birds in colonies of thousands of Northern Gannets.

 Northern Gannets migrate to Newfoundland and Labrador annualy, nesting in large colonies such as that which can be seen at the Cape St. Mary’s rookery. They too are a species affected by the so far unstoppable oil spill– I wonder how much their numbers will change this year?

Salmon Run is now installed at the Craft Council Main Gallery in St. John’s until June 13th.

If you get the chance to view this in person (which I really hope that you do), I recommend making sure you have some time to look at all the different salmon and take in the feel of the energy of the migrating salmon in contrast to Seasons of the River (one of the background leaded glass panels that is part of the installation as well).

Also, don’t forget to see all the beautiful hand made craft in the rest of the Craft Council shop, as well as the Spring Again! show in the Annex Gallery.

Alevin, Fry, Parr

This is the third part of my installation, Salmon Run, opening at the Devon House Main Gallery May 8th, 2-4 pm. I carved out the design in plaster, then used pate de verre technique to create the initial design; afterwards, the whole piece was slumped and fused to the ‘backing’.

Detail– the water line.

Detail– Alevin and fry.

Detail– Parr.

Eight fish on, 91 to go!

I am so much closer to packing up all the glass and metal, and to the opening of my exhibition, Salmon Run. Please come and see the results of my efforts at the Devon House Gallery in St. John’s, May 8, 2-4 pm for opening reception (otherwise, this installation can be viewed at the Devon House until June 13th).

Luckily, we had a few nice sunny days in a row not too long ago, and I spent all of them outside… mixing cement and plaster and linseed oil, cleaning my panels for the exhibition Salmon Run.

My brother, Aare, measuring one of the panels and large window to build new framework… there will be two of these 6′ x 6′ panels with scenery to set the tone for my migrating salmon… Opening at the Devon House Main Gallery, May 8th, 2-4pm.