SHARDA MURRAY-KIEKEN
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SHARDA MURRAY-KIEKEN
After working in textiles for many years, my first introduction to art glass was through stained glass. In 2004 I discovered fused glass and since then have been totally hooked! My first kiln “Artemis” now feels like a dear friend and she has been joined by “Aphrodite” and “Persephone” each kiln having a special use and it’s own quirks. Over the years I have studied and taught with some amazing glass artists in Canada and the US and have been humbled and inspired by glass artists from around the world.
My husband Lody and I lived in the Salmon Arm area from 1991 to 2017, when we decided to move to Vancouver Island, where we have both set up new studios, his for music mine for glass. Although it was difficult to leave the beautiful Shuswap Lake we have been overjoyed to experience the Salish Sea which offers up an ever changing and entirely different visual experience.
The technique I use in creating pieces is know as ‘warm glass’. Although there are times when I work with glass at 1700F in an open kiln, most of my work is created from flat and powdered glass and the kilns are the method of fusing and forming. Many pieces are fired multiple times, to degrees varying from 1250F to 1650F depending on the intended effect. Each piece is finished by employing a variety of cold working equipment such wet saws, wet belt sanders, grinders
and sand blasting.
I enjoy interacting with each piece with its unique personality and quirks reminding me to be present. Opening
the kiln feels like a fresh snow or a warm balmy wind, even a storm sometimes and holds the promise
of delight or disappointment.
My work has appeared in a variety of galleries and art shows and it is my great pleasure to be part of the
wonderful Gallery Odin in Silver Star, BC Canada.
Exhibitions
2015 - ‘A study in Transparency’ Public Art collaboration with Eric Kutschker - Salmon Arm Public Gallery
2014 - ‘ Peak Year II’ - Exhibition - Celebrating the Peak Salmon Run - Salmon Arm Public Gallery
2014 - ‘Elements In Fusion’ - Solo Exhibition - Salmon Arm Public Art Gallery
2014 - ‘Lake Country Art Walk’ - Juried Group Exhibition
2013 & 2010 - ‘White Lights Studio Tour & Exhibition’ - Shuswap District Arts Council
2012 - ‘Playing with Fire’ - Group Exhibition, Kamloops BC
2011 - North Okanagan Artists Guild - Show and Sale
2011 - ‘Shuswap Lake Festival of the Arts’ - Sorrento, BC
2007 - Salmon Arm Public Gallery - Exhibition & Sale
Galleries Representing
Gallery Odin - Silver Star Mountain, Vernon, BC
Fireweed Art Studio & Gallery - Scotch Creek, BC
Lisa Figueroa Art Gallery - Salmon Arm, BC
Salmon Arm Public Art Gallery - Permanent Collection - Salmon Arm, BC
Salish Sea Market - Bowser, BC Vancouver Island
Fused Glass Courses and Teaching
2018 - Sharda Kiln-Fired Glass Studio - Teaching - Intro to Fused Glass, Qualicum Beach, BC, Canada2016 - 2016 Vitrigraph Murinne- Nathan Sandberg, Richland Oregon, USA
2015 - Sonoran Glass School - Teaching Pattern Bar Technique - Tucson, AZ, USA
2014 - Zen Organico - Miguel Union, Portland OR, USA
2013 - Advanced Fusing Techniques - Patty Gray - Portland, OR, USA
2011 - Fusing Extravaganza - Richard LaLonde, Whidbey Island, WA, USA
2011 - Teaching Assistant with Richard LaLonde, Whidbey Island, WA, USA
2007 - Fusing Glass Intensive, Brock Craig, Vancouver, BC, Canada
2005 - Fusing - Flame - Forming, Alan Mark-Cross, Victoria, BC, Canada
Memberships & Affiliations
Glass Art Society of Canada Nanaimo Arts Council
Museum of Glass - Tacoma WA Glass Art Association of Canada
North Okanagan Artists Guild David Suzuki Foundation
Oregon Glass Guild Knowledge Network
Federation of Canadian Artists
My husband Lody and I lived in the Salmon Arm area from 1991 to 2017, when we decided to move to Vancouver Island, where we have both set up new studios, his for music mine for glass. Although it was difficult to leave the beautiful Shuswap Lake we have been overjoyed to experience the Salish Sea which offers up an ever changing and entirely different visual experience.
The technique I use in creating pieces is know as ‘warm glass’. Although there are times when I work with glass at 1700F in an open kiln, most of my work is created from flat and powdered glass and the kilns are the method of fusing and forming. Many pieces are fired multiple times, to degrees varying from 1250F to 1650F depending on the intended effect. Each piece is finished by employing a variety of cold working equipment such wet saws, wet belt sanders, grinders
and sand blasting.
I enjoy interacting with each piece with its unique personality and quirks reminding me to be present. Opening
the kiln feels like a fresh snow or a warm balmy wind, even a storm sometimes and holds the promise
of delight or disappointment.
My work has appeared in a variety of galleries and art shows and it is my great pleasure to be part of the
wonderful Gallery Odin in Silver Star, BC Canada.
Exhibitions
2015 - ‘A study in Transparency’ Public Art collaboration with Eric Kutschker - Salmon Arm Public Gallery
2014 - ‘ Peak Year II’ - Exhibition - Celebrating the Peak Salmon Run - Salmon Arm Public Gallery
2014 - ‘Elements In Fusion’ - Solo Exhibition - Salmon Arm Public Art Gallery
2014 - ‘Lake Country Art Walk’ - Juried Group Exhibition
2013 & 2010 - ‘White Lights Studio Tour & Exhibition’ - Shuswap District Arts Council
2012 - ‘Playing with Fire’ - Group Exhibition, Kamloops BC
2011 - North Okanagan Artists Guild - Show and Sale
2011 - ‘Shuswap Lake Festival of the Arts’ - Sorrento, BC
2007 - Salmon Arm Public Gallery - Exhibition & Sale
Galleries Representing
Gallery Odin - Silver Star Mountain, Vernon, BC
Fireweed Art Studio & Gallery - Scotch Creek, BC
Lisa Figueroa Art Gallery - Salmon Arm, BC
Salmon Arm Public Art Gallery - Permanent Collection - Salmon Arm, BC
Salish Sea Market - Bowser, BC Vancouver Island
Fused Glass Courses and Teaching
2018 - Sharda Kiln-Fired Glass Studio - Teaching - Intro to Fused Glass, Qualicum Beach, BC, Canada2016 - 2016 Vitrigraph Murinne- Nathan Sandberg, Richland Oregon, USA
2015 - Sonoran Glass School - Teaching Pattern Bar Technique - Tucson, AZ, USA
2014 - Zen Organico - Miguel Union, Portland OR, USA
2013 - Advanced Fusing Techniques - Patty Gray - Portland, OR, USA
2011 - Fusing Extravaganza - Richard LaLonde, Whidbey Island, WA, USA
2011 - Teaching Assistant with Richard LaLonde, Whidbey Island, WA, USA
2007 - Fusing Glass Intensive, Brock Craig, Vancouver, BC, Canada
2005 - Fusing - Flame - Forming, Alan Mark-Cross, Victoria, BC, Canada
Memberships & Affiliations
Glass Art Society of Canada Nanaimo Arts Council
Museum of Glass - Tacoma WA Glass Art Association of Canada
North Okanagan Artists Guild David Suzuki Foundation
Oregon Glass Guild Knowledge Network
Federation of Canadian Artists