Celebrating Glass at the London Olympics

I am really amazed at the amount of detail that the artists created the art featured in the Swansea Olympic Games art display http://bbc.in/Mb9wNd. From soccer and discus throwing to a spectacular piece that pays homage to the Games beginnings in Greece, the artists have captured the spirit and emotion of the competition. The exhibition will only open officially for a private viewing today by Gwyn L Williams, the Creative Programmer for Wales for London 2012 at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea but it is already getting worldwide attention for its creative use of glass. A jury of four judges whittled the exhibit down to thirty seven panels, after receiving over sixty entries. I would have hated to be one of the judges for that competition! Most of the glass art was created by students at the Swansea School of Glass, and painters from the British Society of Master Glass. I really think that the power of art is its ability to stimulate the senses and create conversation. Love it or hate it, everybody has to have an opinion on a piece of art! Glass art is unique because light can play a role in the interpretation of the piece. The world is full of great art. Whether its “Bent of Mind” by British artist Tony Cragg at the Nangang Software Park or John McEwen's Search Light, Star Light, Spot Light in Toronto, art is meant to be shared and enjoyed by everyone. In the spirit of the world's Olympic Games, art is the best way to promote the values of the games, Excellence, Respect and Friendship.

Architectural Glass is Like Commuting at an Art Gallery

You really don't know what to expect from one day to the next. When I started my glass design studio a couple of years ago, I never would have imagined that I would see my art at an airport. And when I was approached by the Aspen Pitkin County Airport, in Aspen, Colorado and the Bismarck Airport in Bismarck, North Dakota, that's exactly what happened. When we step out into the world each morning, either walking on the street or taking a bus or subway, we're surrounded by art. From the famous “Whirls and Twirls” by artist Sol LeWitt at the Columbus Avenue/59th Street station in New York to the beautiful statues at the Bangkok Airport, art is everywhere that people commute. In their infinite wisdom, city planners, architects and designers have all realized that art doesn't only belong in an art gallery but where people can enjoy it. And airports are definitely a major touchpoint for art and the community. Airport terminals are becoming the go-to places for contemporary art. While visitors are waiting to pick up relatives from their international excursions or passengers milling about the terminal, on their way to a connecting flight, glass art can add to the airport experience. Airports can be a confusing place, but glass art can make someone stop and relax for a moment. And for people that have a fear of flying, relaxing is a good thing. An airport terminal is the perfect mirror to the world of the contemporary artist. She can offer peace and tranquility in a busy space and make the real world of delays and lost baggage go away, at least for a minute.

The History of Slumping

As glass designers we spend a lot of our time slumping. You heard me right we love to slump. Slumping is the term that is used to describe how we form warm glass into a shape that our customers will want for their backsplashes, wall or stand alone pieces of art, countertops or glass boards. By applying heat to the point where the glass will soften, our glass designers increase the fluidity of the glass causing the glass to 'slump' into or onto the mold underneath. Here's how we do it. Once the oven reaches the right temperature we put a sheet of glass in, 'slumping' it over a form or into a mold. We use molds that are made of plaster, clay coated with plaster, graphite, sand or steel. Once the glass is formed, we reduce the temperature so that it can cool off or anneal. Slumping has been around since the days of the the Romans. They used slumping on everything from vessels to bowls and plates. They would place a sheet of glass over a mold which produced vessels with rough surfaces, which could then be ground or polished to a smooth finish. Some of the other techniques that they used to get their unique pillar-molded bowls was through the use of a special slotted tool to for the glass into a ribbed shape before it would go to slumping. This helped create a ribbed effect on the exterior of the bowl. Glass is a malleable material that can be made into almost any shape that you want. In my coming posts I'll write about them to give you a better idea of the techniques that we use.

Why I Just Love Glass

My love for glass goes back many years ago, when I was visiting Europe and some other parts of the world. I was enamored with the beautiful glass art that I saw on my voyages. When I came back to lovely Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 2008, I started my business, wanting to share my passion for artistic glass work with others. So I purchased my first kiln, and decided to try it for myself. Today,four years later Castle Designer Glass has earned the reputation for creating custom designer glassworks that will get people talking about our customers, for the right reasons. We're well known for our innovative approach to glasswork, and we have most recently added the extremely practical and versatile glass whiteboards that can be installed in different interior spaces, including offices, board rooms, schools or hospitals. Our glass whiteboards come are manufactured in two ways 1) back painting the glass white or 2) sandblasting the glass. We also frame it with some shiny hardware to make it standout. Our glass whiteboards are highly functional and pleasing to the eye. I guess that the educational philosophy behind our the glass whiteboards is that the more students like their surroundings, the more they'll be motivated to learn. And cleaning is a snap, using mild detergents will keep your glass whiteboard stain free! Designer glass is a stunning way to add value and distinction to any space. It is a diverse material that can be used in door inserts, dining tables, countertops, wall décor and feature walls.

Using Your Entrance to Attract Customers

I was doing some online surfing the other day and I came across this great photo of the Artifacts retail shop by that was designed by Taiwanese interior designers Michelle Wei and Cheng Chia Hao. a http://retaildesignblog.net/tag/glass-doors/. They created a futuristic shopping gallery with nine rotating glass doors at the clothing store's entrance. I thought to myself "Self...that`s what I call myself when I'm asking tough questions, this is a really creative use of glass to give the store a WOW factor. It gets people to stop and take notice and it highlights the merchandise. By letting people look in the store, they know exactly what they're getting. " And that's where I realized that although they used out-of-the box thinking. There's no questioning who the star of the show is - the brand. But the objective of the entrance is to be inviting and get the customer to take the next step. If you let them see everything at the front entrance, they won't bother walking in the store. By using glass creatively and artistically you can have the best of both worlds.

Your Sign Tells Your Brand's Story

When companies are seeking to differentiate themselves in the market, they use several marketing tools to identify their brand including a logo, a tag line and marketing collateral. Whether you're a retailer or a service provider, one of the first things that your potential client sees is your sign. It is the most cost efficient marketing tool for a business just getting off the ground or a company that's rebranding its image. Small businesses need to immediately gain visibility and build brand recognition in the minds of consumers in an easy and rapid way: through the use of effective signage. By putting a company name and logo on an attractive sign made with weather-resistant materials, you'll break through the advertising clutter that each consumer is bombarded with, in some cases up to 5.000 marketing messages daily! At Castle Designer Glass, we know how to design a glass sign that will draw foot traffic to your location. Our talented glass designers will take the time to understand your products and services, identify your marketing needs and design a glass sign that will work in different lighting settings and with your interior and exterior design. According to survey results from the BrandSpark/Better Homes and Gardens American Shopper Study at the University of Cincinnati, indoor and outdoor signage are the second and third most effective source of new product information. The study also goes on to mention that 50% of respondents drove past a business because they couldn't find it! Don't let this happen to you, let us design a sign that makes you standout from the pack!

Helping Out Our Community the Best We Can

I have been very lucky in life. Aside from having the love and support of my family, I own my glass art studio. I spend all day creating glass art in the shape of glass counters, glass backsplashes, glass signage, glass railings, glass wall art and glass furniture. Many of the artists that work at my studio have exhibited their work throughout Saskatchewan and Canada. But I would like to talk to you all about something very serious. There are many members of our communities that are mentally challenged. And as the old saying goes "God helps those who help themselves", some members of our society are dealing with too much and need some help. The great staff at the Sherbrooke Community Center in Saskatoon are those angels from heaven that help those that are less fortunate. Each day, they make a difference in the lives of the citizens of the Sherbrooke district in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. They provide each resident with companionship, opportunities to give and receive care and seek to provide a diverse environment rich with spontaneity and variety. They support the individual community members and encourage them to develop their strengths and passions through meaningful and rewarding pursuits. We've gotten involved with the Sherbrooke Community Center in order to contribute as best we can, to their overall mission. Art therapy emerged in the middle of the 20th century that art to express emotions and concerns. We have donated our time as well as the glass in order for residents to create art that will help them heal. Not only do we feel good about what we're doing but we can help others feel good about themselves and that's the ultimate reward. If you would like to learn how you can help or donate, please visit the Sherbrooke Community Centre's website at http://www.sherbrookecommunitycentre.ca/

U of S Students are Learning on Castle Designer Glass

You never know where Castle Designer Glass will show up. The University of Saskatchewan, called us up a few months back to see if were interested in creating glass whiteboards for their classrooms. A little bit of history, the University of Saskatchewan was founded in 1907 and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It began its life as an agricultural school (hey, we are in the Prairies) but now boasts more than 200 academic programs and is home to The University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) facility which develops DNA-enhanced immunization vaccines for both humans and animals. Some of its famous alumni include Diane Jones-Konihowski, the Canadian Pentathlete, the late Sandra Schmirler, a three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and fiction-writer Guy Vanderhaeghe. We were approached by the Facilities Team at the U of S because they wanted to beautify their learning backgrounds. White is OK but Castle Designer Glass is better! So we set about installing the first 10 glass whiteboards the project manager had requested. Our glass whiteboards come in two styles 1) back painting the glass white or 2) sandblasting the glass. We also frame it with some shiny hardware to make it standout. The advantage of our glass whiteboards is that they serve two purposes. They're highly functional and pleasing to the eye. I guess the thinking goes that the more students like their surroundings, the more they'll be motivated to learn. Or something like that. In any case, glass whiteboards are a whole new product line for Castle Designer Glass. For those who aren't aware of what we do, you can always take a look at http://www.castledesignerglass.com/products.html. We create a wide variety of glass products including backsplashes and countertops, dorr inserts, freestanding wall art etc... You can find some of our work in commercial installations like hotel lobbies, casino wall murals, restaurant feature walls, and many other functional and artistic designs. But with glass whiteboards we're breaking new ground, who thought that school could be this much fun.

Casinos keep it Fresh with Spectacular Art

Barry Thalden of Thalden, Boyd, Emery architects wrote a great piece in Casino Design last year about how casinos have to find new ways to keep it fresh. Based in Arizona, Thalden, Boyd Emery Architects has worked on over 400 hotels and more than 100 casinos over the last 37 years. He feels that to stay competitive and keep customers coming back for more, casinos have to innovate by following the old amusement park rule by adding one new ride a year. Customers have high expectations and they like everything that is new. He goes onto say that keeping customers on the casino floor should be the most important goal of casino design. And he's right in saying so. But even before a customer touches a slot machine or pulls up a chair at a poker table, they have to be in a good mood. Everything from the valet parking to the aesthetic beauty of the lobby to how their greeted by the staff plays just as an important role in their overall experience. At Castle Designer Glass we tend to believe that customers form their initial impressions by what they see at the entrance of the casino. All the successful casinos, such as the Dakota Dunes Casino in Saskatoon use glass to create a focal point for visitors when they enter the casino. At Dakota Dunes they used glass to create a conic shape to commemorate water. Glass is one of the most flexible materials, helping us see what could be while serving functional purposes.

Why Your Kitchen should have a Glass Countertop

Most of our customers are redesigning their existing spaces. The kitchen is serves many purposes and in most cases is the main family gathering area. Homeowners are willing to invest a large portion of their budget. Before committing to a specific material for countertops, I’d like to explain the advantages of investing in a glass countertop for your kitchen work surface. One of the most surprising benefits of glass worktops for kitchens are their durability. When people here glass they think that all glass is fragile and hesitate to use them in their kitchens out of concern that they won’t last. However glass is an extremely strong and robust material that is ideal for use in the kitchen. It can easily withstand the spills, knocks and temperature changes that it will most likely endure. Parents with younger children know that, hygienic kitchen surfaces are a must, as little ones are known to eat their snacks straight off the worktops. Recent media reports have confirmed that counters can be breeding grounds for mould and bacteria, particularly wooden surfaces which allow germs to hide in them. Glass worktops are the best choice for kitchens. Because glass is non-porous; there is nowhere for bacteria to hide. All you have to do is wipe the countertop down with an anti-bacterial spray and you’ll have a hygienically clean worktop on which to tonight’s supper on. Glass is the best choice for homeowners that want clean surfaces that will last a lifetime.