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Where Art & Community Meet
Silvija Paza
Artist Statement
Curious how it's created? I like to direct that curiosity towards the process rather than the artist because that creates a depth of understanding and appreciation of the piece.
Although more refined, the process of sandblasting is the same one used to engrave headstones or remove graffiti from walls. I sandblast the piece in a booth with the sand in a pressure pot, forced through a hose with a small nozzle. I cover the glass with an adhesive resist and cut the design with an exacto knife. I peel off areas of the resist to expose the glass to the abrasive stream and the surface can be lightly etched or deeply carved.
Sandblasting is the industrial process that surprisingly creates these clear, delicate glass pieces.
Artist Bio
Artist Medium(s)
Glass
Artist Links
Silvija's family emigrated from Latvia, escaping as Russia took over their country after World War II. She was born in the US and as a child, watched her grandfather hammer traditional Latvian designs into copper.
Years later, her grandfather's art was what inspired her to begin sandblasting the geometric symbols of her Latvian heritage in glass. Latvians all over the US have sought out her glass vases and bowls with traditional Latvian designs, expressed in a nontraditional medium.
During 35 years of exploring this process, her work has grown to include images from the magical natural world of Vashon Island, her home since 1979 - another beloved source of inspiration!