Collaboration with Marta Gorski 

Frequently, we offer a perspective of ourselves that is a manufactured version of how we imagine others see us. We allow others to view us through strategically placed lenses: to demonstrate our charisma, our sexuality, our strengths. These offer a satisfying view but, in fact, are a barrier dividing the viewer from the reality of who we are. Rare viewers, who invest deeper and are willing to explore the spaces between, will see vulnerability unavailable to most. This work is about interacting with each other in the most intimate context.

2017: BowWave @ Beakerhead Festival

BowWave is a technology-driven excuse to revel in the beauty of the Bow River. See the river. Play the river. Illuminated, interactive shapes stretched out on a 200-metre gravel beach 

For Photo Credits: https://www.flickr.com/photos/beakerhead/albums/72157685944885681

My work body of work is expansive, often driven by the exploration into various techniques. I relish in accumulative skill building. The growth of my practice is held up through the dissection of the process of glass blowing. I spend a tone of time instructing intermediate glass, teetering myself between intermediate and advanced skill building. This piece is my current exploration in the ideals surrounding 'The Trophy'. Trophy glass blowing and the goblet dance.

My work body of work is expansive, often driven by the exploration into various techniques. I relish in accumulative skill building. The growth of my practice is held up by the dissection of the process of glass blowing. Instructing intermediate glass has thrusted my practice into advanced skill building. This piece is my current exploration in the ideals surrounding 'The Trophy'. This piece is my glass practice in review. I often use the lens throughout my conceptual body of work which explore time and intimacy. The lens represents one of the major historical shift in industry involving glass.

Lumina is a mixed media sculpture that consists of 11 hot glass castings and a 12-foot hand made steel frame. Each piece of glass was hot poured into the crevasse of a naturally fallen log. This process was repeated until the wood could no longer hold the glass.

As individual castings, each are approximately one foot wide and six inches in length, standing approximately three inches in height. All are individually tension set onto this tall thin steel frame in chronological order. A conversation about time and repetition divulges the impressions that are left on our environment. The concept of the human experience versus Mother Nature lends itself to the creative process of Lumina.

This work is not about making choices or to manipulate a specific form from the glass. The variables that stay the same throughout the process represent the pulse of time. This allows the glass to have its moment inside the wood, devouring parts of it with its supreme heat as a reflection of the effect we have on our environment. The wood speaks to the impact left on Mother Nature. The impressions that are left in the glass are an imprint of its interaction with the wood, forever preserving parts of it.

Conversely, the glass represents industry and how all-consuming we can be as humans. Lumina is a collection of frozen moments in time that offer us an opportunity to examine one's impact on the environment today, displayed vertically, not unlike the vertebrae of the backbone of Mother Nature.

WhirlClassGlass is based out of Calgary Alberta Canada and has been founded by Alana Biffert. Biffert has worked hard to create an amazing independent brand curated around sustainable luxury products that are eco-responsible. Her mandate at WhirlClassGlass is to manufacturer and provide high quality items. We believe in protecting our environments by selecting and using only the finest quality of materials to create only the finest products. Supporting WhirlClassGlass supports low-waste packaging and handmade treasures. We take pride in everything we do from beginning to end by holding ourselves to a higher stature of production.

Biffert is a mixed media artists with and adaptable and diverse set of skills that span across drawing and painting as well as some metal work. Please feel free to contact her directly for you commission based questions at whirlclassglass@gmail.com