When Julia Reimer was introduced to the craft of glass blowing she immediately knew she had found the right form for expressing her creativity. She says, “I was always drawn to the muted luminescence of river ice on bright brisk days in winter. So when I had a chance to combine the essence of light, colour and movement with a material, it was a perfect fit.”
Julia grew up and still lives in a small prairie town nestled in the foothills of southern Alberta. Her aesthetic, based on the simplicity of light and form, is derived from this environment of crisp prairie light, gentle hills and windswept grasslands.
After first studying glass blowing in 1996 at the Alberta College of Art and Design (ACAD), she has continued her studies through travels to Scotland, the United States, Spain, France and Hungary where she acquired a knowledge of design and traditional European glass making techniques. She completed her course work at ACAD in 2000 and now owns and operates Firebrand Glass Studio with her husband, Tyler Rock.
Her original design and meticulous craftsmanship have been recognized through several awards and scholarships, such as the Canada Council for the Arts. In 2008 she received the first ever RBC and Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery national glass award. In 2002 she was chosen as an Artist in Residence at the Corning Museum of Glass in New York state. As well, her sculptures are featured in the publication 500 Glass Objects. Her work is carried in several Canadian and U.S. galleries and has been exhibited in Europe.
Education | |
2005 | Northlands Creative Glass, Scotland - Conceptual Design class with Susan Cohn |
2002 | Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, New York - artist in residence |
2001 | The Studio at Corning, Corning, NY - in-depth introduction to Venetian techniques with Bill Gudenrath |
2000 | Pilchuck Glass School, Washington - juried class “Design in Glass” with Dante Marioni and Ann Walhstrom. |
1996-99 | Alberta College of Art and Design - special status student in glass blowing |
Exhibitions & Commissions | |
2007 | Water Street Gallery, Douglas, Michigan - The Looking Glass Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Calgary, Alberta - Lucent, juried Contemporary Canadian Glass Lafreniere & Pai, Ottawa, Ontario Glass - Sculpture Now |
2006 | Canadian Embassy,Washington, D.C. - “All about Alberta Exhibit” Alberta Craft Council, Edmonton, Alberta - featured artist in “Gathering Glass” Glass Art Association of Canada, Red Deer, Alberta - members exhibit for Red Deer Conference |
2005 | Gallerie Elena Lee, Montreal, Quebec - Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass collector’s show Gallerie Elena Lee, Montreal, Quebec emerging artist show |
2004 | Manitoba Craft Council, Winnipeg, Manitoba - solo show titled, “ Architecturally inspired Design” |
2003 | Sandra Ainsley Gallery, Toronto Ontario Canadian glass artist exhibit |
2002 | The Works Arts Festival, Edmonton, Alberta - glass sculpture show |
Professional Development | |
2007 | Pilchuck Glass School - teaching assistant for Blaise Campbell Invisible/ Visible and Coda Conference - presenter at international craft conference |
2006 | Alberta College of Art and Design - panelist/presenter for Alumni symposium |
2004 | Glass Art Association of Canada - co-president of national glass organization that organizes conferences, exhibitions, scholarships, a magazine and website. |
Awards & Scholarships | |
2008 | RBC & Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery - inaugural national award for glass |
2006 | Alberta Foundation for the Arts - project grant to research and create a body of work |
2004 | Alberta Foundation for the Arts - grant to assist with solo show at the Manitoba Craft Council |
2002 | Canada Council for the Arts - crafts grant to create a body of work |
2001 | Corning Museum of Glass - scholarship Alberta Craft Council - awarded Bobby Hoffman scholarship for study Niche Awards for American Craft - student finalist in Buyers Market of American Craft |
2000 | Pilchuck Glass School - awarded scholarship to attend an intensive course at Pilchuck Sheila Hugh Mackay Foundation - awarded grant to take Randy Walker’s intermediate glass blowing class |
Publications & Collections | |
2006 | 500 Glass Objects - juried by Maurine Littleton |
2004 | Contemporary Canadian Glass Magazine - review of solo show at the Manitoba Craft Council |
2002 | Alberta Craft Council - artist profile |
2007 | Bronfman Family Commission |
2007 | Al Chapman, Director, Arts Development Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Private Collection |