HANDMADE
Artech Studio
Artech Studio: Rural recycling gets a glassblower’s touch
Meet the makers Terry Craig and Jennifer Wanless-Craig
The ghost town of Tory Hill, nestled in the Haliburton Highlands of Ontario, Canada, is
where you’ll find the old United Church now home to Artech Glassblowing Studios. There,
the husband-and-wife team Terry Craig and Jennifer Wanless-Craig design and make
handblown glass tableware. Their newest collection of upcycled beer glasses are created
from bottles which are reformed at 2150°F using traditional techniques. They’re also
creating decanters from wine and vodka bottles.
Q: What inspired you to start this business and focus
on recycled glass?
A:
We have always been artists, working for other
artists. Since we built our own shop, we have grown so
much. We like using recycled bottles to make things, as
glassblowing is a costly art in terms of fuel, electricity,
and labor. Our beer glasses are based on an old glass
blowing factory technique.
Q: Where do you find design inspiration?
A:
We find it in pop culture, walks in the woods, our daughter, conversations over coffee
or beer, eavesdropping, baskets of rocks, music, and long baths! We are also inspired by
nature and the country and people who live here. We moved from downtown Toronto—
Canada’s largest city—to the middle of nowhere in 2003. We are surrounded by nature.
Trees, rocks, lakes, wildlife and the sky – these are what we see on a daily basis.
Q: What’s the dynamic like between you two as co-workers?
A:
One word...committed. To art, to each other, as parents, to making great objects,
to succeed, to be happy. Sometimes it’s difficult, but we always give each other the
opportunity to design and create. We trust each other and know our strengths and
weaknesses.
Q: Any product introductions planned for NY NOW in
January?
A:
We have three new glass designs; and the rest is a
secret! We launched our new “Rebeer” line this year,
and we are excited about designing new work for it.
“Summer 2014 was our first NY NOW show and it
was amazing! We hope to keep our work fresh and
our customers excited.”
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