Barry Fairbairn
Born - 1961
Lives and works in Calgary, Alberta
As co-owner of a glass studio since 1990 and being professionally employed in the medium since 1984, I am fully involved in a lifetime of exploration and experimentation. Being an instructor since 1990, I find great pleasure in spreading my enthusiasm and energy to my students. If the last twenty one years are any indication, I look forward to the next forty (knock on wood ...oops! ...glass)
The Saxophone
The Saxophone is an intricate sculpture that involves several techniques in the making of glass that includes off hand blown glass, slumping, and hot sculpting. Small decorative pieces are made separately and hot sculpted onto the stem of the Saxophone to give the Saxophone the bling.
The sculpture is fumed with gold and silver glazes to give the sculpture a metal look. Because each Saophone is unique in design and shape, the metal stand is custom made for each sculpture.Barry Fairbairn is the only glass artist who has been able to create these beautiful instrument sculptures out of glass.
| EDUCATION | |
| 1980-85 | Alberta College of Art, Glass Major, studio monitor in glass department. |
| 1979 | High School diploma: particular promise in drawing and painting. |
| EXPERIENCE | |
| 1990-95 Double Struggle Glass Studio: self-employed | |
| Instructor for: Alberta College of Art, Extension Services | |
| Calgary Board of Education, Leisure Learning Department | |
| Red Deer College | |
| Alberta College of Art, 2nd Year Introductory Glass program | |
| G.A.A.C. Conference, assistant to James Norton | |
| Robert Held Glass Studio, Vancouver, BC | |
| Alberta College of Art, assistant to Fritz Dreisbach | |
| EXHIBITIONS | |
| 1999-Present | Rowles & Company Ltd, Edmonton, Alberta |
| 1991-1998 | Canadian Glass Show, Rowles & Company Ltd, Edmonton, Alberta |
| 1996 | Mutart Gallery Auction |
| 1996 | Travels to Edmonton’s A.C.C. |
| 1995 | Triangle Gallery, Calgary, Alberta |
| 1995 | Canadian Clay and Glass Museum, Waterloo, Ontario |
| 1995 | Muttart Gallery Auction, Calgary, Alberta |
| 1995 | 2nd Annual“Great Goblet Grab”, G.A.S. Conference, Ashville, NC, USA |
| 1994 | “Containment, The Space Within”, Canadian Clay and Glass Museum, Waterloo, Ontario |
| 1994 | “The Great Goblet Grab”, G.A.S. Conference, Oakland, CA, U.S.A. |
| 1994 | Muttart Gallery Auction, Calgary, Alberta |
| 1993 | Faculty Show, Red Deer College, Red Deer, Alberta |
| MEMBERSHIPS | |
| Glass Art Association of Canada | |
| Glass Art Society (USA) | |
His artwork is represented by Rowles & Company Ltd., Alberta’s Corporate Gift & Art Gallery, in Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
