Biography
Born October 1953 in San Francisco, Christopher Smith moved to British Columbia in 1970. He began working in glass in 1975, employed as an apprentice in the Glass Head Studio in Nelson B.C. This studio was primarily concerned with religious stained glass restoration and residential stained glass design and fabrication.
Also in 1975, Chris spent a semester at the Alberta College of Art, studying glass blowing under the direction of Norman Faulkner. He moved to Nanaimo in 1976, and studied art history at Malaspina College.
Chris opened the original Glaskrafter Art Glass Studio in Nanaimo in 1977. The Studio moved to Lantzville in 1986 and in 1991 it was moved to its present location behind Chris’ home on the edge of Nanoose Bay. Glaskrafter Art Glass is one of the oldest established art glass studios on Vancouver Island and provides a full range of services, from repairing broken French doors to complete design and consultation work with clients, interior designers and architects, resulting in glass work very specific to site and client.
Chris has taught many classes in both stained glass and sandblasting techniques. He has instructed at Malaspina College, North Island College, the Nelson School District, and holds private classes and workshops at his studio. For the last ten years he has been working with selected Grade 12 students at Nanaimo District Secondary, helping them design and build stained glass windows for their new library and scattering stained glass windows and fused glass panels throughout the school.
Exhibited widely in the past, Chris rarely exhibits work now as the commissioned work keeps him pretty busy. He does show new work in his own gallery and periodically will have work out at ‘the Old School House’ Gallery in Qualicum Beach and the Nanaimo Art Gallery, downtown Nanaimo. The Glaskrafter’s commissioned work can also be found in places as distant and diverse as Singapore, Malta, Denmark, Osaka, the Yukon, England, and Cumberland.
Since 1975, Chris has been learning new ways to manipulate glass as well as constantly improving and refining his craft. With this growth in technique has come a growing understanding of glass as art. Beginning with traditional stained and leaded glass, Christopher has been doing serious work with plate glass, creating his unique Light Sculptures, one-of-a-kind glass tables and sculptural glass furniture. Sand carving and bending plate glass salmon and mounting the glass on lacquered river rock and creating mixed media sculpture using glass, steel, wood and beach aggregate. He’s also creating sandblasted heron and salmon sconce lamps and fused glass platters, bowls and sculpture.
Creative development and the art of learning Art go on forever.
note: Artist's photo is 12 years old. He is much more handsome now!
EXHIBITIONS
2000
Throwing Stones from a Glass House: Solo Exhibition
The Old School House Art Gallery and Exhibition Centre, Qualicum Beach
1993
Expressions of Celebration: Invitational Exhibition
Nanaimo Art Gallery, Nanaimo
1992
Light Cycles: Solo Exhibition, Nanaimo Art Gallery, Nanaimo
1992
More Magic: Invitational Exhibition of BC glass artists
Craft house, Granville Island, Vancouver
1991
Winter Lights: Invitational Group Exhibition
The Old School House Gallery, Qualicum Beach
1990
Cutting Edge: Solo Exhibition, Rollin Art Centre, Port Alberni
1990
Light Impressions: Group Exhibition with Chuck St. John and Robert MacRae
The Old School House Gallery, Qualicum Beach
1989
Images and Objects VII: Juried Exhibition of BC arts
BC Festival of Arts, Chilliwack
1988
Echoed Shapes: Joint Exhibition with Elaine Duncan
The Old School House Gallery, Qualicum Beach
1988
Images and Objects VI: Juried Exhibition of BC arts, BC Festival of Arts, Kimberly
1988
Glass Act II: Invitation Exhibition of BC glass artists, Fort Langley Centennial
Museum & Exhibition Centre, Fort Langley
1988
Pacific Coast Regional Arts Council Show of Fine Arts and Crafts:
Juried Exhibition, Nanaimo - Award Winner
1986
Images and Objects IV: Juried Exhibition of BC arts
BC Festival of the Arts, Prince George
Commissions of Note
2002
Glass Sails- Fairwinds Centre
Nanoose Bay, B.C.
Two 8 ft tall x 5 ft 3/8" glass sail shapes, bent to shape and mounted in masts and booms
With sandblasted scenes from the local area (Heron and gulls, fir and cedar trees and islands and distant mainland mountains.)
2002
Fused Glass Sunburst-Inset in Cedar dome built by Sculptor Francois Mongeau
Hosenka Place, Retirement Complex
Osaka, Japan
6 fused and slumped ‘flame’ glass panels approx. 2.5 ft x 3.75ft and
One ‘sun’ fused and slumped 3-ft hemisphere.
Stained Glass ‘Water & Air’ window and entryway rose arch windows as well.
1985-2003
Memorial Stained Glass Windows
Ecumenical Centre: Trinity Catholic & Trinity United Church
Nanaimo B.C.
6 windows, approx. 7 ft tall x 2.5 ft wide, Main church
5 sandblasted windows in vestibule and 6 stained glass windows in the meeting hall.
3 sandblasted windows, Priest’s office
1996-7
Unrau Residence
Nanoose Bay B.C.
14,000 sq. ft private residence with leaded glass through out.
7 windows, 2 French doors: solarium,
2 –8 ft arched top French doors and 10 cabinet door leaded lights: kitchen
3 French doors, 4 leaded windows, 6 bar cabinet leaded lights, 6 cabinet door leaded lights, 1 light cover: bar and games room.
2 arched top French doors: bonus room
Leaded cabinet door lights in guest and pool bathrooms, ensuite bath and guest kitchen.
1988 & 2001
St Phillip’s by the Sea, Anglican Church
Lantzville, B.C.
1st Stained Glass window, 8 ft. x 3 ft in original church 1988
2nd Stained Glass window to match up with 1st window on move to new building in 2001.