Calgary glass artist tangles with earth, fire and memory to create unique 'bits of soul and spirit'

Some days, the "glass goddess" is just not on Laurel Pryde's side.

"It's feisty. It fights back. Part of that is the fun, and part of it is when you just need to walk away."

As a glass artist, Pryde hasshaped thousands of lampwork beads over the past decadethrough whatshe describes asa collaborative, spontaneous and at times even combative dance between fire, earth andmemory.

Meet Laurel Pryde, Calgary glass bead artist

6 years ago

Duration 1:34

Pryde has shaped thousands of lampwork beads over the past decade.

She draws inspiration from theplaces she's been, thething's she's seen and the emotions tied to those experiences.

"Where the fire and my memories and love of the ocean where they meet, comes ocean beads. Then being able to walk around with that and feel it on me ...they're little bits of soul and spirit, and art that are portable."

Each bead begins in much the same way.

Prydecarefully selects a few colouredglass rods from the hundreds in her studio, carriesthem toher worktable and fires up the torch.

Then the glass awakens.

An animated Prydedescribes the motion of molten glass, pushing and pulling as it heats orcools in the flame, strands tangling unpredictably as their colours and opacity morph.

"You have to respect the fire and the glass itself," she cautioned.

The temperature of the flame, the fuel compositionof oxygenrelative to propane,the unique combination of chemical oxides and minerals present in the glass all of these variables contribute tothe final outcome.

"Until I put it in the flame, I don't know. It could come out the same, or it could come out different,"Prydeadmited, gesturing to a stick of glass to draw attention to the change in colour.

But she appreciatesthat element of uncertainty.

"When something unexpected happens, just through its own properties of what it is, that's my favourite part;it's like a surprise," she said.

She acknowledges that others might not share that perspective.

"It can be frustrating. Ifyour expectations are really rigid, lampworking is probably not the thing for you," she said, laughing.

But the unpredictabletwists and turnsand even the inevitable moments of disappointmentsuitPrydejust fine.

"This isn't my job; this is my passion. This is what I do to fill my heart and my soul, and put light in my eyesand make me happy."