After a career spent travelling around the world, Scot Slessor is bringing his passion for teaching glass art, home to Liverpool.<\/p>\n
The former Canadian diplomat served in China, Cambodia, Brunei, India, Jordan, Afghanistan and Thailand and has opened a studio across from the Astor Theatre.<\/p>\n
Slessor works in warm glass slumping, painting, kiln carving, casting among other methods but doesn\u2019t blow glass.<\/p>\n
He says moving his equipment to far flung locations throughout his career has sparked some interesting discussions.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can just imagine it was already weird enough when I was showing up to one of our embassies and I tell them I\u2019m bringing a kiln,\" said Slessor. \"They would inevitably write back and say, sir, I think there\u2019s a problem, there\u2019s a typo in the list. It says you\u2019re bringing a kiln and I would say that\u2019s right, I am. But you should be thankful I\u2019m not bringing a furnace. And they go, oh, yeah, you\u2019re right, we\u2019ll make this work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Just as he has done around the world, Slessor wants to share his knowledge of glass art with budding and aspiring artists in Queens.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s not in it for the money and has offered the opportunity to learn and create pieces at cost for many non-profit organizations.<\/p>\n
All funds raised through SAS Glass are used to make more creations, support NGOs and train artists in locations where glass art is undeveloped or non-existent.<\/p>\n
Slessor\u2019s passion for glass art is contagious and he hopes to inspire more people to try their hand at it.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery kid likes to melt stuff, and this is like the next level of, ooh, let\u2019s melt that and see what it looks like,\" said Slessor.<\/p>\n
Residents of Liverpool may see Slessor coming and going as he establishes his studio located in the space formally occupied by Primrose Computers.<\/p>\n
The first real opportunity the public will have to view his work will be when he puts it on display during Christmas on the Mersey on December 3.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, a quick trip to his website sasglass.ca will provide a look at his art as well as information about his process and how to sign up for lessons.<\/p>\n