leslie rowe-israelson

Her diverse portfolio of work includes exquisitely delicate sculptures, bold and brilliantly colourful mountain landscape panels and a broad range of intricate open face vessels and plates. These pieces are constructed through a complex process involving precise glass cutting and multiple kiln firings. Because of the time-consuming nature involved in the creation of each piece, it becomes a contemplative process which Leslie finds rewarding. The work is often combined with or presented on, elements of hand forged steel and shaped and polished stone that she and her husband collect from mountain slopes close to their home in Invermere, BC.
She spent her time as a child on Vancouver Island and the lower mainland and grew into a young woman who was instilled with a love of the ocean and the rugged coastal mountain landscape. A ski trip to Banff affected her so dramatically that upon returning home she immediately packed up her belongings and moved to Lake Louise. There she met Gerry, a young Park Warden. They married in 1980 and in the years to follow raised two wonderful children while stationed in multiple locations in the mountain National Parks. As a family they travelled on foot, on skis and horseback, experiencing remote wilderness first hand.
It comes as no surprise that the mountain and coastal landscapes of mountains, forests and water, ice and snow, are the major source of her inspiration and the common thread with which she boldly and beautifully weaves into glass creations. It is her wish to continue to evolve as an artist and create work that is meaningful. Work that in some small way moves the viewer, creates inspiration, triggers emotion, or serves as a touchstone for special personal memories. Work that captures your heart and nurtures your soul.