Mark Roth's unique combination of creative and practical skills—as a percussionist, carpenter, and journeyman cook—found home when he began exploring glass as an artistic medium.

In 2001, Mark was hired as the cold shop technician for Starfish Glassworks. He discovered that his carpentry skills transferred easily to cold working equipment, and he began experimenting with designs and carving techniques on cold glass. Under the tutelage of gaffer Jay Macdonell and Starfish owners Lisa Samphire, Morna Tudor, and Gary Bolt, Mark began and developed his abilities to work hot glass. His restaurant kitchen experiences of balancing high heat with intense timing constraints made him feel comfortable on the hot shop floor, and his drummer-trained dexterity and rhythm continue to help him with the coordination needed for working hot glass.

Mark has furthered his education in glass through education, employment, and volunteer opportunities at Pilchuck Glass School and Red Deer College. He has enjoyed the privilege of learning from artists like Randy Walker, Darren Peterson, Mark Gibeau, Lisa Cerney, Ann Wahlstrom and Chuck Lopez.

Mark constantly challenges his glass related knowledge and abilities in an effort to create original and interesting glass art. His flair for design was recognized with the 2005 BC Achievement award for emerging artist in the field of design.

Currently, Mark is working on the Erosion series. This new work expresses the patterns of wind, glacial and water erosion found in natural landscapes on stone-shaped glass forms.

 

Curriculum Vitae

 

Exhibitions (Selected)

2007 (Solo)

•  Erosion . Vetri Glass International. Seattle, Washington.

2006 (Group)

•  BC Achievement Awards Traveling Exhibition

2005-2007 (Group)

•  Live and Silent Auctions. Pilchuck Auction Gala. Seattle, Washington.

2005 (Solo)

•  Details . Starfish Glassworks. Victoria, BC.

2002 (Group)

•  A Moment in Season . ec4 gallery. Victoria, BC.

2002 (Group)

•  Juried into the British Columbia Festival of the Arts . Vancouver, BC.

 

Awards & Scholarships 

2005

•  British Columbia Achievement Award for Emerging Artist in the Applied Arts and Design .

2004

•  BCGAA / Tiffany Glass scholarship . 

2002

•  Fran Phillips / Starfish Glassworks scholarship .

 

Highlight of 2008

•  The Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, gifted the Queen of England with three of Mark's perfume bottles in honour of Her Majesty's silver anniversary.

  

Education

2001-2007

Apprenticeship training with Jay Macdonell, Gary Bolt, Lisa Samphire, and Morna Tudor at Starfish Glassworks studio in Victoria, BC.

2004

Randy Walker's Building the Foundation course at Red Deer College, Alberta.

2002

Month in the Studio at Red Deer College, Alberta.

 

Memberships

British Columbia Glass Arts Association

Glass Arts Association of Canada.

Glass Arts Society

 

Media

 2007

Canadian House & Home magazine. April issue: 103-104.

2006

BC Home magazine. August/September issue: 18.

   

Work Experience

2007

Juror for the Canada Council of the Arts.

2001 – 2007

Employed as cold worker and hot shop assistant at Starfish Glassworks, Victoria BC.

2005 - 2006

Cold worker and hot shop volunteer for the Poleturners Centerpiece Team at Pilchuck Glass School in Washington State.