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Zartwerks Studio News

Merrickville Artists' Guild 2019 Studio Tour

Once again this year, Zarwerks will be part of the Merrickville Artists Guild 2019 Studio Tour to take place over two weekends - September 28th and 29th, and October 5th and 6th.

Forefactor Awards

I am giving a lecture and demonstration at next year's Glass Art Society conference, to take place March 29, 2019 in St Petersburg Florida.

Zartwerks Poster

Forefactor Awards

Forefactor Awards - September, 2011.

Vaz Zastera of Zartwerks Studio was honoured to be commissioned by Forefactor Toronto to design and create custom one-of-a-kind glass sculptures as awards for the Canadian Investment Technology Awards, held September 20th, 2011, at the Bell Lightbox building in Toronto on the beautiful 6th floor roof terrace.

Vaz created the awards as cold-worked optic crystal scultures, based on his original design, "The Egg". Each award was hand-cut, ground, laminated, and polished over a 4-month period and each sculpture is a one-of-a-kind piece based on a similar theme.

Vaz was thrilled to attend the gala. He spoke to the receiptients about the awards pryor to the ceromony.

To view a photo essay of creating the awards and the gala in Toronto click: Forefactor Awards, 2011.

May 1st - 28th - Zartwerks exhibit "Organic Kaos" at The Green Door Restaurant

The Green Door Restaurant at 198 Main Street, Ottawa, will be hosting Zartwerks' "Organic Kaos" exhibit. May 1st - 28th, 2011.

Come enjoy a delicious vegetarian meal and check out some of the new Zartwerks.

"I have been painting like crazy and will have lots of new stuff for the show" - Vaz Zastera, March 29th, 2011
Organic Kaos

Optical Illusions: Advanced Cold Working and Bonding Techniques

"Optical Illusions: Cold Working and Bonding Techniques" to be held January 25-30, 2011, at the Oatka School of Glass & Glass Studio in Batavia, NY, will be taught by Vaz Zastera.

This workshop will explore the various cold working techniques of cutting, grinding, polishing, laminating and explore the beauty of color through the use of HXTAL adhesive.

New Optical Contacting page!

See my new web page about the "black art" of Optical Contacting.

Summer 2009 - Studio Tour Sale

Once again Zartwerks will be part of the Merrickville Artists' Guild 2009 Annual Studio Tour Sale, which will occur this year on September 26th and 27th, and October 3rd and 4th.

Some excellent pictures of my cold glass sculpture are now on flickr! Check it out on the Cold Glass Sculpture page!

July 2008 - Detour Gallery Exhibition

Hi everyone! On July 11th - August 3rd, my Zartwerks will be exhibited at the Detour Gallery , which is at 117 Murray St. Suite 101, in Ottawa. The exhibit is entitled "The Architects Have Left The Buildings". Come meet me at the vernissage, Friday July 11th, 6pm - 9pm!

Toronto Gallery Representation

I am now represented by Material Matters Canadian Glass Art Gallery, at 215 Spadina Avenue in Toronto.

Spring 2008 - Art In The Park

Once again this year, Zartwerks will be at "Art In The Park", Saturday, June 7th and Sunday, June 8th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The festival takes place in Central Park, in the downtown Ottawa neighbourhood of the Glebe, at Bank Street and Clemow Avenue, just south of the Queensway.

For more information, visit www.artinfoboy.org

Fall 2007 - Cold Glass Sculpture, Studio Tour, and TV Appearance!

Here is the video from my TV appearance on Regional Contact.



Hello everybody! Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I have been busy concentrating on Cold Glass Sculpture. I have been working on several pieces. I just returned from a two-week course at the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY where I was taught by the masters!

Upcoming, The Merrickville Artists' Guild Studio Tour took place this year during the weekends of September 22nd-23rd and September 29th-30th. Thanks very much for coming to Zartwerks Studio!

May-June 2007 - Art In The Park

Join us at the 15th Annual Art In The Park!

A celebration of hand-made, original art and the people who create it.

This year's festival takes place:

Saturday, June 2nd & Sunday, June 3rd, 2007
10:00 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Central Park at Bank Street in the Glebe
(Bank St, just south of the Queensway at Clemow Ave)


Expect to find the unexpected...

March 2007 - Zartwerks at the Parkdale Gallery

Vaz's Zartwerks are showing at the Parkdale Gallery, located at 229 Armstrong Street in Ottawa.

Eighteen Zartwerks paintings from Vaz's latest "The Architect Has Left The Building" series are part of The Parkdale Gallery's "Arts Electric" showcase. The other artists featured in this exhibit are Rae Bourassa and Terry Rempel-Mroz.

Limited Edition prints, signed and numbered by the artists, and an original scored CD will be produced from this event.

The gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon until 6pm. The "Arts Electric" exhibit takes place from January 15th to March 18th, 2007.

Voir, a French-language Ottawa area arts and entertainment newspaper, recently featured an article about this show.

September 2006 - 22nd Annual Merrickville Artists' Guild Studio Tour Sale

Story by Tracey MacDougall

I first saw Vaz’s work at the Britannia Gallery this past spring. He quickly became my new favourite artist as people told me that he was the guy who “uses car paint on metal”. This was so different from what anyone else was doing and I loved the end result.

I finally saw more of his work at “Colour The Canal” which was an outdoor show this past July. Vaz was exhibiting at Burritt’s Rapids Locks. I ultimately bought one of his smaller paintings.

When I visited his studio on Sunday during the Merrickville Artists’ Guild Studio Tour I discovered that Vaz had started a new project. Building on what he does with his glass jewelry Vaz is now sculpting larger scale glass. It is a very long process and can take months just to complete one sculpture. Each section of glass has to be sanded and polished then adhered to the other pieces with a special glue called hxtal NYL-1. Eventually the sculpture will resemble a glass building such as a sky scraper.

Vaz purchased a very expensive machine that sands and polishes the glass. Each step can take 2 hours. Starting with rough sanding, medium, fine grade then polishing and buffing the glass until it is completely smooth. That is what is involved for each small segment that makes up the sculpture.

If you didn’t get a chance to visit Vaz Zastera at his studio last weekend, I suggest you do so this weekend, September 30th and October 1st from 10 am– 5 pm. I think you will be intrigued by his work. It is very unique and innovative.

Vaz also has his series of paintings entitled “Landscapes In Orange” and, from his newest series, “Flowers and Space”. You can see Vaz’s work at The Cube Gallery & Britannia Gallery in Ottawa, as well as The Gratto in Merrickville.

July 2006 - Colour The Canal

On July 29th and 30th, come see Zartwerks at "Colour The Canal", located at various lock stations along the Rideau Canal. Click here for more infomation.

June 2006 - Art In The Park

I will be at Ottawa's Art In The Park event on Saturday June 3rd and Sunday June 4th.

Come see me and all of the other artists! This event will take place at Central Park in the Glebe - Bank Street, just south of the Queensway at Clemow.

April/May 2006 - Britannia Art Gallery

Come see my latest Zartwerks at the Britannia Art Gallery, 2728 Howe Street in Ottawa.

I'd like to invite anybody who has purchased any of my art to take photographs of the art in your home, send them to me, and I'll include your pictures on the website!

La Petite Mort

I have an exhibition of paintings is at Galerie La Petite Mort Gallery, 306 Cumberland Street, Ottawa. I change my paintings at La Petite Mort every once in a while, so visit them often!

March 2006 - Zartwerks at The Green Door Restaurant

The Green Door is a wonderful vegetarian restaurant in Ottawa. The food is amazing, and the organic atmosphere is perfect for my new showing of Zartwerks:

"Landscapes In Orange and Flowers In Space"

Come enjoy a delicious vegetarian meal between March 5th to April 2nd. The Vernissage will take place on Monday March 13th, 5:30 - 7:30 pm.

The Green Door is located at 198 Main Street, in Ottawa

Studio Tour

Thanks to all who visited Zartwerks Studio during my open studio tour in September and October of 2005. It was a great success with over 200 people in attendance.

Trip to Greece

I am writing this newsletter on a plane, returning from Athens, Greece. I spent two wonderul weeks visiting my cousin, whom I had not seen in 38 years! I could write a book about this trip, but, as an artist, it will come out in my art and new jewelry designs - there was jewelry store on every corner! The trees and landscape of Greece will be flowing from my pores as I try to paint the experience!

I visited hundreds of stores and galleries in Athens and on the island of Santorini, to see if Zartwerks Jewelry could fit in. One emerged in Athens by chance and another on Santorini. I hope to show and sell there soon.

More Retro Art Pieces

I am in the process of archiving my father's work. While in Greece, I photographed most of his pieces that are in private collections. Last fall I was lucky to receive two of his older sculptures for my collection - my aunt came to visit from the Czech Republic and brought them as a gift for me. I am amazed with all of my father's past work, most of which will soon be available for viewing on the website.

Hair Salon Shows

In between solo shows and the open studio tour, I have "mini" shows in different places. I have just finished a successful hair salon tour, finishing at The Studio of Conceptual Designs in Ottawa. After parading several pieces over the Ottawa area for a year, I was ready to archive them in my personal collection. When I arrived to take them down, they did not want to let them go! The Studio of Conceptual Designs now has six Zartwerks as part of their permanent collection - they are my biggest collector.

I'd like to thank everyone who has taken the time to visit the Zartwerks website, or the studio, and look forward to hearing your comments and seeing you soon. Drop us a line. Please don't be shy!

Cold Glass Sculpture
Cold Glass Sculpture
Cold Glass Sculpture
Cold Glass Sculpture
Crystal City
Crystal City
Cold Glass Sculpture
Cold Glass Sculpture
Tower
Dark Tower
Arts Electric
Arts Electric at the Parkdale Gallery
Arts Electric
Zartwerk from the latest exhibit
cube 1
Cube.
sculpture 1
One of my father's sculptures that made the journey to Canada.
sculpture 2
The other sculpture that made the journey to Canada.
hair
Zartwerks at The Studio of Conceptual Designs.
moth
At the MOTH Art Gallery.
jewelry
Zartwerks Jewelry
fish
Fish Zart