Elkford glass artist Katherine Russell is going to be featured in the upcoming Columbia Basin Culture Tour.
The 14th annual tour will be taking place on Aug. 6 and 7 and feature 84 artists, cultural and heritage sites across the Columbia Basin.
Russell’s glass art studio will be the one stop in Elkford this year.
“It’s a chance to see some of the techniques that I do here, as well as an opportunity to see the whole range of the glass works that I make,” she said.
It will be Russell’s sixth time being featured in the culture tour, with an art showing at her home studio at 118 Cariboo Dr. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.
She said there would be quite a range of blown and kiln-formed glasswork on show, such as necklaces, ornaments, bowls, vases, urns, platters, wall panels and more.
Russell has been doing glass art for almost 20 years, including the time she spent in art college in Alberta.
She said she first got into it because the work is ‘super physical and super active.’
“You’re on your feet, running around all day with a team, and it’s loud, and it’s exciting, and it’s fast paced,” she said, adding that it’s more her speed than sitting at a computer doing graphic designs.
She said her kiln has been hard at work in the week leading up to the tour, building up stock before the weekend.
It will be a chance to see a bunch of her work out at the same time, she said, and could be the starting point for commissioned work.
She said it’s a chance for people to see the town, and is a reason to go out and experience a new community.
“I get people coming from out of town for it,” she said.
“There’s lots in Elkford. I might be the only venue for this tour but people can make a day of it.”
Russell said that last year’s tour brought a really good turnout.
Her home studio can be accessed via a separate entrance from her driveway.
“They can park out front, there will be lots of signage, and they can come right into the studio.”
One other Elk Valley artist will be featured in the tour, Sandra Barrett of the Fernie Forge and Eye of the Needle.
Russell’s work can be found online at katherinerussell.ca.
READ MORE: Culture tour returns to Fernie for 2022
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