Emphasizing the intimate play of light through glass, Glass Artist Gordon Wright creates art that inspires and transforms the viewer. Gordon's work indicates a passion for coloured light, particularly distinctive shades of clean, clear hues and rich dark primary colours.
Influenced by nature, architecture and geometric patterns of the world around him, he mixes ancient themes with modern ones. For example he will break the linear lines of a geometric pattern with an organic curving or “spirit” line similar to the way the Navajo would weave a spirit thread into their blankets. Unlike the Navajo who use the spirit threat to allow the spirit out, his spirit line journeys through the window revealing its secrets and its story. His work ranges from traditional to contemporary, abstract to figurative and he uses many techniques to enhance the feeling and mood of the art including etching, sandblasting and painting and a variety of glass types, bevels, lenses and blown glass. Each piece is designed to elevate the architectural experience of the building in which it will reside, while visually revealing its own story.
Gordon made his first stained glass window in 1981. Although he is essentially self taught, his career can roughly be divided into 4 stages; beginnings' in New Zealand where he learned the craft and studied with Glass Masters like Jochem Poensgen, Joachim Klos and Lutz Haufscild in design workshops. The next stage was working in Europe as part of a team that saw the completion of huge projects in England. Many were designed by either Brian Clarke or Graham Jones and fabricated at Derix Studios in Germany and then installed, mostly in London. Next his work took him to Saudi Arabia and the Middle East where he worked on palaces. Finally Gordon came home, setting up a studio here in Canada.
Today his work can be found throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand in private homes and palaces, corporations, public spaces, and churches.
