Molten Moments on Quadra Island

~ by Betty Carlson

When Cherie Hemmingsen turned fifty, two important things happened in her life. She discovered she had MS and in that same year took up  glass blowing. “When I am working,” she says, “I forget I have MS”.  Years later she still practices her art on Quadra Island and has opened her studio for others to see her at work. During the summer months she offers four hour-long experiential workshops that introduce the novice to the difficult and dangerous technique of glass blowing. Each student walks away from their experience with a paperweight made by their own hands.

It is unusual for Cherie to have more than 3 or 4 students in her crowded studio but Jill Miles was able to convince her that six women from Malcolm Island would not be a problem so Denise Aleksich, Stephanie Eakle, Carmen Burrows, Heidi Soltau and Betty Carlson joined Jill and went for an art weekend on Quadra Island.

The course is designed for almost everyone and Cherie operates her studio with safety in mind. Her two skilled assistants Rob and Shannon guarded us from the dangers that come with moving molten glass around in a confined space and guided us expertly through the intricate processes of glass making. Each of us, despite any physical limitations, was able to make a beautiful paperweight. Stephanie even tried her hand at the actual blowing of a globe which she smashed and then used in her paperweight. We were unable to take our work home with us that day since the glass had to cool, temper and cure. But a week later we gathered at Jill’s home, opened up the boxes with our names on them, and admired each other’s handiwork. Each paperweight is unique and beautiful and well worth the sixty dollar cost of the course.

We also had the chance to see how other islanders live, shared food and wine (there was, however, a minor scuffle over the remaining basil plants at the Superstore but the wounds are healing nicely).  It was a short but sweet time spent together.

You can contact Cherie Hemmingsen and view her work online through her website:  iblewitstudio.com.

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