Teachers
Since graduating from Espace VERRE in 2016, Isabelle Alepins has worked with various glass art techniques. As an accomplished artist, she designs and creates unique glass objects inspired by nature and wellness. In her quest to find absolute equilibrium, she explores themes of femininity and nature; curvatures and the delicateness of working with glass in harmony with the movement of water and landscapes. Her objective is to enlighten the public on the beauty and everyday usefulness of glass. At Espace VERRE, Isabelle shares her experienced knowledge with students of the Cold Glass 1 course.
Bruno Andrus received a PHD degree in Art History while lecturing and writing articles specialized on the history of fine crafts of Québec. Following his graduation from Espace VERRE in 1997, he perfected his skills as a glass artist by accumulating work experience in various glass studios of Quebec and abroad. The recipient of many bursaries, he participated in various exhibitions and shows in Canada, the United States, France, Wales and Hong Kong. At Espace VERRE, Bruno teaches Glassblowing IV .
As a glass artist, Antony Brin-Piley divides his time between Canada and the United-States where he has established strong bonds with his public followers. He specializes in the borosilicate glass flameworking technique. Gifted with an open mind and a budding creativity, he produces unique and colorful pieces that are simultaneously functional and decorative. His passion for glass and his whimsical artistic approach will undoubtedly intrigue more than one. Since the fall of 2019, he has taught at Espace VERRE including the Flameworking 1 and 2 courses.
Annie Cantin completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Arts from UQÀM. Following this, she enrolled in classes and workshops at Espace VERRE and completed a range of glassblowing internships at the Centre international de recherche sur le verre et les arts plastiques (CIRVA) in Marseille, France. In recent years, she received several bursaries from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec which allowed her to continually hone and renew her skills. Her works have received significant visibility which facilitated their passage into the Quebecois heritage. Annie is an artist that combines glass, wood, metal and mirrors to capture the essentialness of nature and an infinite variety of shapes and colors. Glassblowing, her preferred form of expression, is a technique that she has practiced for more than 21 years. As of the fall 2021, she will share her remarkable knowledge and expertise on integrating art within architecture with the Espace VERRE students of the Cold Glass 2 course.
Since completing his glass studies in Yzeure as well as fulfilling several internships in other parts of France, Dylan Duchet moved to Montréal where he enrolled in the three-year programme at Espace VERRE. Following his graduation in 2017, he has progressively implicated himself within the organisation. Furthermore, he is currently the Espace VERRE’s Chief Technician and assures the good functioning of its building and studios for our teachers, students and professional renters. Dylan is a glassblower that integrates engraving and screen printing in his work. In his artistic practice, he researches movement in natural landscapes and fuses its raw beauty to a creative graphic style. Abstract lines find refuge on refined glass objects. Drawing since childhood, Dylan uses this graphic technique to create the first visual drafts of his creations. At Espace VERRE, he teaches the Technical Drawing course and Maintenance of a glass workshop.
After receiving a bachelor degree in industrial design from the University of Montreal in 1992, Carole Frève pursued the glass arts at Espace VERRE. As a contemporary glass and fine craft artist for the last twenty years, her pieces have been shown in exhibitions across Canada and the United States. Glass, copper electroplating and metal wire knitting are recurrent techniques in her sculptural works. Many of her pieces can be found in permanent collections, such as the embassy of Canada in Berlin, the Museum of American Glass (New Jersey) and the Speed Art Museum (Kentucky). Furthermore, she was accredited by the Compétence Culture organization as an instructor-tutor to help artists manage their careers. At Espace VERRE, she teaches 3rd-year students how to develop a creative and glass production enterprise.
David Frigon-Lavoie completes the three-year technical program at Espace VERRE. He graduated in 2013 and have been a part of Fusion until 2015. Since then, he has created many products, participated in exhibitions and marketing activities. He has also worked with several glassmakers and workshops. His favorite technique is glassblowing which he teaches in the Glassblowing III course to students at our school.
Jean-Marie Giguère came to the glass art through working with stained glass. Following his studies at the University Laval, he enrolled in the vocational programme at Espace VERRE in 1989. Since then, he has honed his glass art skills by working with many established glass artists. He has received countless distinctions and participated in at least 45 group exhibitions as well as five solo exhibitions in Québec and abroad. His preferred techniques are cold glass work and painting on glass, with a keen interest for the Swedish Graal technique, pairing engraved or painted patterns with glassblowing. He teaches painting on glass to students at Espace VERRE.
Awarded the Prix François-Houdé in 2013, Amélie Girard is an artist whose sensitivity and poetry are important guides in her glass work. Coming from a scientific realm, Amélie first studied mathematics. Following a long stay in Japan, she returned to Quebec in 2010. She then decided to reorient her career and began her glass art studies at Espace VERRE. In 2016, she completed a Master of Glass Art and Science from the Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Currently, she divides her time between Quebec and Portugal where she continues to develop her projects. Her artistic approach integrates an increasing variety of different materials including glass, ceramic, metal and everyday materials. From sculpture to installation, Amélie carries within her a very profound creative universe. At Espace VERRE, she will teach the Modeling and Molding course, as of the winter 2022 semester
Originally from Cologne, Germany, Detlef Gotzens apprenticed in a stained-glass studio at the age of 15. Thereafter, he developed an interest for glass technology and design, which motivated him to obtain a Master’s degree from the prestigious Glass College of Rheinbach in 1977. Shortly after immigrating to Canada in 1985, he and his wife opened their studio. This enabled him to complete some important stained glass restorations, as well as work on various contemporary architectural projects. Besides his glass work, he is an accomplished painter and enjoys metalwork. At Espace VERRE, he teaches and shares his passion for wheel engraving with the 2nd-year students in their cold glass course.
Catherine Labonté graduated in 2002 from the fine craft, glass option programme. Her work is inspired by cartoons, featuring humorous glass creations made with various techniques. She received many awards, including the Prix François-Houdé in 2008. Managing her company Cat Designer Verrier has made her a seasoned entrepreneur. Her works are part of important collections such as Loto-Quebec’s and the Musée national des beaux-art du Québec. Since 2009, she teaches kiln working to Espace VERRE’s 1st-year students.
Lisanne Lachance studied art at Collège Lionel-Groulx and at the University of Quebec in Montreal. Determined to express herself by using technical skills instead of through conceptual means, she enrolled in the fine craft programme at Espace VERRE. Since receiving her diploma in 2012, she has received numerous mentions of distinction, including a research bursary from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, as well as getting noticed by gallerists and collectors alike when participating in different group exhibitions. At Espace VERRE, she teaches cold glass elemental notions to the 1st-year students.
Since 1986, Michèle Lapointe’s work has centered on the integration of art within architecture and the environment. Recognized as much for her public art endeavours than for her gallery installations, the recurring themes of her work are the passage of time, the remembrance of places and the fragility of the environment. Her works are found in many collections such as the City of Montréal and the Musée-atelier du verre of Sars-Poteries, France. In 2018, she received the prestigious Jean-Marie-Gauvreau Award for her installation Mettre la tête où l’on pense. At Espace VERRE, she shares her expertise in the Synthesis Activity III class and works alongside Caroline Ouellette to guide the 3rd-year students in their final projects courses.
At the onset of her professional career, Caroline Ouellette co-founded Welmo Studio with her partner Patrick Primeau. Since then, she has participated in many solo and group exhibitions, and her works are amongst several public and private collections, including those of the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec and the Canada Council Art Bank. She holds a PhD in glass art from the University of South Australia in Adelaide (2014) and at Espace VERRE, currently teaches Synthesis Activity III and End-of-studies project alongside Michèle Lapointe, sharing her expertise with the 3rd-year students.
Gilles Payette completed his studies at the École de sculpture de Saint-Jean-Port-Joli in 1973. Subsequently, he taught wood sculpture while researching mold making in a bronze and aluminium foundry. In 1990, he presented his first series of sculptures with glass integrations. He pursued his explorations with glass with the guidance of François Houdé, Bertil Vallien, Geene Koss and Hank Murta Adams. He set up his own studio in 1995 and has since been represented by many galleries of Canada, the United States and Europe. At Espace VERRE, he teaches the sand casting course to the 2nd-year students.
Donald Robertson graduated from Sheridan College, Ontario, in 1984. In 2014, he completed a bachelor of fine arts from the University of Concordia where he graduated with Great Distinction. He specializes in the pâte de verre technique, for which he is internationally recognized. His works are part of many private and public collections from Eurasia to North America. He is one of the original teachers of Espace VERRE, where he still shares his vast knowledge on cold work, lost wax and kiln work and pâte de verre techniques. He also teaches the Technologie du verre (glass technology) course.
After graduating from Espace VERRE in 2002, Jean-Simon Trottier honed his technical skills by working with several glass artists in France, notably at the Centre international de recherche en verre et en arts plastiques (CIRVA) in Marseille. His accumulated experience places him as one of the best glassblowers of Canada. Whether solo or with his spouse and work partner Montserrat Duran Muntadas, he creates delicate and playful decorative objects and impressive sculptural installations. At Espace VERRE, he teaches the basic elements of glassblowing to the 1st year students