We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts. @CanadaCouncil #BringingTheArtsToLife

As the year comes to a close, we would like to highlight the creative work and Akin spirit of five artists from our beloved St. Clair Studio! Today we are introducing Liliana Botero, Tam Phan, and Rose Sevhan Kaynar. Continue reading to learn more about these artists, their art practices, and why they love working in an Akin studio! And stay tuned tomorrow for Part Two!

Liliana Botero - Destellos Glass Art (she/her)

*Image above: Liliana is smiling at the camera and sitting in her studio surrounded by her tools and glass rods. Her small dog, Lara is sitting on her lap.*

Liliana Botero is a graphic designer and a glass artist who studied and trained in Colombia and the United States. In addition to being a silversmith artist, Liliana has been working with glass for more than 20 years (12 in Colombia and 8 in Canada) and produces wearable pieces of art & artistic glass home décor items with passion & love with her company Destellos Glass Art using several glass techniques such as: Lampwork, Fused Glass, Slump Glass, Mosaic, Stained Glass, Pâte de Verre, Kiln Forming and Carving, Sandblasting.

Liliana found passion in the glass in the early years of her life, admiring the stained glass windows of the church where she studied elementary, middle and high school. When she graduated from school, glasswork did not exist as a profession in Colombia, so she decided to study an alternative profession to support her future wish to design glass art. She studied Fine Art and Graphic Design, and since then was able to start working with glass. Initially working with Stained Glass, Liliana then began to practice mosaic technique, eventually adding fused and slump glass, and then introduced the Lampwork technique to her list of glass art handling, among other techniques.

Follow Liliana on Instagram: @destellosglassart

*Image above: Round glass beads in blues and purpkes on an intricate silver chaine with a decorative heart shape in silver. Created by Liliana Botero.*

What's your favourite part about being an Akin member?
The peace of mind to have an affordable, safe and fun place to work and interact with other artists. Share knowledge between us and make good friends.

What's your favourite part about being in Akin St. Clair?
This is the closest location from home, and the space is perfect to develop my art

What's something you bring into the Akin community?
I share some of my glass knowledge and business experience to my studio mates, I'm always happy to do it!

Tam Phan (she/her)

*Image above: a close up of Tam who is wearing safety goggles and looking at the camera, in the background is a ped board with Tam’s tools and materials.*

Tam Phan is a visual artist specializing in stained glass. Her practice started during the pandemic, where she felt a deep desire to create something with her hands. Tam’s work explores human storytelling, relationships, intimacy and she tries to marry her full-time work in design and US with her glass artwork.

As a self-described ‘easily distracted person’, Tam is excited and engaged by the multi-process medium of stained glasswork. Tam loves the technical aspects of stained as well as all the tools. Working with things like glass cutters, grinders, sanders, heat, and water; Tam even loves the safety equipment she gets to wear, like safety goggles and gloves. The process usually starts with a hand-drawn design which Tam will manipulate on the computer, and then print out on really really big, thick paper so she can see everything clearly. Then the shapes are cut out, which Tam will trace on the glass and then fuse everything together with a soldering iron.

In her spare time you'll find Tam hanging out with her dog Leonardo (yes, like the ninja turtle), at the movies, or lying down on a patch of grass somewhere.

Follow Tam on Instagram: @tee_phan

Image above: colourful stained glass artwork in the Akin Vitrine Gallery by Tam Phan. Three crates are inlaid with stained glass and stacked together, light is reflecting through the glass onto the wall.

What's your favourite part about being an Akin member?
My favourite part of being an Akin member is my St. Clair community! I've been here for over a year and the friendships, kindness, and warmth I've gained from this place make it so special. We really care for one another and look out for each other.

What's your favourite part about being in Akin St. Clair?
Definitely the friendships that I've gained! The community really supports each other in ways that continue to surprise me and warm my heart. We eat together, celebrate together, and cheer each other on - it's a special place.

What's something you bring into the Akin community?
Perspective, I suppose? We all provide a bit of perspective to one another that continues to humble me and teach me new ways to look at the world and my art.

Rose Sevhan Kaynar - Rose Ceramics & Sculpture (Her/She)

Image above: The studio of Rose Ceramics & Sculptre. A large work table in the foreground, and many ceramic sculptures and objects on shelves. There is a wall of hanging tools in the background and a work station with a ceramic wheel.

Rose Sevhan Kaynar is a Toronto-based sculptor and ceramic artist who was born in Turkey. She graduated from the Akdeniz University of Fine Arts Faculty in Turkey. During her studies she learned a lot about sculpting, how to utilize different materials and techniques, while gaining valuable experience. Every piece Rose creates is one of a kind and hand crafted every step of the way. No two pieces are the same.

While making her sculpture, Rose is inspired by nature and figurines. Educated in Sculpture, Rose likes to advance her practice and has since learned how to make pottery to combine ceramics and sculpture. Bringing aesthetic shapes, cheerful details and fun figurines placed on potters to any space, Rose’s mission is to make life a little brighter with fun objects you can use every day.

Follow Rose on Instagram @rose.sevhan or visit her website www.etsy.com/shop/roseceramicsculpture/

Image above: a wooden shelf with a ceramic vessel on every shelf. Each vessel has sculpted element showing a human mouth. Some of the mouths are eating food and have little hands, some are sticking out their tonge or biting their lip.

What's your favourite part about being an Akin member?
I arrived to Canada 5 years ago, completely on my own. I had no friends, family or connections before I became a part of the Akin community. At Akin, I began to make friends that became my family. It has been a great opportunity to meet people who understand me and can connect through our art. I feel that the Akin collective creates an Artistic Family.

I also love that Akin spaces are organized, flexible and affordable. You have the option to rent a space privately, or with another member. It’s great that our spaces are open to each other so we can connect easily. Even though all the spaces are individually owned, we still have common areas that are always clean and organized. It’s hard to find spaces like this!

What's your favourite part about being in Akin St. Clair?
Before I was a member at St. Clair, I was a member in another Akin studio. Since I do sculpture and ceramics, I had to find solutions to fire my works. That was always a big problem for me. I wanted to have my own kiln, but I couldn’t install it in the location I was in. I found out from my network that St. Clair could support a kiln, so I joined immediately and bought a kiln. Since then, I always try to help other pottery artists to make firing their clay easy. Having the kiln in the studio has facilitated a lot of collaboration among our studio mates. We are all thankful to have that opportunity with Akin.

What's something you bring into the Akin community?
Since I moved to Akin St. Clair, I started to work with Akin as a Studio Manager Assistant. Part of my day involves guiding tours for potential new members, coordinating between studio members and management, organizing and maintaining common areas and assisting studio members and managers if they need anything.

Stay tuned for Part Two tomorrow when we will introduce Rumi and Natalie!