Art & Life with Erika Parkin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Parkin.

Erika, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I grew up in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. As a kid, I spent a lot of time hanging around in my Dad’s metalsmithing studio. After a while, he started to put me to work in the summers, and for twenty dollars a week, (that seemed like a lot of money at the time) and a monthly bus pass, I got hands-on experience with copper and silver. Through high school, I worked in a bead store as a jeweler and designer. I was always most fascinated with the hand made glass beads that I came across. I wanted to make these beautiful things. So I bought myself a little torch and went about learning all I could on my own. After taking a few short glassblowing classes, I decided to pursue a formal education in glass. I graduated from The Craft and Design program at Sheridan College, with a major in glass. Once I finished school, I applied for a glass job here in Tucson, and I’ve been here ever since!

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
First off, I’m a glassmaker. The kind of work I do is usually referred to as “Fine Craft” or “Functional Art.” I mostly make vessels, (vases) or centerpiece bowls. The kind of thing you’d find on an entry table or in a niche in someone’s home or office. I love the way glass moves when it’s molten, and the heat, and fire are truly captivating. Being able to manipulate the material to create what I see in my mind is incredibly rewarding. Being able to share that with others, is also pretty great. There’s just something so neat about the idea that another person can take home a piece of my personal interpretation of the world! It seems that my art is largely influenced by my surroundings. I like to spend time outdoors, taking in how light and shadows play on different surfaces.

I’m most interested in capturing the feeling of visual texture in the world around me, both up close, and far off.

Do you think conditions are generally improving for artists? What more can cities and communities do to improve conditions for artists?
I have mixed feelings about current conditions for artists. I’ve been blowing glass professionally since 2002, but up until very recently, my circumstances were very fortunate. By that I mean, I was in the employ of a well-known artist reproducing his production line. I had use of the facility, where I could make and sell my own work. Very few artists are so fortunate. As far as using social media as a way to promote yourself, it can be hugely helpful, but it can also take up much of your time that could be better spent honing your craft. Historically, a person would make things, build a portfolio and send out copies to galleries that you thought might carry your work, and if they liked it, that was it. There was no need to post multiple times a day so as not to lose your followers. I don’t know what’s better. I guess it depends on the artist and the medium. The arts can be encouraged by creating maker spaces that offer workshops, classes, and studio space. Having local art fairs, craft markets and galleries in popular urban settings is a great way for cities to promote the arts.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My work can be found on my website, www.reflectiveindex.com and can be found locally at Philabaum Glass Gallery and Studio. If you want to see what I’ve been up to, as well as see what I make, follow me @reflective_erika on Instagram. The best way to support an artist is to buy their work and to promote them, by sharing their work with others.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.reflectiveindex.com
• Instagram: @reflective_erika

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