Daron Letts
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 15/05) - A new art store opened next to the Gallery of the Midnight Sun in Old Town last week. The shop occupies the front of Rosalind Mercredi's Soul of Glass Studio.

Rosalind Mercredi holds one of her bowls as she is reflected in a mirror made of pebbles and accented with stained glass.

"I just put the sign out front and now we'll see what happens," she said.

Mercredi designs Northern scenes out of stained and painted glass. Since learning the process through the Yellowknife Guild of Arts and Crafts six years ago, Mercredi has put her own twist on the centuries-old art.

She incorporates natural materials into her work, soldering pebbles, driftwood and antlers into the designs. She creates uniquely-textured bowls, wall hangings and jewelery. She sometimes uses found items like coloured beach glass smoothed by the waves or oddly shaped chunks of broken pottery.

For some designs, she fuses glass in her kiln. She shapes curvaceous vases and blends colours to represent the Northern lights.

The shop also features some of Mercredi's collaborations with Yukon basketmaker Sheila Alexandrivich.

They involve intricately woven willow baskets lined with colourful glass and flat rocks.

Mercredi's work has been displayed at several festivals and galleries in the Yukon. Her recent work is on display at the Great Northern Arts Festival, which starts today in Inuvik.

Soul of Glass Studio is open evenings and weekends. Workshops will be offered soon.