Ann Alderson Biba of Dela Kazine Art Glass Studio

Ann is our glassblower and was the first artist to officially join the gallery. I realized the other day that I have not introduced her on the Tornado Tavern Gallery blog, so here it is.

Ann specializes in fine handmade glass art bowls, hand-blown and carved. The bowl openings range from about 6 inches up to 8 inches in diameter and about 4 inches high. The bowls are beautiful and seem very sturdy.

She also provide us with three varieties of blown sun catchers that could double as celebration tree ornaments. Opps, celebration tree ??, don’t get the wrong idea I’m not trying to be politically correct at the expense of Christmas. I’m simply including the growing use of decorated trees for other holidays, celebrations, and acknowledgments like; Easter, birthdays, wedding, new births, spring, personal milestones, fun, and so on. Ann also makes wine bottle stoppers with her specially designed aluminum and gasket seal.

Ann started out making stained glass in her high school years and soon came to the attention of her high school teacher, and who would become her mentor, Jim Lesnick (sic). When Mr. Lesnick became aware of Ann’s love for glass he arranged for a class field trip to a local glass blower’s studio. When they arrived at the studio, Mr. Lesnick introduced Ann to the artist. The artist soon had Ann blowing glass and Ann was in love with the art. To this day Ann includes Mr. Lesnick as one of her heroes.

Ann went on to UW River Falls for her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1985. In her 28 year career Ann has worked for other artist and rented studio space for her own work. Then in 2011 she finally built her own studio.

Ann’s life, outside of glassblowing is just as magical. She followed her parent’s interest in theater and has worked, professionally, behind and in front of the scenes and still occasionally helps out with small theater. Ann has also participated in professional dance troupes and occasionally favors her friends with an impromptu belly dancing demonstration. She is the mother of an eighteen year old daughter and a sixteen year old son and over the last several years she has enjoyed her second marriage with a wonderful man named Scott.