Barbara Rumberger

Glassblower Barbara Rumberger combines elements of earth, fire, and air together to make ethereal works of art that reveal the mysterious through light and color. Barbara began her art journey in glass over twenty years ago in the Visual Communications program at Alberta College of Art and Design (ACAD). In her first year, a glass elective sparked a passion in her. She switched her major to glass in second year.

Using techniques honed over years in the studio, Barbara crafts unique glass objects such as curvy vases, delicate flowers, and intricate paperweights. Barbara creates through the force of gravity, using the angle of her pipe and the mastery of her breath. She combines thinly layered colours and thick clear glass to showcase the dynamic optical beauty of the medium. This layering creates a stunning textural depth that defines Barbara's distinctive style.

Barbara graduated from ACAD with distinction in 1996, and in 1997 was selected for the ACAD Entrepreneurial Training Program offered to select emerging artists. Since then, she has had many honors as a glass artist, including demonstrating her fire polished vase techniques at Sheridan College (Ontario), Espace Verre (Montreal) and the Pilchuk Glass School (Washington). Barbara lives in Calgary, Alberta and divides her time between researching and managing glass product designs with an architectural glass company in Calgary, and glassblowing as a partner in the creative studio of professional artists at Fireweed Glass Studio in Canmore, Alberta.