Glass pendants with psychedelic swirls, purple and pink skulls and multicoloured beads sit on display at flameworker Leah Duperreault’s table.

Duperreault, of Invermere, B.C., is one of the visiting artists demonstrating what she does at the Artistic Expressions venue in the Parkland Pavilion at Westerner Park during Westerner Days from today to Sunday.

She creates her pieces using a variety of colourful and clear soft and hard glass rods, along with a propane and oxygen-fueled torch. She first learned how to make glass beads from a book eight years ago, eventually taking a Summer Series course at Red Deer College.

“I think glass is the most amazing thing ever. I love that it’s hot and colourful and you can make anything you want,” Duperreault said. “The biggest challenge is when you first learn to work with glass you just react to what it does and so once you get a little bit more experienced you can make the glass do what you want.”

Her favourite things to make are glass skulls, with a variety of multicoloured versions and larger clear skulls on display at her table.

Duperreault will be showcasing her talent throughout the day until Sunday, with demonstrations throughout the afternoon into the evening in the Parkland Pavilion.

It’s the first time the Artistic Expressions exhibit, art gallery, demonstrations and entertainment stage has happened during Westerner Days. In the past, there was an arts and craft pavilion but Erin Gobolos, marketing and sponsorship manager at Westerner Park, said they wanted to try something new this year.

Open from noon to 10 p.m. today and Saturday and from noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday, the pavilion will offer everything from flamenco guitar and bluegrass to rock balancing and painters.

Gobolos said in the past they have more a static display in the creative arts area, but feedback from the public suggested they would like to see something more interactive in the area.

“I think it helps us reach a new demographic of people,” said Gobolos, who expects the show to grow in coming years.

In another part of the pavilion, Brenda Danbrook, of Opal, is demonstrating wheel throwing using Plainsman porcelain out of Medicine Hat.

“I like to be able to make functional items that people can enjoy for years. Families gather around their dishes,” Danbrook said.

“There is a sense of satisfaction in creating something that you know someone is going to enjoy for many years to come.”

Some of Danbrook’s work was purchased by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, as part of its Clay 2010 acquisition of ceramic work.

Although she has 18 years of experience as a ceramic artist, Danbrook went back to school and is in her final semester in the visual arts program at Red Deer College.

Danbrook encouraged beginners to persevere and look into taking a course through the Summer Series at RDC or throughout the year at in one of the college’s many continuing education and visual arts classes offered in ceramics and other disciplines.

sobrien@reddeeradvocate.com