Oregon Glass Artist, Kyle Kraiter Represented by High Desert Gallery of Central Oregon

High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Central Oregon is pleased to announce the representation of Oregon Artist, Kyle Kraiter. Kyle's original hand blown glass is exhibited for sale at High Desert Gallery's Sisters Oregon Art Gallery located at 281 W Cascade Avenue in downtown Sisters, Oregon. After graduating in 2000 with a degree in Psychology, Kyle ventured outside of his home state of Oregon to travel, surf and sharpen his glass blowing skills from some of the best including stints with master glass blowers in New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, Singapore and America. Kyle's attraction to glass work was tied to an underlying passion for adventure and beauty; this passion was fueled by both his exploration of glass and by other irreplaceable experiences with the people and places he encountered during his travels.

If you have ever been to Oregon, you would understand why nature has such a strong influence on Kyle's work. The curl of a breaking wave. The curve of a woman's hip. These two things, the ocean and the human form, are two of the most visually apparent influences in Kyle's work. "The true artist to which no one can compare is mother nature herself," says Kyle. "No one can compete with the pattern in a leaf or the colors of the sea." Smooth, simple line and form true to the nature of the material are what one will find expressed in both the shapes and color of Kyle's work. While his glass is not pretentious or tedious, Kyle still finds new ways to challenge the material: Don't be surprised to see him plunge molten glass into cold water and then take a hammer to the cracked surface to expose swirls of color hidden beneath.

Glass has taken Kyle all over the world, and each piece he makes is made with a world of knowledge and experience that few other glass blowers have had. Kyle's work is a unique culmination of his experiences. Not just the countless number of artists he has worked with, but the people he has met, and the natural beauty of the places he has lived. Kyle makes glass you want to reach out and touch. You want not only to look at it, but to look into it, and share in the rich array of experiences, the reverence for nature, the passion for adventure, and beauty of the glass itself, all of which influence every piece Kyle makes.

Brief glimpse of Kyle's studies and travels

Education/Experience:
2000 Bachelor of Science in Psychology
2006/7 Diffuse Glass Lighting, Sydney Australia,
2005 Synergraphic Architectural Glass Firm, Singapore,
2004/5 Bandon Glass Art Studio, Oregon USA,
2003 Design and Production semester, Kalmar University, Pukeburg Sweden
2002 Certificate in Glass Design and Production, Wanganui UCOL Polytechnic, Wanganui New Zealand
2002 Teaching Assistant for Karen Willenbrink-Johnsen, Eugene Glass Blowing School, OR USA
Teaching Assistant for Fritz Dreisbach, Eugene Glass Blowing School,

Workshops:
Graul workshop with Juan Erik Ritzman, Sweden
Action Design with Rolf Sinnemark, Sweden
Glass Design with Monica Backstrom, Sweden
Glass Blowing workshop with Jane Bruce, New Zealand
Roll-up workshop with Scott Chaseling and Kristie Rey, New Zealand

Assistant For (2001-2007):
Fields and Fields Glass, Andy Nickols, Giles Bettison, Tim Shaw, Trish Allen, Jane Cowie, Lynn Read, Dutch Scholtz, John McClay, Lindsay Patterson, Flame Daisy Glass, Isola Productions, Deflute Glass, VisGlass, Schroder Glass, plus many others.

High Desert Gallery of Central Oregon is honored to represent Kyle Kraiter in Central Oregon. For more information on Kyle, his blown glass and the gallery please contact High Desert Gallery at www.highdesertgallery.com or 866-549-6250 / 541-388-8964. To view works of art by Kyle Kraiter please visit: Blown Glass by Kyle Kraiter.

About High Desert Gallery: High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing, The Art & Soul of Central Oregon™ is an award winning fine art and custom picture framing gallery with retail locations in Bend, Oregon (Opening early 2009), Redmond and Sisters Oregon specializing in Central Oregon Artists & Beyond™ and Stellar Custom Framing. High Desert Gallery honored in 2005, 2006 and 2007 by Decor Magazine as a "Top 100 Art and Framing Gallery in America" and voted "Best Art Gallery" in Redmond, Oregon (2006, 2007 & 2008) and Sisters, Oregon (2005, 2006, & 2008). In February 2008, High Desert Gallery was awarded Top Honors in the Professional Picture Framing Association 2007-2008 International Open Framing Competition. For more information please visit: www.highdesertgallery.com or call toll free 1-866-549-6250. The Art & Soul of Central Oregon™ and Central Oregon Artists & Beyond™ are trademarks of High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Central Oregon.

Original artwork by listed artist(s). All rights reserved and copyright 2008. Use of image is restricted and prohibited without prior written permission.