Bayshore Gifts in Glass
Bayshore Gifts in Glass has over 38
years of experience in producing glass art. The company was founded in the UK
by Kevin McKay, who first honed his artistic skills as a musician in a popular
band in London, later exploring his artistic ability further through glass
sculpture.
Bayshore Gifts in Glass specializes in
creating unique glass sculptures, including glass wedding cake tops, glass and
crystal figurines, "name on a grain of rice" necklaces, and a wide
selection of glass beads, glass jewelry, and custom made glass pieces in all
shapes and sizes.
Kevin and his staff create each piece
uniquely, specializing in custom orders.
Kevin Mckay
Kevin Mckay, owner of Bayshore Gifts,
has been lampworking with glass since 1979 when he started his own company in
England.
He grew this business over the years to
a total of 8 shops and 30 staff, finally moving onto running a wholesale
operation selling all over Europe. Shipping glass Eiffel towers to Paris and
making custom orders for the English Prime Minister.
In 2000 he sold his UK business and moved
to Winnipeg, Canada to be near his brother's family where he started up again,
visiting Malls at Christmas and in summer retailing at his kiosk outside The
Forks Market. Finally ending up in 2009 with a retail store inside The Forks
Market.
With over 38 years of experience, Kevin
specializes in creating custom glass pieces that are highly personalized and
unique. Working from sketches and photographs of loved ones and pets, his
ability to replicate and translate fine details into his glass work is quite remarkable.
To check out a glass-blowing demonstration, head to the second floor of the
Forks Market to watch the artist at work!
Maki Kawakubo
Maki graduated from the Kurashiki
University of Science and The Arts, in Japan, in 2001. She attended conferences
presented by the Glass Art Society in Seto, Japan and Brooklyn, New York, in
1998 and 2000. Maki's studied under many famous artists and worked as a glass
blower as well as an instructor, in Japan.
Experienced, and with a well rounded
artistic background, Maki joined Bayshore in 2009. Proficient in all aspects of
glass work: Glass Blowing, Coldworking and Kilnwork, at Bayshore, Maki's focus
began with her unique line of dichroic jewelry sets and coasters, and some lamp
work. She has since concentrated on kilnwork and utilized her skills in
Casting, Fusing, and Slumping and developed a diverse assortment of kitchenware
such as plates, bowls, sushi sets as well as candle holders, business card
holders, wall art and more.
Ari Loewen
Ari joined the team at Bayshore Gifts in
Glass the summer of 2012, and has been lampworking at Bayshore for a little
over two years under Kevin’s instruction. Having graduated from the University
of Winnipeg with a double major in English and Theatre Design in 2013, she has since
brought her multidisciplinary approach, artistic skills, and interest in the
natural world to her glass-work, designing her own quirky, unusual lines such
as eyeball necklaces and molecular jewelry. She enjoys the challenge of
crafting incredibly detailed reptiles, amphibians and sea creatures out of
glass, in addition to experimenting with colour and stylization as she develops
and hones her flameworking technique.
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