Leigh and J.P. Canlis Set off to Italy

Have you ever had a day that you knew, deep in your heart, would change your life? We did. Hmmm, maybe we should wait on that, let's start with today: I feel Italian. Well, almost. Maybe more like a French/German girl wanting to be an Italian. I am sipping a glass of cheap Chianti, waiting for my frozen Safeway Select Margherita pizza to be done, listening to Andrea Bocelli, and dreaming of Italy. What little I know of what it is to be a true Italian! I am about to find out.

Next week my husband and I head out on an adventure that will open our eyes to the Italian way of life. Italy? Why Italy? It is the heart and soul of glassmaking and glassmaking is the heart and soul of us. My husband, J.P., and I run our own glass art business, Canlis Glass. J.P. is an incredible glass artist (if I do say so) who has worked with the likes of Dale Chihuly, Lino Tagliapietra, Pino Signoretto and others before branching out on his own. We are planning to live, work, study and play in Venice and Murano for the next month.

Since 1291, Murano, Italy has been the epicenter for all things glass, from art to functional items. They once were the only people in Europe to know how to create mirrors (and basically made prisoners to the island because of it). The daughters of the famed glassmakers were allowed to marry royalty in the 1300s...not so shabby. Today, the number of glass maestros of Murano are dwindling, but still superior in their talent. Sadly, most of the new generation is more eager to pursue other fast paced avenues. Not all have left, of course, and we cannot wait to get to know the talented few.

So back to that life changing day...last May, while we were in Italy, J.P. and I had one day to explore the island of Murano. Once filed into the water taxi, we waited until the noticeable tourists got off the boat. Every. Last. One. Then, we waited for one more stop, just to make sure. Perfect! We had arrived. The corner of Murano that we were sure no one had discovered. The first shop that caught our eye was full of beautifully cut (engraved) glass. We walked in, jaws agape at the detail. Suddenly a sweet voice asked us if she could help us with anything, in English! I asked her where she was from and she responded "Originally? Kansas City." "KC! Me too!" Instantly we connected and I blew my cover, I was obviously an American. Damn.

Amy West and I grew up only miles from one another. She now lives in Murano and works with Luigi Camozzo, Maestro Engraver (one who cuts into the glass to create intricate designs). We spent the afternoon with Amy and Luigi who shared the same thread of passion for a seemingly dying art in their world and a blooming art in ours. We shared experiences of what the glass art world is like in Seattle and Murano, comparing life in the distant, but connected cities. We ate the best meal one could imagine -- courses and courses of seafood and wine. We decided that the Italian way of life suits us well.

As we left Murano we were speechless. As artisans, there was an overwhelming sense of duty, humility and respect. We both know that our love for our work stems far beyond making beautiful forms. In this fast paced world where everything is getting cheaper and faster and machine-run, where does the human hand fit in? More and more it is being eliminated. The arts cannot be lost and the art of glassmaking will not die -- not if we have anything to do with it.

For the next month we will be working and living in Italy, absorbing as much as we can of the culture and history. Join us by following this blog...if anything it will be an adventure!

Leigh Canlis and her husband JP, owners of Canlis Glass, are spending the month abroad as JP works side by side with the masters of this ancient technique. Follow his and Leigh’s adventures through Feb. 17 as Leigh blogs for us from the historic glass capital.