Artist Statement: I fully believe a certain "luck factor" exists when working with glass; sometimes a piece turns out and others crack or break. Glass can be solid/liquid, can be formed using heat or through cold working processes. It is colorful, full of life, can be transparent or matte, and is the ultimate sculpting material. I embrace this uncertain nature of glass by transforming it into expressions of emotions and nature through swirling colors and awe-inspiring forms.The final hand-ground, polished pieces embody the contrasting characteristics of glass through their inclusion of textured and transparent sections and various colors interacting with one another. My pieces are composed of painted and laminated float glass, cast glass, optical crystal, and exotic stone.I strive to create provocative glass sculptures that showcase the flexibility and fluidity of glass while also accepting and adapting to its uncertain nature. This is my destiny in life; to create works of art that I am blown away in creating and thus I can only hope the viewer will have a similar reaction when they see my finished work. Born in 1980 in Calgary, Alberta, Wesley Neal Rasko honed his craft at the Alberta College of Art and Design and further advanced his expertise in the Czech Republic, where he apprenticed with the esteemed glass sculptor Bohumil Elias. His artwork, celebrated for its technical excellence and displayed in galleries worldwide, comprises architectural sculptures crafted from a blend of painted, laminated glass, cast glass, optical crystal, and exotic stone. Rasko remains dedicated to his practice, creating his intricate and skillfully made pieces from his studio in the Czech Republic.