The Natural Step Canada is proud to be the educational partner for the GLASSLANDS Collection project. Working with renowned Canadian crystal artist, Mark Raynes Roberts, we are jointly developing an exciting new strategic sustainability education program uniting art with nature. The initial designs for the collection are being unveiled this month at an exhibition near Toronto.

Thank you to the Daily Exchange Magazine for broadcasting the following announcement.

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Renowned artist unveils designs and photographs for new sculpture collection for sustainability education at the beautifully restored Alton Mill.

Toronto – Renowned Canadian crystal artist, Mark Raynes Roberts will unveil his inspirational series of 10 original optical crystal and reclaimed glass sculpture designs focused on sustainable living at the historic Alton Mill in Caledon. This exhibition will showcase the original drawings of the proposed 10 sculptures with a series of photographic prints which have inspired the collection.

GLASSLANDS COLLECTION – Crystal Clear Environmental Education

• Location: Pond Gallery, Alton Arts Centre, Alton, Caledon
• Exhibition: May 7 through May 29.
• Reception: Saturday May 7, 1-4 pm

Raynes Roberts’ crystal art pieces have been presented to royalty and global leaders in business, the arts, sports and sciences. For the GLASSLANDS Collection, Roberts has teamed up with one of the world’s leading sustainability organizations, the Natural Step Canada, who are working with the artist to jointly develop an exciting new strategic sustainability education program uniting art with nature.

“Mark Raynes Roberts’ GLASSLANDS collection offers a unique lens through which we can view our beautiful but fragile environment. It inspires us to see the world differently and understand the need for greater sustainability in our lives and in our work.” says Kelly Hawke Baxter, Executive Director of The Natural Step Canada.

To showcase the designs to best effect the artist chose the Pond Gallery in the beautifully restored Alton Arts Centre in Caledon, where some of his photographic images were taken inspiring the now proposed 10-piece GLASSLANDS sculpture collection. The artist is passionate about creating art to educate on issues that affect all humanity, and it was this synergy with Alton Mill's mission that crystallized with the artist.

Having lived in Caledon for 12 years up until 2005, the artist was familiar with the Alton Mill location, and was inspired by the vision Jordan and Jeremy Grant had shown in restoring the historic gem into an arts centre, with the goal of also improving the environmental health of the millpond and to generate green energy. Home to over 25 artists, plus galleries, a heritage museum, café, the Mill is also an industrial-chic venue for events or meetings of 8 to 120 people. www.altonmill.ca

"The parallels between the proposed GLASSLANDS Collection and the Alton Mill made it impossible for us to pass on the opportunity to host this preview exhibition,” commented Jordan Grant, co-owner, Alton Mill Arts Centre.

Raynes Roberts’ proposed GLASSLANDS sculptures - to be installed in natural settings - embody his artistic passion about humanity’s efforts to live peacefully and meaningfully in the world. The themes were chosen in conjunction with The Natural Step Canada. They include Interconnection, Balance, Limits, Industry, Fragility, Urgency, Transformation, Innovation, Cooperation and Harmony. A comprehensive suite of educational materials will be supplied by The Natural Step Canada to support the exhibition uniting art and nature once the sculptures are created.

“Crystal is the perfect medium to communicate the message of sustainability. Today all of our technological advances come from the benefits of crystal including such things as cell phones and how we view the universe beyond. It is a material invented by man in 1675 which unlike other man-made materials evokes the beauty of nature around us, and proves that we are capable of adding beauty to this world. My desire is to use this material as a lens to magnify the issues we face in the environment and to help build a legacy for educating future generations towards greater understanding of our fragile planet” commented Raynes Roberts.

The Alton Mill has been lovingly restored and brought back to life as a creative arts centre and is now focused on improving the environmental health of the surrounding millpond where pioneering settlers of Alton first harnessed its pristine waters over 120 years ago.