By Chloe Mee
Ms. Annabelle Glas was born in Lyon, a city located in the south of France. Lyon is known for its extensive history, a history which inevitably involves the arts. It is notorious as one of the most famed Renaissance cities in Europe and is the third largest city in France. Through having various different careers, Ms Glas has taught in many disparate cities such as Doula, Shanghai, Torino, London, and Beijing. “I have spent my life changing jobs, countries, friends. I was so curious and so greedy to discover the world! As a teacher I did the same. I like discovering new curriculums, new students, each year is a new discovery. It is the same in art. Two months ago I discovered zentangle. I actually spent two hours a day drawing tiles in black and white.” After spending so much time in various cities and countries rich with culture, it is no wonder that Ms. Glas has found an appreciation regarding so many forms of art.
Ever since her formative years, Ms. Glas has always enjoyed working with various forms of art. Her first love was writing. “I always wrote. When I was a child, I wrote novels, comics, poetry. I never stopped.” A few years down the road, she began to delve more into the world of visual art. “I began to work as art counsellor for a museum. I discovered the world of contemporary art. It was a revelation, the power of reflection of the artists. After I met an amazing teacher, she helped me to draw, to photograph life as a succession of creative moments. In French, I call it my ‘cartes postales de vie.’” Following this discovery of a love for visual art, Ms Glas began to teach Art and History of Art classes. She found the privilege of teaching young students this knowledge amazing.
Ms. Annabelle Glas was born in Lyon, a city located in the south of France. Lyon is known for its extensive history, a history which inevitably involves the arts. It is notorious as one of the most famed Renaissance cities in Europe and is the third largest city in France. Through having various different careers, Ms Glas has taught in many disparate cities such as Doula, Shanghai, Torino, London, and Beijing. “I have spent my life changing jobs, countries, friends. I was so curious and so greedy to discover the world! As a teacher I did the same. I like discovering new curriculums, new students, each year is a new discovery. It is the same in art. Two months ago I discovered zentangle. I actually spent two hours a day drawing tiles in black and white.” After spending so much time in various cities and countries rich with culture, it is no wonder that Ms. Glas has found an appreciation regarding so many forms of art.
Ever since her formative years, Ms. Glas has always enjoyed working with various forms of art. Her first love was writing. “I always wrote. When I was a child, I wrote novels, comics, poetry. I never stopped.” A few years down the road, she began to delve more into the world of visual art. “I began to work as art counsellor for a museum. I discovered the world of contemporary art. It was a revelation, the power of reflection of the artists. After I met an amazing teacher, she helped me to draw, to photograph life as a succession of creative moments. In French, I call it my ‘cartes postales de vie.’” Following this discovery of a love for visual art, Ms Glas began to teach Art and History of Art classes. She found the privilege of teaching young students this knowledge amazing.
Friends and family members would say that Ms. Glas is passionate, creative, and curious; and sometimes she may have her head in the clouds. “Art is like writing for me. I can’t live without this way of expression. When I draw, take photos, write, I am just myself.” Ms. Glas explained the meaning of art when she said: “I know that sometimes it is one of the strongest emotions that I can have. I can change my life after an amazing book, a fantastic drama show, a dance show or a painting. My life is guided by some artists that I really admire. Louise Bourgeois, for example, or Caravaggio.” Whilst in France, Ms. Glas participated in several photography competitions. She won one of these competitions, and was able to participate in two exhibitions. Her photographs can be either full of striking contrasts between black and white, or vibrant pieces which shed light on cultures from around the world. The subtle simplicity of her artwork shows a veritable side of humanity.
Ms. Glas enjoys a multitude of hobbies. She enjoys diving and swimming, and can spend hours listening to Erik Satie’s music. Outside of teaching her grade eight classes, she enjoys writing, exhibitions, reading, and discovering the cultural life around her. Many of her family members share her adoration for the arts. Her husband is a “drama teacher and excellent photographer. My son is also very gifted in drama, but my daughter is too young.” A particular inspiration for her has been her teacher, Elonore Litim. “She was an expert in engraving. I spent hours and hours with her trying new methods, processes, and discovering new artists.” The world around her inspires her artwork, as well as the power of the emotions that we all experience. Her advice to budding artists is to accept your own personality and to avoid being like others. She also mentions that you must persevere and be willing to learn from mistakes made during the artistic process.
When Ms. Glas was asked whether she would pursue art in the future, her passion for art was evident when she said “of course. Now I want to share (my passion for art) with my kids. I hope that they can grow up with this passion.” We wish Ms. Glas all the best with all of her artistic endeavours to come in the future!