Chandell Popik is Alberta born and raised in a small farming community. The skill and inspired creativity of stained glass was passed on by her late grandmother, and that is where it all started leading to her formal training in Murano, Italy. The craftsmanship and her glass expertise in the areas of stained glass, glass fusion, casting, torch, lampworking and glassblowing, expanded from a hobbyist as a youth to a part-time home based studio business that has been steadily growing over many years (44+). Formal registration and sole proprietorship of the Under the Sun Glass Studio was filed on July 28, 2016 and in March 2019 the company became incorporated. It has been a long-term goal and passion to incorporate the business and establish a commercial studio space that is a hub of vibrant and creative energy for all to enjoy. 

 

A strong presence in education, best practice and knowledge sharing embraces the studio as her expertise has shifted from a 28 year career as an educator and provider of health care services into a new chapter solely in the direction of glass art education and manufacturing. Service above self has been a pillar of Chandell's integral being having received the Duke of Edinburg award as a youth to being recognized as Rotarian of the Year in her adult life for her humanities work in education and medicine. 

Chandell studied glassblowing at the Sculoa del Vetro Abate Zanetti Glass Academy in Murano, Italy and continues to receive mentorship from great glass masters that have learned from generations passed down to them dating back as far as 1100’s. Additionally, she is a member with both the Canadian and USA Glass Art Societies, and locally has served in the past as Chair for the NPO Leduc Arts Foundry, Leduc Downtown Business Association and volunteers her time and expertise to work with the City of Leduc, County of Leduc and other stakeholders in growing and advancing arts and culture in the community.

Chandell's glass art is currently with many fine art collators as far away as Australia, Italy, New York, and throughout many provinces across Canada and close to home.

Phillip Murray Bandura joins us from time to time from Calgary Alberta. Phillip graduated with distinction from the Alberta College of Art and Design in 2005, receiving a BFA in glass. 

After graduating, Timothy Beliveau, Ryan Fairweather, and Phillip Murray Bandura established the art collective BeeKingdom Glass, which ran from 2005 to 2020 out of a home/garage studio in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood of Calgary. The BeeKingdom achieved great success as an art collective, winning the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist Award, making Avenues Top 40 Under 40, and exhibiting work locally, nationally, and internationally. Exhibiting their art in numerous nations, including the USA, South Korea, Germany, and Greece. BeeKingdom participated in the Unity and Diversity exhibition as part of the Canadian Pavilion in 2009 at the Cheongju International Craft Biennale South Korea in organization with the Alberta Craft Council. The Glenbow Museum featured an exhibition of BeeKingdom Glass in 2014, Iconoclasts in Glass. 

BeeKingdom and Phillip's works have been acquired by a number of eminent institutions and individuals, including the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, the City of Calgary, the Tacoma Glass Museum, Elton John, and the Aga Khan.

Phillip has spent many summers throughout his arts career volunteering, assisting, and on scholarship at the world renowned Pilchuck Glass School. Phillip was a founding member of Berlin Glas e.V., Berlin's first glass-blowing studio. 

In 2020, Phillip went back to school to the Alberta University of the Arts and received his Master of Fine Arts Degree in Craft, specializing in glass. This  past summer Phillip traveled to Germany to attend the Bild-Werk Frauenau school with Stephen Paul Day and John Moran’s class Wonder-Land: Sculpting in Glass and Bronze with the help of a grant from the Alexander Tutsek Foundation.

You will find Wendy out and about this province supporting our studio's corporate event bookings and our corporate gift and awards division. Wendy's vibrant and fun personality is an extension of what you will find when you enter our studio doors to learn, shop and explore.

Want to get our products into your gallery or business? Wendy is your key contact! 

Looking to coordinate team building, corporate events or corporate gifts? Wendy is your contact! 

 Wendy can be reached at sales@underthesun.glass or give the studio a call 780-739-1112.

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Ruth grew up in Nelson, British Columbia. She married and moved to Edmonton in 1976. She is a mother of two children; one daughter and one son.

 

Ruth is retired from a 25 year career at Telus Communication. While working at Telus, she attended the University of Alberta and acquired a Certification in Adult Education. She was a learning specialist teaching new hires for customer service.

 

Ruth's hobby was sewing in the past, but now her new love is working with glass. She feels truly blessed to be working at the studio with such great people. 

 Dyana has honed her skills as an architectural technician, designer and production manager blending creativity with technical expertise to bring innovative ideas to life.

Embracing the art of stained glass, Dyana recently delved into the world of stained glass loving the  techniques that bring vibrant colors and intricate patterns together in beautiful harmony. 

With a keen eye for detail and a love for bringing ideas to fruition, Dyana is looking for to her journey in the world of glass art and design here at our studio.  

Victoria Popik grew up in the small town of Calmar, Alberta. She graduated from NAIT with a BBA in Business Management. Growing her career in Applied Research at NAIT Technology Access Center for Sensors and System Integration, Ms. Popik advises business growth. Aiding her expertise to enhancing our website, marketing, business communications, event coordination and more. 

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Victoria enjoys many activities from snowboarding, riding her 650R Ninja motorcycle, scuba diving, yoga, traveling and exploring Alberta's natural beauty with her tiny human and the youngest member of our studio, Owen!