Rich Lasiewski
Rich has spent most of his life studying pictures. Most of them were in black, white, and shades of gray, some in color. They were pictures of people, their insides. He has been a radiologist, Diplomate of the American Board of Radiology, since 1976. Originally from New Jersey, he graduated from Rutgers University and went to medical school at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Plans to study and live in the east were disrupted when Uncle Sam called to serve at the end of his internship. Rich spent 8 years in the Army and was a Radiology Resident at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He became Chief of Radiology at the Fort Ord Army Hospital and a Lieutenant Colonel before resigning his commission 1979. He became Chief Radiologist at Arroyo Grande Community Hospital in 1979 and guided growth and modernization of the Radiology Department until retirement in Jan. 2000 He has been happily married to Kersti since 1969 and has 2 children Stefan, a computer guru and Monika, a Graphic Design Graduate from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco.
In 25 years of formal education, Art History was the only Art course he took. He and Kersti have a life long passion for glass and have been purchasing pieces of art glass since they met in college. As retirement approached, Rich decided to develop the other side of his brain and study glass art. Basic courses in Drawing, Design, Glass torchworking, and fusing were taken. Thanks to George Jercich and Crissa Hewitt, at Cal Poly, Rich has taken many glassblowing, fusing, casting, and Metalsmithing classes. He taught Summer Glass Classes at Cal Poly SLO in the summer through Extended Education Dept. for the 7 years. He & Kersti have a studio in Arroyo Grande.
Rich enjoys working with glass and metal, making objects that other people can use and enjoy. The media are very demanding and technical, but the results are rewarding. He is exploring the color palate, techniques, and materials that can be used with glass as well as different shapes and forms. He will continue studying art, art glass, and metalsmithing with the goal of improving his ability to express his self in these media.
Kersti Lasiewski
Kersti has always been surrounded by glass. She grew up in southern New Jersey where glass was one of the local industries. After graduating from Douglass College at Rutgers University, she and her husband, Rich traveled around the United States and parts of Europe while Rich was in the Army. During their travels they always managed to buy art glass pieces which they admired. It was during this time that Kersti became involved with ceramics and pottery while raising two children.
In 1979 Kersti and Rich discovered the beautiful Central Coast and settled in rural Arroyo Grande. After a satisfying career as an elementary school library technician, Kersti retired to pursue her life-long interests in art and crafts. She has taken courses in design and painting as well as those involving glass—fusing, bead-making, and casting. For the past several years she has been making jewelry and creating functional fused pieces. Recently she moved toward casting and its possibilities.
Kersti hopes to never stop learning and trying new things. No matter what direction her art will take her, it will always include the beautiful medium of glass.