There is a sunny cabin, nestled in the woods near the shore of Shallow Bay.  This is the ideal home and studio for Yukon artist Lara Melnik.  Primarily self taught, Lara has been making unique jewelry for many years.  Her obsession with beads has driven her to create her own, using polymer clay and the ancient Italian technique of millefiori canework.  She has a strong attraction to striking colours and this is evident in her recent exploration of the medium.  Lara has been creating small landscapes and abstracts by blending and layering the clay.  Texture, colour and relief play an important role in these scenes and three-dimensional wall sculptures.  Tiny gardens and forests of whimsical mushrooms seem to “grow” right out of the wall.  Lara is happy making art that puts a smile on someone’s face.

She was rewarded with first prize People's Choice Award for Jewellery at the 2001 and 2003 Great Northern Arts Festival in Inuvik, NWT.  She has participated in numerous shows in the north including seven solo exhibitions in Whitehorse and has been published in the fine art book 400 Polymer Clay Designs.  She is a member of the Yukon Arts Society.  Through teaching workshops, Lara shares her love of this colourful medium and exposes people to it's artistic strength.

Lara's CV (pdf)
        September 2019