EMBASSY CULTURAL HOUSE
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Scot Slessor

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Scot Slessor studied Structural Drafting at Red River Polytechnic and Asian Studies at Saint Mary’s University & Shandong Teachers University. Scot served as a public servant between 1986 to 2016 with Canadian Departments of Employment, International Development and Foreign Affairs. He has worked and/or lived in the Philippines, China, Jordan, Cambodia, Mongolia, Brunei, India, Afghanistan, Laos and Thailand. A glass artist since 1990s, he implemented art glass exhibits and training in Cambodia, Afghanistan and Jordan and was the Middle East Representative for the UN International Year of Glass in 2022.  Scot lives in Nova Scotia where he is hatching new glass art projects and training initiatives.
Learn more about Scot's initiative SAS Glass.
The Jordon Times, "Former diplomat lends new hues to revive glass art", 31 July 2022.
Canada Info, "Glass artist looking to teach others his craft", 23 November 2022

Scot's Glass Collectives

Cambodia

This story begins in 2004 when we arrived in Camabodia for my spouse to take up her appointment as Canadian Ambassador to Cambodia.  I continued to manage my HQ team in Canada and then to run our High Commission in Brunei.  I had with a few months off in 2006-07 and earlier had found an excellent book Kbach: A Study Of Khmer Ornamentation, published by Reyum Publishing. When I sought permission to use some of the designs for a few windows, they told me they also had an Art institute. We agreed that I would train nine of the institute's graduates in working with glass. We spent two fun-filled months together working in a courtyard in downtown Phnom Penh. the end of training exhibit raised $C4,500 that was used to get more supplies and tools. This project was funded by my spouse and I.

Afghanistan

In 2015 I was assigned to the position of Deputy Head of Mission, Canadian Embassy, Kabul.  I have been involved with glass art for 20+ years.  I had done a training program in Cambodia and decided to try a program in Kabul.  I connected with Turquoise Mountain who expressed interest. I also started contacting industry partners to get deals so that I could include the supplies in my shipment to Kabul. Cascade Metals from Vancouver provided lead and foil re-enforcing materials. Bull eye and Reusche Paints gave a deal on paint, glass, fit, powders and nuggets. Stained Glass Stuff in Ottawa provided a healthy discount on a bunch of glass and other supplies. The US Embassy providing funds for the Kiln from Paragon as well as the paint and some glass.  They also underwrote the exhibit reception providing space, food and wine. The Canadian Embassy provided a great space for the workshop.  The artists came to the Embassy one day a week for 6 months.

Jordon and the Zujaj Collective

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EDITORIAL TEAM

ONLINE FOUNDER
Tariq Hassan Gordon

COFOUNDERS & CURATORIAL ADVISORS 
 
Jamelie Hassan 
& Ron Benner

ADVISORY CIRCLE
Samer Abdelnour, Marnie Fleming, Wyn Geleynse, Fern Helfand, S F Ho, Lorraine Klaasen, Judith Rodger, Ruth Skinner, Mary Lou and Dan Smoke,  and Lucas Stenning 

COORDINATING EDITORS
Tariq Hassan Gordon & 
Olivia Mossuto

WEB DESIGN & SOCIAL MEDIA 
Tariq Hassan Gordon, Ira Kazi, Olivia Mossuto, Niloufar Salimi,  JoAnna Weil 

VIRTUAL TOUR
Andreas Buchwaldt

PRINT PUBLICATIONS
Blessy Augustine, Shelley Kopp, 
Olivia Mossuto

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Andreas Buchwaldt, Blessy Augustine, Anahí González, Ira Kazi, ​Shelley Kopp, Ashar Mobeen, Niloufar Salimi,  Jenna Rose Sands, JoAnna Weil & Michelle Wilson. 

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OUR STORY
Artists Jamelie Hassan and Ron Benner and jazz musician Eric Stach founded the Embassy Cultural House (1983-1990) located in the restaurant portion of the Embassy Hotel at 732 Dundas Street in East London. Other former members of the board were: Debrann Eastabrook, Henry Eastabrook, Sharron Forrest, Wyn Geleynse, Janice Gurney, Jean Hay (1929 - 2008), Doug Mitchell, Kim Moodie, Gerard Pas, Peter Rist, Wanda Sawicki, Jean Spence and Jennie White. In 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Embassy Cultural House was re-envisioned as a virtual artist-run space and website. 

This project is supported by the Ontario Arts Council and the London Arts Council through the City of London's Community Arts Investment Program.
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Thank you to our partners

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E M B A S S Y  C U L T U R A L  H O U S E . C A

​London, Ontario is on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Lenape, Attawandaron and Huron-Wendat peoples, at the forks of Deshkan Ziibi (Antler River), an area subject to the Dish with One Spoon Wampum and other treaties.

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    • Past Programming >
      • Exhibitions 1983-1990 >
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        • Index of Musicians
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        • Index of Performers
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