Art lovers and collectors are in for a treat this weekend when master glass artist Dino Rosin visits Whistler’s Plaza Galleries.

Rosin is coming all the way from the Murano, Italy to visit Whistler. The glassmaker is famous for his ability to create the rare “calcedonia” glass, which involves a secret chemical process to create its swirling, rich colours.

Plaza Galleries owner Dave Helfrich said Rosin last visited the gallery in 2003 and it’s anyone’s guess if and when he might visit after this. Seeing and meeting the master artist this time around is the “chance of a lifetime,” he said.

“It’s like Michelangelo coming for dinner,” Helfrich said.

A reception is planned for Saturday (July 31) from 7 to 9 p.m. at the gallery and all are welcome. Always displayed in a prominent place at the gallery, Rosin’s creations have been enhanced even more with lights on each piece to highlight the patterns and colours in the glass.

His works range from everyday forms such as a violin or sailboat to more abstract figures and forms. Rich hues of blue, purple, brown and orange form unique patterns inside the glass.

Helfrich said Rosin is one of the only glassmakers in the world who knows the technique to make calcedonia.

“He’s considered one of the greatest glassmakers of our time,” he said. “Only Dino has the chemical magic to know how to make (calcedonia) work.”

Now 62, Rosin was raised in a glassmaking family. He quit school at age 12 to start working for one of the most renowned glassmakers on the island of Murano, the home of Venice’s glassmaking industry. He then went to work with his brothers Loredano and Mirco, later joining Loredano when he opened his own shop.

It was Loredano who rediscovered the secret of calcedonia in 1977. The ancient art form was first discovered in the 15th century, but was lost, rediscovered and lost again before Loredano was able to achieve the correct composition and technique.

The process involves adding silver nitrate to the other substances used to make glass. Calcedonia is both expensive and unpredictable to create, and the exact shades and patterns in the glass cannot be controlled. Each creation is unique.

The brothers Dino and Loredano worked together to great success until tragedy struck and Loredano was killed in a boating accident in 1991. Dino now works in his own studio alongside his son, Diego, who is part of the family business.

The Plaza Galleries has represented Rosin for about a decade and is the only gallery in Canada to represent the master glassmaker, Helfrich said. In fact, it’s the only gallery in the world to have received a recent shipment of new work after Rosin closed his studio for a hiatus.

“At this time he’s only dealing with six galleries in the world and we’re one of them,” Helfrich said.

Take advantage of the rare opportunity to meet a world-renowned Italian glassmaker at the Plaza Galleries on Saturday (July 31) from 7 to 9 p.m. The gallery is located along the Village Stroll near Millennium Place.