With over forty years as an artist, Silvija has skillfully balanced a creative life while staying true to her passions. She uses sandblasting to craft beautiful glass art that incorporates designs and symbols from her Latvian heritage.   After World War II, Silvija’s family emigrated from Latvia, fleeing as Russia took over the country. Born in the US, she grew up watching her grandfather hammer traditional Latvian designs into copper, an early influence on her artistic journey.   In this conversation, we explore how Latvia continues to inspire her work. The painting displayed here is one she managed to smuggle out of Latvia at a time when exporting art from the country was illegal.   We also discuss what fuels her artistic practice and how she has juggled her creative life. You can visit Silvija’s studio during the VIVA Art Studio Tour in December, where you’ll have the chance to see her workspace firsthand. One half of the studio is the “clean side,” where she displays her glass pieces and works on designs for sandblasting. The other half is the “dirty side,” where the sandblasting equipment resides.   Silvija’s art can also be found at Swiftwater Gallery on Vashon.   You can also find Silvija’s art at the Swiftwater Gallery on Vashon.