A set of sunsets?

2014 Festival of Glass exhibitor Janet Jenkin was an award winner at the Bead Society of Victoria's annual exhibition in November.

The award was for the best set of 5 non-identical handmade beads around the theme, 'Sunset'. Janet took a novel twist in the theme and her set of five beads each features the silhouette of a particular tree at sunset. 'I made the lampwork bead bases then embellished the surfaces using a technique that I’ll teach in my Doddlebeads workshop at the Festival of Glass', said Janet.

The set is featured below; they are (L to R): Tropical Palm, Saguaro Cactus, Australian Grass Tree, African Umbrella Thorn Tree and Australian Bottle Tree.

Not just diverse ... kaleidoscopic!

'Oilscope'

The 2014 Festival of Glass is very pleased to announce that among the fifty-odd exhibitors will be the Tasmanian Kaleidoscope Company.

The company sells a range of hand-made kaleidoscopes, each one made of fine Tasmanian timber. Kaleidoscopes look similar to telescopes and - like telescopes - they rely on lenses for their operation. However, through a kaleidoscope you can see an ever-shifting pattern of shapes and colours.

Owner Ben Kurczok took over the former Tasmanian Kaleidoscope Factory in 2002 and changed its name to the Tasmanian Kaleidoscope Company. Ben's kaleidoscopes use various devices to create those patterns, including a chamber containing coloured agate and glass suspended in a clear, viscose fluid; a custom-made glass marble; and an optical lens.

'Cycloscope'

For more information, see the company's web site:
www.http://kaleidoscopecompany.com/

Architectural glass - hard to exhibit!

Contemporary architecture is a subject that arouses love, hate and every emotion in between.

Many contemporary buildings - love them or hate them - feature some extraordinary uses of glass. Here are just a few examples: the Health Department headquarters in Bilbao, Spain;  the 'Futurescope' theme park in Poitiers, France; and the National Grand Theatre in Beijing, China. (Look them up on Google 'Images'.)

The Festival of Glass would love to present such spectacular examples of contemporary architectural glass in our glass Expo, but you can't exhibit a building in a gallery! We can learn something from the annual Mansfield Glass Art Exposition, which this year  launched the Axess Glass Architectural Glass Project Award.  This award recognises excellence in the design and execution of a major architectural glass project installed in a building or outdoor setting in the past 5 years. The work entered must have been designed by an Australian-based glass artist or collaborative team and made predominantly of glass.

The judges considered up to 6 electronic images of each work, together with and a statement about the work fits the project brief in terms of, e.g., the building's context, aesthetics and function; together with the relevant standards for the site and conditions, energy efficiency and installation.

Some of the award winners are featured here.

 As a tentative first step into the world of architectural glass, the 2014 Festival of Glass will include a feature on glass and architecture in the 'Glass and Film' event that premieres at the Expo.

Featured artist: Michelle Shearer

'Immense' Michelle Shearer

A warm Festival of Glass welcome to Michelle Shearer, who will be exhibiting at the Festival's Glass Expo on Sunday 16 February 2014.

Michelle has skills in painting, drawing, sculpture, digital image making and animation; and she now applies these skills to the process of slumping, fusing and kiln-forming glass. She runs the 'Sand and Fire' studio in Terang, Victoria  and her piece 'Immense' (featured) was among the Top Five People's Choice at the Mansfield Art Glass exposition in October 2014.

Featured artist: Kim Manley

We look forward to welcoming Kim Manley to the 2014 Festival of Glass.

'Contained' Kim Manley

Kim's kiln-formed pieces combine linearity with a more 'organic' images from nature. Her 'Contained' (featured here) won the Axess Glass 'New Artist' Award at the Mansfield Art Glass exposition in October this year.

2014 Festival - new attractions join popular regular features

Lara Glass at the 2013 Festival

The fourth annual Festival of Glass happens in mid-February 2014 in Drysdale, Victoria. Each year, the Festival attracts thousands of visitors and the 2014 Festival adds two new attractions to its popular regular features.

The heart of the 2014 Festival of Glass is a glass Expo, which features stalls by around fifty local and interstate artists, craftspeople and companies; demonstrations of glass-working techniques; the prize-winners of the annual Drysdale Glass Awards; and an hourly chance to win glass collectibles donated by exhibitors.

The 2014 Expo is on Sunday February 16 2014 between 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. at Christian College, 40 Collins Street, Drysdale. (Melway 238 G8) At this new, well-ventilated venue, exhibitors and visitors can enjoy the exhibits and activities in comfort. Entrance to the Expo is free and each year it attracts thousands of visitors.

NEW ATTRACTION 1. The 2014 Expo will include Glass on Film - a festival of short films presenting the art, craft and industry of glass.

Visitors to the 2014 Expo can enjoy a full day out in Drysdale, visiting the nearby monthly Drysdale Market, visiting the local wineries and olive farms and riding the historic Bellarine Peninsula Railway between Drysdale and Queenscliff.

Other Festival of Glass events

A Bottleneck Guitar evening on Saturday 15 February 2014 at the Harvester Moon restaurant, 2320 Portarlington Road, Bellarine. (Bookings and enquiries: 5259 3200) Eat and drink to the sounds of blues band Mr. Black & Blue; and consider making a bid in an auction of glass collectibles. A popular feature of the 2013 Festival of Glass.

NEW ATTRACTION 2. The 2014 Festival will host a series of workshops run by Festival exhibitors, several of whom have won awards for their work. Dates and places to be announced.

The Festival of Glass is an initiative of the Drysdale & Clifton Springs Community Association Inc. Unique in Australia, it joins a handful of similar events worldwide. We thank our major sponsors the City of Greater Geelong and the Bendigo Bank.

More information

Doug Carson (Festival Convenor) 0418 371 308   ccd21@bigpond.net.au

Festival Web site      www.festivalofglass.net.au