Glass Art Awards: 'Quality, diversity and colour!'

Judges of the 2014 Drysdale Glass Art awards complimented all the entrants on the quality, diversity and use of colour in their entries.

Visitors examining entries in the Awards

The Awards were part of the 2014 Festival of Glass, which attracted over fifty exhibitors and around 5,000 visitors to its Glass Expo on Sunday 16 February in Drysdale.

On the previous day, workshops on specialist glass-working techniques were all full; and a further workshop on bead-weaving on Saturday 22 February is booked-out already.

The Awards had three categories, each with its specialist judge:

• Ruth Davies (President, Bead Society of Victoria) judged the 'Wearable Glass Art' category and awarded First Prize to Glenda MacNaughton for her 'Ndebele Solo' necklace. In the 'Wearable Glass Art - Juniors' category, Ruth awarded First Prize  to Isabelle Hall, for her 'Beaded Necklace'.
• Mark Edwards (Manager, Wathaurong Glass and Arts p/l) judged the 'Non-wearable Glass Art' category and awarded First Prize to Darryl Trezise for his glass and steel sculpture, 'Two Brown Trout'.
• Leanne Churchill (Staff Photographer, Geelong Advertiser) judged the 'Glass Related Photography' category and awarded First Prize to Janet Jenkin for her  photograph, '"Isolda di San Giacomo in Palude" - detail'.

The Festival of Glass committee is working to increase the status of the Awards and we were pleased to see that the number and overall quality of the entries in this year's Awards was higher than in previous years.

We're grateful to the three judges - especially to Leanne, who stepped-in when the judge of the 'Glass-related Photography' category pulled out at the last minute. Leanne did a superb job - as did her two fellow judges - and the Festival committee hopes that she'll do the job again in the 2015 Awards.
(Photo: Neil McGuinness)