Bunnings supports “Endangered in Glass” community mosaic

Bunnings (Torquay) has agreed to support a community mosaic at the 2016 Festival of Glass Expo on Sunday 21 February.

Orange-bellied Parrot

The mosaic will depict two local endangered birds – the Hooded Plover and the Orange-bellied Parrot. Bunnings will provide mosaic-making materials plus a specialist mosaic tutor – Marion Smith - who will invite and assist visitors to create the mosaic – one tile at a time!

Endangered in Glass

The community mosaic is part of the Festival’s “Endangered in Glass” project, which aims to use glass to highlight the plight of the birds. The project starts with a Masterclass on Friday 19 February at Leura Park winery, Curlewis. Renowned glass artists Peter Minson and Mark Eliott will create glass replicas of the two birds, while an elder from the local Wathaurong people will give an indigenous perspective on the birds and their habitat.

Hooded plover

The glass replicas will be auctioned at the Masterclass, with proceeds supporting local efforts to conserve the birds. The glass replicas will tour the region to highlight the birds’ endangered status and to show the versatility and beauty of glass; the generosity of Bunnings (Torquay) means that a community mosaic of the two birds will join the glass replicas on their tour.

Local glass artist Glenda MacNaughton, from the Festival of Glass committee, said, “I have been to other community mosaic sessions at Bunnings and I know that this sort of creative activity supports social engagement and enjoyment. The Festival aims to build community engagement and economic development by offering hands-on experiences of making glass art to people who would not normally have the opportunity; and the community mosaic at the Expo will certainly do that.”