Festival helps to save endangered Parrot, Plover

The 2016 Festival of Glass is supporting Bellarine campaigns to save the endangered Orange-bellied Parrot and Hooded Plover.

Peter Minson (& friends) at Kirra Gallery

Renowned glass blowers Peter Minson and Mark Eliott will each create glass replicas of the Parrot and the Plover at a Masterclass at Leura Park winery in Curlewis, on Friday 19 February from 7.00 – 10.00pm.

Large video screens will ensure that each person in the audience has a close-up view of the painstaking and intricate work of teasing molten glass into shape, while drinks and nibbles from Leura Park add culinary sparkle to the spectacle.

Booking is essential and can be done via the Festival web site.

Mark Eliott - "Here's one I made earlier"

The glass Parrot and Plover will be auctioned on the night to support the local campaigns; they will then tour the region, raising awareness of the birds’ plight and demonstrating the delight of glass art.

The glass birds will be joined on their tour by a glass mosaic and a beaded glass wall hanging, each depicting one of the birds. Visitors to the Festival Expo will help to create both the mosaic and the wall hanging.

The Expo is on Sunday 21 February between 10.00am and 4.00pm at Christian College, Collins Street, Drysdale. It will feature over forty exhibitors, demonstrations, ‘join in’ sessions, Awards, displays, films .... and thousands of visitors!

Mark Eliott at work

 

Some Peter Minson specials

A Glass Bottle 'Roadshow'

On Sunday 14 February, the Bellarine Historical Society will run a glass bottle roadshow as part of the 2016 Festival of Glass.

From the ABCR auction site

The roadshow will happen between 10.00am and 3.00pm at the Court House Museum, Drysdale High Street, run by Paul Bruce and his son David, who have been collecting antique glass bottles and collectables for over 30 years.

Paul has an extensive collection of Australian glass aerated water bottles, and a collection of wine labels from 1860 to 1930; and he has just produced a database for the Bellarine Historical Society listing the ages and manufacturers of historic bottles found in the Geelong area.

Paul’s son David has a fine collection of Australian wine bottles and co-owns the online bottle auction company ABCR Auctions (www.abcrauctions.com/). David has been secretary of the Victorian Bottle & Collectables Association and he organised the successful 2006 National Bottle Exhibition at Frankston.

“As well as enjoying Paul’s and David’s appraisals, visitors to the museum can browse a display of historic bottles and bottle labels”, said Bellarine Historical Society President Lynette Willey. “Admission is free, but a gold coin donation would be appreciated.”

MORE UPCOMING FESTIVAL EVENTS

On Friday 19 February (7.00 – 10.00pm), Festival partner Leura Park winery in Curlewis will host a glass art Masterclass. Renowned glass blowers Peter Minson and Mark Eliott will create replicas of the locally endangered Orange-bellied Parrot and Hooded Plover, while a Wathaurong elder talks about the birds’ habitats. Drinks and nibbles will add pizazz to the delight. Booking (via the Festival web site) is essential.

On Saturday February 20 (10.00am – 2.00pm), the Festival will run a glass art workshop exclusively for members of Drysdale’s Senior Citizens Club.

On Sunday 21 February (10.00am – 4.00pm), the Festival Expo at Drysdale’s Christian College will feature forty exhibitors, demonstrations, ‘join in’ sessions, Awards, displays, films .... and thousands of visitors!

Details of all Festival events are on the Festival web site: www.festivalofglass.net.au

Treasure Hunt is up and running!

On 1 February, treasure hunters young and old started searching Drysdale businesses for clues in the area’s first glass art Treasure Hunt.

"Are you sure it's here?"

The Treasure Hunt is part of the 2016 Festival of Glass, which will present events in the Drysdale area throughout February.

Each of the twenty one participating businesses in the Treasure Hunt is displaying a piece of glass art it commissioned from a local glass artist and these pieces will be major prizes in the Treasure Hunt draw.

(Pictured here: Festival organiser Patrick Hughes at Wallington Rural's new aquatic section; and local glass artist Glenda MacNaughton at the Mannerim Stables flower farm.)

Treasure Hunt organiser Diane Schofield is excited about the event. “The 2016 Treasure Hunt is up and running and Drysdale is the epicentre of glass fever”, she said. “People will look high and low for Tiny Treasures and there are dozens of prizes, so everyone stands a chance of winning one.”

"Aha! Spotted you!"

Hunting for treasure

A Treasure Hunt poster in the window identifies a participating business and treasure hunters are combing each business for its ‘Tiny Treasure’ – a small glass ornament.

Once a treasure hunter finds a Tiny Treasure, the business stamps their form; and once they have at least ten stamps, they enter their form in a draw at the Festival of Glass Expo on Sunday 21 February at Drysdale’s Christian College.

Upcoming Festival events

Drysdale will soon see more Festival events. Leura Park winery in Curlewis will host a glass art Masterclass on Friday 19 February (7.00 – 10.00pm). Two renowned glass blowers will create replicas of the locally endangered Orange-bellied Parrot and Hooded Plover. The winery’s drinks and nibbles will add pizazz to a fascinating display. Booking is essential and can be done via the Festival web site.

On Sunday February 14, the Bellarine Historical Society invites anyone with old bottles among their family heirlooms to have them valued by experts Paul and David Bruce at the Society’s evaluation session at Drysdale’s Old Courthouse Museum (10.00am – 3.00pm).

Details of all Festival events are on the Festival web site: www.festivalofglass.net.au