A Murano glass master at the 2017 Festival?

The 2017 Festival of Glass is inviting expressions of interest from beginning, intermediate and advanced glass artists interested in working with Davide Penso, a master glass artist and teacher from Murano, Italy.

Davide is an internationally renowned glass artist and teacher. He runs a glass art jewellery business in Murano, teaches at Murano Glass Academy and has exhibited, demonstrated and taught internationally. Murano is an island off the coast of Venice that has been renowned for its glass art for centuries; and Murano glass masters such as Davide have world-wide reputations for their skill and creativity. (www.davidepenso.com)

From Davide's 'Daniela' collection

The Festival committee is inviting expressions of interest to see whether there would be sufficient support to fund Davide’s visit. At present, his visit is planned to include one-day, two-day and three-day workshops between February 20^th to 25^th February 2017 at a planned cost of $400 per person per day. There will be a maximum of 8 students in a workshop and standard tools and materials will be supplied. The workshops will be held at Totally Shattered Glass Studio, 1480 Portarlington-Queenscliff Road, Point Lonsdale, Victoria.

Davide will design each workshop to teach specific knowledge and skills; and students can also ask in advance for Davide to coach them in specific techniques, such as applying silver and gold to glass; glass encasing; creating glass rings; making mosaic, floral and tiger beads; and designing, marketing and selling glass jewellery.

From Davide's 'Doppiconi' collection

People who are interested in attending any of Davide’s planned one-day, two-day or three-day workshops should contact Festival of Glass Convenor Doug Carson (festivalofglassdrysdale@gmail.com) by mid-June 2016. If there is sufficient interest in the workshops, the Festival will contact the people who have expressed an interest, giving details of the programme and requesting a deposit of 50% of the cost by July 1 2016.

The City of Greater Geelong's Arts & Culture Department has a fund to support artists' professional development and council officers have said that attending Davide's classes would certainly qualify as professional development. Applications must be in well before the end of this financial year; contact Doug Carson if you would like to know more about this funding opportunity.

A range of benefits

Davide’s visit could benefit a wide range of individuals, groups and businesses in Geelong and the Bellarine:

·      People in the general community can watch Davide demonstrate world-class glass blowing and torchwork and have a unique opportunity to try making simple pieces of glass art with a master glass artist.

·      Local glass artists and artisans can develop their creativity, knowledge, skills and business acumen by engaging with a glass master.

·      Local businesses can boost their reputation by being associated with Davide’s visit; and they can boost their custom by hosting demonstrations of Davide at work. Glass blowing is visually spectacular and we anticipate keen media interest in Davide’s appearances.