Glass art mentorship to build community

The 2018 Festival of Glass includes the launch of the Festival’s Mentorship Programme for aspiring glass artists.

The Mentorship Programme is a fresh feature of the Festival of Glass and is aimed at local Year 11 Visual Arts students who are considering careers as glass artists.

There will be two recipients of a Mentorship each year. Each one will receive 5 two-hour sessions of personal tuition by their Mentor over six months. Mentors will be established, professional glass artists, who will be paid for their participation in the programme.

The Mentorship Programme will introduce recipients to a range of ideas, techniques and processes used in glass work. It will also assist recipients to:

·      exhibit and sell their work and to compete for Awards – starting with the Glass Art Awards at the 2019 Festival of Glass

·      build a professional resumé, starting by participating in the 2018 Festival of Glass and promoting the 2019 Mentorship programme at school assemblies

·      contribute to community connectedness and citizenship by building a network of shared interests and mutual respect with other recipients and with other artists.

 

A bigger picture?

"Welcome to Drysdale" mural

The Mentorship programme will help the Festival of Glass to promote a sense of community and cultural identity on the Bellarine Peninsula. It will increase glass art’s profile in the area, encourage local aspiring glass artists to embed their work in their community and encourage that community to celebrate its young people’s talents.

The Festival of Glass committee is also grateful to the individuals and organisations without whose support the Mentorship would not exist:

·      Mark Eliott

·      Peter Minson

·      Beaders Guild of Geelong Inc.

·      OPSM Waurn Ponds

·      The Rotary Club of Drysdale.

Each of these individuals and organisations supports the Mentorship Programme’s aim to share skills, broaden experiences and build community; and the Festival committee values their encouragement and support.

Featured Festival of Glass sponsor: Mark Eliott

"Essence of Cloud" Mark Eliott

The Festival of Glass committee is very grateful to Mark Eliott for his sponsorship of the Festival’s 2018 Mentorship Programme. In 2015, Mark was the Festival’s first Artist in Residence and in 2016 he returned and worked together with Peter Minson as our first joint Artists in Residence.

Mark is a contemporary artist working in glass, stop-motion animation and music. He teaches flame-work and has exhibited internationally and has a strong interest in environmental issues.

Mark’s work has a number of themes. One is mythology and story telling; another is  sculptural abstraction informed by, as he puts it, “the dance between improvisation and structure”. A third theme is representing organisms in glass – an interest he shares with the Festival’s 2018 Artist in Residence, Mauro Vianello. Mark also collaborates with Jack McGrath to create “Flame-ation” works that combine stop-motion photography of flame-worked glass with digital compositing.

Contacts:

E-mail: mark@markelliottglass.com

Web site: http://.www.markelliottglass.com

Featured Festival of Glass sponsor: Peter Minson

"Ship in a Bottle" Peter Minson

The Festival of Glass committee is very grateful to Peter Minson for his sponsorship of the Festival’s 2018 Mentorship Programme. In 2016, Peter joined Mark Eliott as the Festival’s first joint Artists in Residence.

Peter is the third generation of his family to work with glass and has done so for more than forty years. Initially, he managed the family business making scientific glassware; then he established his own creative glass business, which he combines with importing and retailing glass from Italy and equipment and tools direct from elsewhere.

Peter established a lampwork glass studio in Binalong, near Canberra, 20 years ago and has taught lampworking at the Canberra School of Art, RMIT University Melbourne and Sydney School of Art. He has exhibited extensively and his work is on display permanently in many glass art collections.

Contacts:

Tel. (02) 6227 4312    Mob. 0427 265 034

E-mail peter@minsonartglass.com.au

 

Thanks to the City of Greater Geelong and the Bendigo Bank, our Awards sponsors, our Treasure Hunt sponsors and other local ‘in kind’ supporters.

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Festival-of-Glass-189670377738114/

Web site: www.festivalofglass.net.au

Blog (you’re here!): http://festivalofglass.blogspot.com

Fresh features in each Festival

The Festival of Glass is now in its eighth year and each Festival has fresh features alongside Festival favourites.

Fiona Horne's quirky creatures

A fresh feature of the 2018 Festival is Glass Inspirations - the inaugural exhibition of glass art at The Bungalow restaurant in Drysdale. The exhibition showcases the work of local glass artists and includes hand-made sculptures, jewellery, platters, lights and vases. Every unique, hand-made piece of glass art in the exhibition is for sale.

Glass Inspirations was launched at a High Tea at The Bungalow on January 8 and will run until March. Several of the featured artists have been commissioned to create prizes in the Festival’s Treasure Hunt and so their work is on display in businesses across the North Bellarine. Several of them will also be exhibitors in the Festival Expo on February 18 at Drysdale’s Christian College.

The Bungalow is participating in the Festival’s 2018 Treasure Hunt, so while customers browse Glass Inspirations, they can keep an eagle eye open for The Bungalow’s glass ‘Tiny Treasure’ – a small glass sculpture. When you spot the ‘Tiny Treasure’, The Bungalow will stamp your Treasure Hunt form. Each form with stamps from ten participating businesses goes into a draw at the Festival Expo on February 18, with dozens of unique pieces of glass art as prizes.

Featured Festival of Glass sponsor: The Bungalow restaurant

The Bungalow is open seven days a week. Its “All Day” menu is supplemented by a special dinner menu and both are complemented by extensive beverage and wine lists. All can be viewed on the restaurant’s web site, as can information about The Bungalow’s catering service.

The restaurant is located in – what else – an early 1930s California bungalow on the corner of High Street and Eversley Street, Drysdale. The building has been refurbished extensively and, in a nice touch, the restaurant’s web sit includes a tribute and thanks to everybody who contributed to the transformation.

The Bungalow co-hosted the High Tea on January 8 that launched the 2018 Festival of Glass, is a major sponsor of the Festival’s Treasure Hunt and is holding an exhibition of glass art – Glass Inspirations - until March 2018. The Festival committee is very grateful for this support and looks forward to growing the relationship with Kerry Bell and her staff.

The Bungalow, 32 High Street, Drysdale 3222. Tel. (03) 5216 3025

Monday – Thursday: 7.30am – 6.00pm; Friday – Saturday: 7.30am – 10.30pm;

Sunday: 8.30am – 4.00pm

http://www.thebungalowrestaurant.com.au/

Facebook and Instagram; bungalowrestaurantdrysdale

Thanks also to the City of Greater Geelong and the Bendigo Bank, our Awards sponsors, our Treasure Hunt sponsors and other local ‘in kind’ supporters.

More Festival of Glass information: http://www.festivalofglass.net.au or find us on Facebook

Glass adds a shimmer to summer

The eighth annual Festival of Glass is adding shimmer to summer in the north Bellarine.
 

Mauro Vianello - two glass fishes

At “Twilight Flames” at 7.00pm on Saturday 17 February at Leura Park Estate, watch Venetian glass master Mauro Vianello sculpt and blow glass and meet him over drinks and nibbles. Mauro will also appear at the Festival Expo and will run classes for beginning and experienced glass artists.

Bringing Mauro to Australia is quite a coup for the Festival of Glass. He is renowned internationally for his skill, artistry and creativity and he frequently makes pieces that have been commissioned by universities, museums and research centres.

Central Murano

Mauro was born and lives in the historic island of Murano, off the coast of Venice, Italy; and his studio is in Venice itself. Many people will know Murano because a visit to Venice often includes a trip to Murano.

For centuries, Murano was the centre of the world's glass industry; today its influence is still felt worldwide and a visit to its glassworks is a highlight of many people's time in Venice.

Mauro's visit offers glass artists a unique opportunity to learn traditional and contemporary Venetian glass working techniques, which they can then use to enhance and develop their own work.

Featured Festival of Glass sponsor: City of Greater Geelong

The City of Greater Geelong council has been a major sponsor of the Festival of Glass from its beginning in 2011. Officers from the council’s Arts & Culture department have helped the Festival of Glass Committee to raise local awareness of the area’s rich historical links with glass and its growing status as a centre of excellence in glass art.

The current council was elected in 2017 to provide leadership and good governance for the city. Its "City Plan" will guide its activities, putting local communities’ needs and expectations into action. The plan sets out a vision for the city and identifies four strategies to attain it: "Community Wellbeing", "Growing the Economy", "Sustainable Built and Natural Environments" and "How We Do Business'. For more information about the City Plan: https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/cityplan/default.aspx

 

 

Festival launch on High Tea menu

A High Tea at The Bungalow restaurant in Drysdale on Monday 8 January celebrated the official launch of the 2018 Festival of Glass.

The event began with a welcoming glass of bubbly while around forty five guests looked at a preview of “Glass Inspirations”, an exhibition by local glass artists that runs at The Bungalow until March.

The Bungalow’s Kerry Bell welcomed everyone to the High Tea, then Festival of Glass co-ordinator Doug Carson talked about the Festival - now in its eighth year.

Glenda MacNaughton with future glass artists?

The guests were fascinated when local artist Glenda MacNaughton demonstrated how to stretch, mould and blow glass into beads and globes and talked about Mauro Vianello, a glass master from Murano in Italy, who will be the 2018 Festival’s Artist in Residence.

Pirate Chief Diane Schofield

‘Pirate chief’ Diane Schofield introduced the Festival’s Treasure Hunt, which has over a hundred glass art prizes, involves thirty two local businesses and ends on Sunday 18 February with a draw at the Festival of Glass Expo at Drysdale’s Christian College.

 

Featured Festival sponsor - Bendigo Bank 

The Bendigo Bank prides itself on being community-orientated and its investment in the Festival of Glass is a good example!

The Bendigo Bank is part of the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank's network of brands, providing a wide range of banking products and services to more than 1.4 million retail customers through its 400 plus branches and agencies. It works with communities to contribute to their prosperity, because it believes that successful communities make successful businesses.

The Bendigo Bank has supported the Festival from its beginning in 2011, and is now a major sponsor. The Festival Committee is grateful for the Bank’s support and is always happy to acknowledge the Bank’s contribution to the Festival’s success. The Bendigo Bank's investment and support has been crucial to the growth and diversification of the Festival itself and - importantly - of its roots in the local community. Without the Bank’s involvement, we’d have a very different Festival of Glass.

 

Business meets glass art at Treasure Hunt Preview

At an exclusive Preview on the evening of December 13, Bellarine business people met local glass artists from whom they have commissioned pieces of glass art for the 2018 Festival of Glass Treasure Hunt.

Some of the commissioned pieces

During the Treasure Hunt, which will run from 8 January to 18 February 2018, each participating business will display its commissioned piece; then all the pieces become prizes in the Treasure Hunt draw at the Festival of Glass Expo on Sunday 18 February at Drysdale’s Christian College.

At the Preview, the business people learnt how their commissioned glass art is created, while the artists learnt how their creativity is supporting the local economy.

Diane Schofield’s Treasure Hunt team has signed up thirty two businesses from Drysdale, Clifton Springs, Curlewis and Portarlington – up from the twenty eight businesses in last year’s event.

“Everyone’s a winner in our Treasure Hunt”, said Schofield. “Businesses can increase their custom, glass artists can increase their public profile and, of course, Treasure Hunters can win beautiful glass art.”

Glass Art Awards on Pinterest

Any glass artists with 'artist's block' might find inspiration in a new Pinterest board.

The Festival of Glass has created a new Pinterest board showcasing the winning pieces in the 2017 Glass Art Awards. It's worth a visit: not only is each winning piece a delight in itself, the whole collection is notable for its diversity of colours, shapes and techniques.

Here's a link to the new Pinterest board:
https://www.pinterest.com.au/patrickhughes47/

For more information about the Glass Art Awards - and about the Festival of Glass as a whole - please visit the Festival web site:
http://www.festivalofglass.net.au

Business meets glass art at Treasure Hunt Preview

At an exclusive Preview on December 13 (6.00 - 7.30pm), businesses on the Bellarine will meet local glass artists from whom they have commissioned pieces of glass art as prizes in the 2018 Treasure Hunt.

Water Garden Kelly Veenstra

The Treasure Hunt will run from 8 January to 18 February, as part of the 2018 Festival of Glass. At the Preview, the business people can learn how their glass art is created, while the artists can learn how their creativity is supporting the local economy.

Diane Schofield’s Treasure Hunt team has signed up thirty two businesses from Drysdale, Clifton Springs, Curlewis and Portarlington – up from the twenty eight businesses in last year’s event.

“Businesses in the 2017 Treasure Hunt spoke very positively about their experience”, said Diane Schofield, “and their comments convinced others to join this year’s event.”

During the Treasure Hunt, each participating business will display its commissioned piece; then all the pieces become prizes in the Treasure Hunt draw at the Festival of Glass Expo on Sunday 18 February at Drysdale’s Christian College.

“We’re very grateful to our major sponsors The Bungalow, Leura Park Estate and Parkers Steakhouse”, said Diane Schofield, “We also thank the remaining 29 businesses, especially Chris Walsh’s Pharmacy, Pier View Lolly Shop, Joshae Hair and Beauty, Miss Lillypilly and Surf Junction.”