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.”

Expanded Treasure Hunt just weeks away

What CAN this person be talking about? “I have my pirate’s three-corner hat, my coat with the parrot on the shoulder and my eye patch. What else do I need? Ah yes! My trusty spade!”

They’re preparing for the third annual Treasure Hunt, which will run between Monday 8^th January and Saturday 17 February 2018 as part of the Festival of Glass.

The 2018 Treasure Hunt will be launched officially on Monday 8 January at Drysdale’s Bungalow restaurant. The launch will feature a High Tea and the opening of an exhibition of glass art, which will run at the Bungalow throughout the Treasure Hunt.

Diane Schofield’s Treasure Hunt team has signed up thirty two businesses from Curlewis, Drysdale, Clifton Springs and Portarlington as participants in the 2018 Treasure Hunt.

“This is the third Treasure Hunt and the number of participating businesses has increased each year”, said Diane Schofield. “Businesses have found it worthwhile – and enjoyable – to be involved in the Treasure Hunt and they’ve encouraged others to join in.”

Businesses in the Treasure Hunt will commission pieces of glass art from local artists and display them throughout the Treasure Hunt; and the thirty two pieces will be prizes in the Treasure Hunt draw at the Festival of Glass Expo on Sunday 18 February at Drysdale’s Christian College.

Each business will also display a glass “Tiny Treasure” by a local artist and when a treasure hunter finds a “Tiny Treasure”, the business will stamp their Treasure Hunt entry form. Every entry form stamped by ten businesses goes into the Treasure Hunt draw. 

Business meets glass art at Treasure Hunt Preview

At an exclusive Preview on Wednesday 13 December 2017, business people on the Bellarine will meet local glass artists from whom they have commissioned pieces of glass art as prizes in the Treasure Hunt. The business people can learn how their glass art was created, while the artists can learn how their creativity is supporting the local economy.

2017's Treasure Hunt Preview

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

Bellarine College of Glass a step closer

The Festival’s dream of a Bellarine College of Glass has come a step closer with the launch of a glass art Mentorship programme at the 2018 Festival of Glass.

The programme will focus on young aspiring glass artists and each year, the Festival of Glass committee will collaborate with local secondary schools to select three recipients of a Mentorship. Each recipient will receive 5 two-hour sessions of personal tuition by their Mentor over six months. Mentors will be established, professional glass artists, who will receive $500 each for their participation.

Mercedes Drummond is the Festival committee member running the programme. “The Mentorship programme will help the Festival to promote a sense of community and cultural identity on the Bellarine Peninsula.” she said. “It will encourage local aspiring glass artists to embed their work in their community and encourage the community to celebrate its young people’s talents.”

Building careers

Mentors will assist recipients to build careers as glass artists by introducing them to a range of glass working techniques, assisting them to sell their work and to compete for Awards – starting with the Glass Art Awards at the 2018 Festival of Glass. Mentors will help recipients to build a professional resume by participating in the 2018 Festival of Glass and they will encourage recipients to build a network of shared interests and mutual respect with other artists and students in the Mentorship programme.

“The establishment of the glass art Mentorship programme means that young people can receive personal tuition and guidance to explore whether they’d like to become a glass artist”, said Mercedes Drummond. “The programme may seem a long way from a Bellarine College of Glass, but as someone said once, ‘From little things, big things grow!’”