Hot glass and high tea at festival launch

A HIGH TEA at Café Zoo in Drysdale on January 6 launched this year’s Festival of Glass, starting the fifth annual treasure hunt as part of the festivities.

Fifty guests enjoyed an assortment of savoury and sweet treats, watching on as local glass artist Glenda MacNaughton blew and sculpted hot glass.

An initiative of the Drysdale and Clifton Springs Association, treasure hunt organiser Diane Schofield said people loved the food and entertainment.

“People tucked-in to their tea, talked about Glenda’s glass blowing and caught up with friends. They loved the door prizes of mosaic coasters and beaded spoons and the raffle prizes of glass art pieces,” she said.

Thirty-two businesses in Curlewis, Drysdale, Clifton Springs and Portarlington are involved in the treasure hunt, which has pieces of locally made glass art as prizes.

Each business in hunt has a poster in its window; an interactive map showing all of the various locations is on the festival website.

“We’re really grateful to the businesses involved in the treasure hunt, some have supported the hunt since it started five years ago. A special ‘Thank You’ plaque for each one is on display at the high tea,” Ms Schofield said.

Café Zoo owner Mar Rodway said the launch was booked out three weeks in advance.

“We were very pleased that the high tea was so popular. It was a great start to this year’s Festival of Glass Treasure Hunt.”

The Treasure Hunt is the first event in the 2020 Festival of Glass, which also includes an exposition featuring 45 exhibitors, the annual Glass Art Awards and demonstrations and classes by renowned glass artist Mauro Bonaventura, from Murano, Italy.

Festival co-ordinator Doug Carson said no one in Australia is creating anything like Mauro’s glass art.

“Glass artists have a unique chance to develop their skills in his classes and audiences at his spectacular public demonstrations will see the beauty and skill of glass art at its finest.”

Full details of the festival’s events, and the interactive treasure hunt map can be found at festivalofglass.net.au and on Facebook.