Glass on the menu as high tea celebrates festival launch

A HIGH Tea in Drysdale recently celebrated the official launch of the 2018 Festival of Glass.

Held at the The Bungalow Restaurant, the event began with a welcoming glass of bubbly, while around 45 guests looked at a preview of “Glass Inspirations”, an exhibition by local glass artists that runs at the venue until March.

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

“Pirate chief” Diane Schofield introduced the Festival’s Treasure Hunt, which has more than 100 glass art prizes, involves 32 local businesses and ends on February 18, with a draw at the Festival of Glass Expo at Drysdale’s Christian College.

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