International artists draw crowds at glass festival

INTERNATIONALLY renowned glass artists Davide Penso, Karina Guevin and Cèdric Ginart captivated a 90-strong audience at “Twilight Flames” at the weekend.

The event on Saturday featured spectacular glass blowing and sculpting at The Range in Curlewis.

As the audience watched the artists melt, pull, shape and cut molten glass into fantastic creations, they enjoyed finger food and drinks, while door prizes of wine donated by Leura Park Estate added to the evening’s excitement.

Davide Penso from Murano, Italy was Artist in residence at the 2017 Festival; for Karina Guevin and Cedric Ginart, this was their first visit to Australia from their home in Montreal, Canada.

On Sunday, around 4,500 people attended the 2019 Festival of Glass Expo at Christian College,
where 50 artists and businesses showcased a diversity of glass art.

Expo visitors could try their hand at creating jewellery, mosaics and leadlighting, in between the presentation of the Glass Art Awards and the draw for the Festival’s Treasure Hunt prizes of specially commissioned glass art.

Continuous demonstrations by the Festival’s Artists in Residence drew big audiences, including some young spectators who received their first lesson in glass blowing!

In the 10 days following the Expo, Davide Penso will run classes for beginning and experienced glass artists; and these will be followed by classes by local glass artists.