A Venetian artist on his first Australian visit will bring Italian flair to the 2020 Festival of Glass by weaving molten threads to life this weekend.
Mauro Bonaventura sculpts intricate networks of shapes, from small sculptures to life-sized models of people, and will share his skills in his Saturday night showcase Twilight Flames.
“Large video screens will ensure that everyone has a close-up view of Mauro working,” festival promoter Patrick Hughes said.
“One of Mauro’s unique and highly-collectable sculptures is the prize in a limited-ticket raffle and there will also be door prizes.”
The event begins 6.30pm at The Range, Curlewis, and guests can meet Mauro and watch him at work while enjoying local food and drinks.
“His creativity and skill are world-renowned; after he leaves Drysdale, he’ll take up an invitation to visit glass artists in France,” Hughes said.
Hughes urged anyone interested to visit www.festivalofglass.net.au for tickets or further information on any of the festival’s activities.
“A ticket to Twilight Flames would be an excellent gift for that person who has everything,” he said.
“It’ll be like being in Murano (Venice) but without flying there!”
Bonaventura is this year’s artist-in-residence for the 2020 Festival of Glass Expo, which runs 10am to 4pm at Christian College, Drysdale, on Sunday.
He will be among the experts demonstrating their skills and teaching locals in a diverse range of glass art including mosaics, leadlights, fusing and bead-weaving.
About 50 artists will display their best work while festival-goers can learn glass-sculpting skills in numerous workshops.
Last year about 4500 people attended the expo, which this year features works for sale, a prize draw, the 2020 Glass Art Awards and a treasure hunt finale.
The hunt featured tiny glass “treasures” that local artists hid in north Bellarine Peninsula shops and businesses in the lead-up to the event.
The festival’s activities run throughout February and into early March.
