Stand up for your rights. And get some attitude!!
(above) Waste Basket #8, Brenden Scott French.
As previously stated, ad nauseum(!), the driving impetus for this blog is a desire to perpetuate a climate of dialogue/genuine exchange of view across the broader glass community. This is by no means intended as an in-house clique-fest, quite the contrary. We welcome instead the participation of all and any interested parties, be they practitioners, collectors, dealers, patrons, arts industry apologists or merely curious by-standing others. No need to be shy, the very nature of the internet will afford you some degree of anonymity – unless of course you’re keen to publicly identify yourselves (which, frankly, wouldn’t disappoint us!)
But where to begin?
What is your view of the glass, and craft, ‘sector’ today? Does it not even vaguely concern you that we now operate in what is actually officially referred to as ‘a sector’? Does the Arts/Craft debate have any relevance at all to glass anymore, given ‘the sector’s’ unabashed interior decor/market focus? Whence came that insidious imperative for glass artists to become ‘corporatized’? How on earth did it become de rigeur for glass artists to comport themselves in a manner that can only be described as ‘motivational-management-seminar-esque'(with a superficial sound-bite patter to match)? Most importantly, has calculated ambition dealt passion and creative integrity a fatal death blow? (Nothing like a little tautology to spice up a bone of contention…)
Perhaps it’s time to climb down off that fence and get involved in a spot of collective discourse.
To get things rolling we’re putting in a link to an opinion-piece-slash-review published last year on the Craft Australia website. There’s no need to address the article per se, but we’re rather hoping it might prompt an opinion piece of your own…..
http://www.craftaustralia.com.au/ewp/20060226.php
And we’ve just been given the nudge (see comments) to add a link to a blog called Whale Sushi, who posted an extraordinarily insightful piece immediately following the late-May opening of the Canberra Glassworks….!
http://whalesushi.blogspot.com/2007_05_01_archive.html
If you would like to post a point of view over and above a mere comment, please sent it in an email attachment via
glasscentralcanberra@gmail.com
glass central canberra 
I’m really surprised that you haven’t drawn attention to the “Whale Sushi” blog’s take on the new Canberra Glassworks. I know you’ve seen it, you left a comment. It’s worth sharing I would have thought. You’re not going soft are you?
http://whalesushi.blogspot.com/2007_05_01_archive.html
Yeah, you’re right, it is worth sharing. And it would be hilarious if it wasn’t so tragic. I’m not going soft – it’s all just so incredibly disappointing, frankly. n(Ed)
Hey!
I try to set my Photo as avatar. But I have some problems when try to upload photo.
Some times it does not upload at all. Or when I upload it, the photo has deformation.
What should I do to fix that?
Thank you
Well, we have to confess that we’re dinosaurs ourselves when it comes to IT, so we just follow the instructions and cross our fingers. And, as a matter of fact, our avatar has only just come on-line, almost out of the blue -‘cos we uploaded it some time ago now (to no avail we thought.) Best to ask the experts on the WordPress FAQ/Forum. n(Ed)
I purchased several Julio Glasses from Cuppacumbalong back in the mid to late 80’s (wine/champagne/martini) with green swirls in the stem – all signed etc etc and a couple of them have broken in the stems – how/where/who could possibly fix these prescious items for me?? (Not sure if this is the sort of comment I can leave on this forum – but I have been searching for ages and can’t find out how I can get this done – IF it can be done??) Anyone got any suggestions??
Hey Juliette
look, the only way to repair such breakages is possibly with UV glue, and even then it would have to be a clean break. You could take ’em into the Glassworks at Kingston, they know their chops. But it’s kind of more trouble than it’s worth, frankly – notwithstanding that you love the glasses. Perhaps you could get on to Julio (Santos, presumably) and ask him to knock out some more for you.
n(Ed)
God! I thought I would never get a reply so have not looked for any responses since I sent this original message. I live in Hervey Bay QLD now but often visit Canberra, so I will bring these beautiful glasses into Kingston next time I’m down there and see if anyone can fix. If not – does anyone know how I can contact Julio Santos – Karen O’Cleary used to own Cuppa back when I worked for them – but haven’t been in contact with her for years and years – a very belated thanx for your response! Much appreciated! Juliette
Karen O’Clery now has Narek Galleries at Tanja on the Far South Coast of NSW. You could contact her through her website (just google Narek)
Speaking of which (googling) we just did precisely that and came up with Julio’s own website: http://juliosantosglass.com.au. So you can contact him directly. Gotta love Google. n(Ed)