Articles - 5 June 2005
25 Years Monash Glass
The rise to prominence of Australian glass art follows the establishment of strong links with galleries, studios, and Universities throughout the world. Unlike the glass traditions of Europe and America, Australia had no tradition to follow and no cultural aesthetic to honour. Monash University was instrumental in creating this new tradition, offering courses in glass since the mid 1970s.
In the early 1970s Dick Marquis, a celebrity American studio glass artist, visited Australia - travelling through parts of the country with a mobile glass furnace on the back of a trailer. At the time, an Australian sculpture student at Gippsland School of Art, Nick Mount, saw one of these demonstrations and chose to return to the US under the mentorship of Marquis. When Mount returned to Australia in 1975 he was employed by the then Caulfield Institute of Technology to build their first glass furnace. This was the beginning of the Studio Glass Movement in Australia.
In the early days, studying glass at the Caulfield Institute of Technology had strong links with the then Bachelor of Ceramic Design. Students wishing to study glass as a major could not do so until their second year, having to first complete a year of ceramic studies. In 1997, the Department of Applied Arts (as part of the Faculty of Art and Design, Monash University) was formed and was fortunate to receive funding from the University to significantly improve the teaching and studio spaces for glass. The realisation of this is the current modern facility - filled with natural light and ventilation and uniquely situated atop a seven storey building with panoramic views of Melbourne and the surrounding suburbs.
Today, the Glass Studio at Monash operates within the Department of Fine Arts, Faculty of Art and Design. An impressive list of staff and student alumni have featured throughout the changing history of the Studio. Staff have included Nick Mount, Denis O'Connor, Julio Santos, Richard Morrell, Klaus Zimmer, Gerhardt Emmerichs, Bronwyn Hughes, Alison McMillan, Tom Levkovski, Pamela Stadus, Maureen Williams, Carrie Westcott, Blanche Tilden, Amanda Louden, Tony Hanning, Elaine Miles, George Aslanis and Nick Wirdnam. More recently, honorary lecturers Janeen Toner, Karryne Hearn, Natasha Filippelli, Niki Harley, Andrew Lavery, Sophia Emmett, Crystal Stubbs, Bethany Wheeler, Suzanne Palmieri and Kristin McFarlane, all of whom remain practising glass artists, have contributed to the Studio. Monash graduates have made valuable contributions to many academic glass programs in Australia.
International demonstrations and workshops held at the Glass Studio have included Marvin Lipovski, Dante Marioni, Ludwig Schaffrath, Fred Daden, Hiroshi Yamano, Martin Blank, and Ursula Huth.
In 2002 Monash University hosted the national Ausglass Conference, including lectures, exhibitions, workshops and demonstrations within the Faculty of Art and Design.
Monash University remains highly committed to the development of glass, its students, courses and studios, maintaining close associations with the glass community both nationally and internationally. In recognition of its continued artistic achievement, Monash University Glass Studio students have been invited to participate in Pilchuck's Partnership Scholarship program since 1999.
This retrospective exhibition, 25 Years Monash Glass, featuring graduates from Monash University's Department of Fine Arts Glass Studio is indeed evidence of a remarkable journey. It is a journey of development not only in terms of personal achievement but also in the development of a relationship and understanding of glass as a material, and the techniques and processes which shape the work. The unique qualities and properties of fused, cast and blown glass are admirably demonstrated by the work on display.
An appreciation of the material, and recognition of its relevance to their artistic direction and development, has taken these graduates on a journey of learning the language and exploring personal expression through this unique medium. Working collaboratively in pairs or teams, with time-consuming, intense and challenging processes that require trust within the team for the realisation of the work, they have created a new artistic community. It is often the team which determines the success of the finished work.
Monash University and its glass alumni have contributed significantly to the Australian Studio Glass Movement and its international links. Australian glass is now acclaimed for technical expertise, and expresses a unique and creative spirit.
George Aslanis and Nick Wirdnam
George Aslanis is a Lecturer in Glass, Department of Fine Arts, Faculty of Art and Design
Nick Wirdnam is Course Coordinator of Glass, Department of Fine Arts, Faculty of Art and Design
Craft Australia has featured a number of exhibitions that were presented during the GAS@Ausglass: Matters of substance conference.
25 Years Monash Glass was held at the Faculty Gallery, Faculty of Art and Design in May 2005 to coincide with the 35th Annual GAS conference, Matters of Substance in Adelaide.
