Work scheme becomes a source of glass artwork
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Expressing Aboriginal art in glass is the focus for Wathaurong Glass, a successful manufacturer and retailer in North Geelong. The company, which is owned and operated by the Wathaurong community – the original inhabitants of the Geelong region – creates glass art and functional glassware. It also trains and provides employment and returns any profits to the Wathaurong community. The company employs five indigenous glass artists. The manager of Wathaurong Glass, Mark Edwards, says the idea for an indigenous glass art business grew from a similar scheme run by the Warburton community in central Australia. “In the beginning, 10 years ago, it was more about employment and training needs, but we grew it into a business,” Mr Edwards says. The result is distinctive glassware, including windows, doors and splashbacks as well as platters and bowls. As well as commissions for large works such as glass panels for the NBC studio during the Sydney 2000 Olympics and a bridge for RMIT’s Brunswick campus, the company also creates products for the architectural and commercial market, such as splashbacks for domestic kitchens and shower screens. “We supply products for the domestic market all over Australia,” Mr Edwards says. A retail range of glass platters in two sizes, about five different designs and five colours and one-off glass art pieces in a variety of colours and designs are available from the company’s North Geelong factory shop, as well as other speciality giftware shops in Geelong and other cities. Each piece comes with a certificate of authenticity that contains the artist’s name, signature and title of the work. Mr Edwards hopes the company will be able to expand enough to open retail outlets in other places but, meanwhile, Geelong residents and visitors are fortunate to have the unique shop on their doorstep. |
