A woman stands in an art gallery space surrounded by her glass artworks.
GLASS ARTIST:  Emma Varga will be speaking at the event Celebrating Women in Glass on Saturday 17 February 2024.

Arts & Culture

Celebrating Women in Glass at the National Art Glass Gallery

Published: 12 Feb 2024 9:09am

Wagga Wagga Art Gallery is hosting a celebration event for its two glass exhibitions; Shattering the Glass Ceiling – Women Artists in the National Art Glass Collection and Emma Varga: Fire – Water – Life on Saturday 17 February.

As part of the launch, there will be an artist talk from exhibiting artist Emma Varga and independent curator, writer and consultant Grace Cochrane AM.

Shattering the Glass Ceiling showcases the work of more than 20 women artists from the National Art Glass Collection, including Kate Baker, Clare Belfrage, Jessica Loughlin, Judi Elliott, Kathy Elliott and Nancy Yu.

It celebrates their exceptional practice, advanced technique, and contribution to Australian and international studio glass over the past two decades.

Also on display is Fire – Water - Life which showcases Emma Varga’s career of more than 50 years as a glass artist, and her extraordinary passion for the environment.

Through her art practice Varga considers major global warming events such as bushfire, coral reef bleaching, and polar ice melts as a means to heighten our awareness of their devastating impact across the globe, as seen in a highlight installation of 50 glass cubes which reflect upon the natural world.

CUBES: 50 Glass Cubes - Marking significant moments in the past 50 years (2023). Fused, cast and polished

Wagga Wagga Art Gallery National Art Glass Collection assistant curator Michael Scarrone said it is great to have these two quality exhibitions.

“After working with Emma Varga over many years it is wonderful for the National Art Glass Gallery to celebrate her career of 50 years of glass making,” said Mr Scarrone.

“Shattering the Glass Ceiling features glass works by exceptional women artists from the collection, and the celebration event will acknowledge their achievements.”

EXHIBITION: Kathy Elliott Blue Cast Glass Relief (1993). Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Joyce Kerfoot

Emma Varga: Fire – Water – Life is currently on exhibition at the National Art Glass Gallery until 17 March 2024.

Shattering the Glass Ceiling – Women Artists in the National Art Glass Collection will be open from 17 February to 15 June 2024.

Celebrating Women in Glass will be held at the National Art Glass Gallery on Saturday 17 February from 2pm.

This is a free event; however bookings are required, visit the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery website.

Details

Celebrating Women in Glass

2pm – 4pm, Saturday 17 February

National Art Glass Gallery

Free event | Bookings essential via the website

Exhibitions – National Art Glass Gallery

Emma Varga: Fire – Water – Life  December 9 2023 – March 17 2024

Shattering the Glass Ceiling – Women Artists in the National Art Glass Collection  February 17 – June 15 2024