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Glassstudent at work in the Glass Studio

Welcome to the Glass Specialisation for the South Australian School of Art. The Glass Studio is a vibrant learning environment where the expertise of staff is enhanced by an exciting program of visiting artists who work alongside students, giving demonstrations and specialist workshops.  Areas of studio practice include glass blowing, casting, kiln forming, etching and engraving. You will have the opportunity to develop your own project as well as participating in larger collaborative projects.

 

News and events

View the article 'New era for the UniSA Glass Program' (reproduced from Craft Arts International, Issue 61, pp 105-6, with the publisher's permission). Open the PDF file (250kb) and scroll down.

2007

Gabriella Bisetto has been invited to present a lecture at the Tate Gallery in London for the conference Take a Deep Breath. The conference is a multidisciplinary rethinking of the value of breath and its manifestations in culture and beyond. 

Gabriella Bisetto and glass lecturer Jessica Loughlin were shortlisted for the Tom Malone Glass Prize. The Tom Malone Glass Prize chooses only ten applicants nationally to compete for the $10,000 prize which will be announced in August at the Art Gallery of Western Australia.

Nicole Ayliffe was represented at COLLECT in London at the Victoria and Albert Museum and selected for the Young Glass Exhibition - an international showcase of the rising stars in glass.

Yhonnie Scarce has been shortlisted for the 24th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award.

2006

SASA staff and students Gabriella Bisetto, Clare Belfrage and Sunny Wang were represented by the Australian Trade Commission and Austrade in Australia-Art and About, a multiple venue exhibition in Hong Kong featuring 42 Australian artists. The exhibition aimed to highlight the strength and diversity of Australian artists to the Hong Kong market.

The SA School of Art glass workshop hosted a highly successful master class with American glass artist Catherine Newell. Newell is a specialist in the field of glass kiln forming and her class was attended by many of the professional glass artists from South Australia and interstate as well as SA School of Art students.

2005

Gabriella Bisetto travelled to the 34th annual Glass Art Society (GAS) conference in New Orleans to promote the GAS conference held in Adelaide in May 2005. GAS has the largest membership of glass artists in the world and many of the workshops and lectures were hosted at the new South Australian School of Art (SASA) location, at City West campus. Gabriella also presented at the GAS student forum about the glass program offered at the South Australian School of Art and the new Coursework by Masters which will begin at the JamFactory in July 2004 which was meet with great interest from international students.

2004

Following in the footsteps of South Australian School of Art graduates Janice Vitkovsky, Dale Roberts and Louise FitzGerald, recent graduate from the SASA glass workshop Elizabeth Newman has been awarded the 2004 Jam Factory Pilchuck Scholarship to assist her to attend the internationally renowned Pilchuck Glass School in USA. Elizabeth will participate in a masterclass by renowned neon glass artists Fred Tshedia and glassblower Ruth King during her travels. Students from the SASA ceramic workshop and AIT Arts were also awarded a Helpmann grant to attend the national ceramic conference in Gulgong, NSW in April 2004.

Graduate Catherine Aldrete-Morris has been awarded an Ian Potter Cultural Trust Grant ($4000) and a Helpmann Academy grant ($2000) to travel to England, America, and Singapore promoting her work. Cathy will conduct a workshop on kiln forming in Singapore before travelling to England where her glass work will be represented at the art fair 'Collect' at the Victoria and Albert Museum in March 2004.

Rebecca Hartman-Kearns was awarded the $1000 'Arts Critic Choice Award' during the 2003 Art East Festival for her blown glass artwork 'Scarlet'. The Mancorp Critic's Award judging panel were unanimous in their decision when choosing glass works by Rebecca, saying that the works were sensuous glass with attitude and an edge. The winning exhibit was displayed in the high fashion store Pierucci in Rundle Street. Rebecca was presented with a cheque for $1,000 from Peter Lockett, Property Manager of Mancorp Holdings Pty Ltd.
 

Staff in the Glass Studio

Follow the links to find out more about each staff member and view their work.

Studio Head: Gabriella Bisetto
Sessional staff: Emma Petersen, Wendy Fairclough
Technical Officer: David Archer
 

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Studio Specialisation courses

Introduction to Glass Forming (VSAR 2084)

Introduction to glass forming is the pre- requisite course for students to complete if they wish to undertake any further courses in glass. This course introduces students to the basic principles of hot glass, cold working techniques and kiln forming. This knowledge will give the student the body of knowledge necessary to undertake the advanced courses of Glassblowing, Kiln Forming, Glass Casting and Cold Working Glass. More details (timetables, unit value and learning resources)

Cold Working Glass (VSAR 2082)

The aim of this course is to familiarize students into cold working processes and finishing techniques in glass. Students will be introduced to the versatility of cold working machinery such as lathes, sandblasters, polishers and engravers to explore technical and design principles in glass. More details (timetables, unit value and learning resources)

Cast Class (VSAR 2081)

The cast glass course will introduce students to the various casting methods available for kiln and furnace glass. Students will be taught the lost wax process and direct furnace pouring. More details (timetables, unit value and learning resources)

Kiln Formed Glass (VSAR 2085)

Kiln formed glass will acquaint students with the design, processes and manufacture of forms in fused and slumped glass. More details (timetables, unit value and learning resources)

Glassblowing (VSAR 2083)

Students will be familiarized with the structure of a hot glass studio and through practice learn the basic principles of glassblowing. More details (timetables, unit value and learning resources)
 

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Studio facilities

The glass workshop hosts excellent facilities for a range of glass practices, including glass blowing, hot glass casting, lost wax casting and cold working applications

Useful links

UniSA

DBVS Bachelor of Visual Arts (Specialisation) (UniSAnet)
Internet resources for Glass (UniSA Library): this site contains links under headings such as databases, discussion lists, electronic journals, artists and studios, methods and materials, museums and more.
Internet resources on Australian artists - Glass (UniSA Library)
General Art Glossary (UniSA)

Outside sources

Ausglass
Glass Australia
Glass Artists Society (GAS)
Craft Links
B Jane Cowie
Thomas Riley Gallery
William Traver Gallery

 

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