Glass Art Gallery at Fed Square Celebrates 100 Exhibitions

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Kirra Galleries

Minister for the Arts Heidi Victoria MP officially opened a milestone 100th major Glass Art Exhibition at Kirra Galleries in Fed Square today which included a demonstration of glass flamework art.


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Cutting the Kirra Galleries 100th Exhibition cake - Left: Peter Kolliner, Gallery Director, Barbara Kolliner, Heidi Victoria MP, Minister for the Arts, and Anton Kolliner.

 

Kirra Galleries Director, Mr. Peter Kolliner OAM, speaking at the opening said, "It is important for the arts economy in Victoria and Australia to gain a higher profile for its contribution to the economy and employment. "In Australia we are fortunate to have an established group of world class glass artists and an emerging pool of new talented artists."


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The Alchemists Mind by Christopher John

For the full details of the Perspectives Interior-Exterior Exhibition, the artists and their works click here.

Mr. Kolliner said, "Kirra Galleries, the first commercial tenant to open in Fed Square, represents over one hundred and forty Australian Glass Artists, and has been a centre of excellence for Glass Art for the past eleven years in its current location.

"From the beginning Kirra Galleries has taken on a deliberate charter to actively promote world class Australian glass art in all of its forms, both in Australia and internationally, with our attendance over the past nine years at the international exposition SOFA (Sculpture Objects and Functional Art) in Chicago, USA.


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Left: Peter Kolliner, Heidi Victoria MP, and Christian Arnold glass flamework artist.


"Kirra Galleries has also had a major interest in promoting and nurturing young artists and for several years staged the Monash Momentum Exhibition for past and present students from Monash University's Glass Studio."

Mr. Kolliner said, "Tough economic times had flowed into the Arts economy like every other sector which had impacted on artists, galleries and suppliers making it important to maintain a strong focus on supporting local Australian Glass Artists.

"One part of the increasing market we see for glass artists is the purchase of signature glass art for apartments and modern homes with clean interior lines and space that can provide a gallery style environment for display."


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Heidi Victoria MP, Minister for the Arts and Craig Ondarchie MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the
Premier, with Glass Artist Ruth Oliphant's works.


Ms Victoria said, "The success of any partnership between gallery and artist requires a combination of trust, appreciation, confidence and hard work. This is reflected in both the quality of the work exhibited at Kirra and in the number of artists it represents.

"Congratulations to Kirra Galleries, not just on reaching this milestone of 100 exhibitions, but for eleven years of fostering new talent, actively promoting the work of Australian glass artists and contributing to Victoria's renowned arts scene."

Media Enquiries:
Ron Smith, Media Communications, Kirra Galleries - Mobile: 0417 329 201