Incredible glassblowing creations from The University of Queensland’s Glassblowing Workshop are now on show at the Museum of Brisbane (MoB).
The showcase is part of the Precious exhibition, bringing together thousands of remarkable items from more than 30 public and private collections.
UQ’s Lead Scientific Glassblower, Jarred Wright, explained that UQ has had a long history with scientific glassblowing on campus.
“Around the 1950s, UQ originally had three glassblowing workshops with around 10 employees, supplying the university and surrounds with items like beakers, flasks and test tubes," he said.
“Science changed over the years and so did technology, experiments tended to get smaller meaning sample sizes and glass apparatus also shrank.
“Digital experiments replaced some physical experiments and eventually UQ joined all of its workshops together.
“Now UQ has the last university-owned scientific glassblowing facility in Australia.
“This means most universities nationwide – and some overseas – are now knocking on my door for work and I am the only person in my workshop.
“And the curatorial staff at MoB knocked too, allowing us to showcase UQ’s unique creations to the people of Brisbane.”
Mr Wright – who arrived as an apprentice glassblower at UQ 13 years ago – said the pieces on show were incredibly eclectic.
“Our contribution is really a broad showcase of the wonders of scientific glassblowing,” he said.
“Some of the items are very old – in some cases between 30 and 60 years old.
“And some pieces are particularly special to me – pieces that I had to submit for my exams while I was training, for example.
“I’m still trying to work out the use or purpose of some of the older pieces, and I don’t even know how some were made at all – they’re miracle pieces of work.
“All of them are unconventional and unique, which makes them most interesting.”
From textiles to tin toys, micro-architectural marvels to marine treasures, the exhibition hopes to explore a joyful celebration of the art of assemblage.
Members of the public are invited to immerse themselves into the incredible stories of some of the prolific collectors of Brisbane, and get to know what makes a keepsake and collectible truly precious.
The event is free to attend and accessible resources and audio content from the exhibition is available via the MoB website.
