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This Saturday 14 September, Wagga Wagga’s ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Art Glass Gallery celebrates the start of two new exhibitions exploring the history and process of glassmaking through both a critical and a creative lens.

In Terraformed cutting-edge Australian sculptor Nicholas Burridge continues his material investigation into basalt, a volcanic rock formed from cooling lava, and the ways humans are reshaping and re-engineering the planet during the Anthropocene – the current geological age in which humans dominate both the climate and the environment.

Nicholas Burridge said he grew up in a part of Victoria that was one of the world’s most extensive volcanic plains, and was intrigued by how vulcanism had shaped the local ecology.

“When I was working at a bronze foundry it occurred to me that we were using a kind of vulcanism,” Mr Burridge said.

“My work is partly inspired by how humans are now manipulating rather than being manipulated by geology.”

The second exhibition, Hot+ Cold, Cut + Polish: Exploring Art Glass Techniques features pieces from the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Art Glass Collection, and is a testament to the blend of artistry and precision at the heart of glassmaking.

Assistant Curator Michael Scarrone said the exhibition on the gallery’s second floor is a celebration and exploration of glassmaking techniques.

“Artworks from the collection speak to the expressive possibilities of glass”, Mr Scarrone said.

“This exhibition features glassmaking tools, and demonstration videos offer insight into how glass is made.”

Wagga Wagga residents and visitors to the city are encouraged to come to the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Art Glass Gallery on Saturday to help celebrate the launch of these exhibitions and enjoy a discussion between Nicholas Burridge and Michael Scarrone about Nicholas’s work.