CREATIVE CUTS - Gondwanaland Echo of the Past

Artist Tina Cooper is celebrating 35 years in hot glass. From her humble beginnings selling her glass at the Eumundi Market 35 years ago, to a multi-award-winning international hot glass-wood sculptor today.

Tina is known for creating art that is emotionally raw, vibrant and spontaneous, drawing inspiration from meaningful connections across the past, present and future. Tina’s work reflects how she sees the world and draws on influences from Mother Nature, life experiences, Myth, and Indigenous cultures, making each piece a reflection of her journey.

Tina and Wolfgang Engel have created this series for Gondwanaland Echo of the Past to acknowledge the history of the land, plants, and animals who have survived to this day.

These totems are like echoes of the past, embodying all creatures. Demonstrating the fragility of life itself, creating these totems using hot glass. They represent the survival of all living things here in Australia, once part of Gondwanaland.

The recycled wood used in the totems is a symbol of ancient trees, once abundant and full of wisdom of the past.

Gondwanaland was a super Continent in the Southern hemisphere, full of Rainforests that existed over 500 million years ago. Present day Australia is a fragment of this ancient continent. 

The Daintree Rainforest in Queensland is the world’s oldest tropical rainforest and contains over 500 rare plants and animals in the oldest continuously surviving rainforest on Earth.

The exhibition runs from May 3 to August 30 at Tina and Wolfgang’s gallery in Montville, by appointment only. Visit tinacooper.com or wolfgangengelartglass.com.au

Guest artist Julz McCrae will also have some creations on display at the Gondwanaland Echo of the Past exhibition. Julz and Luke own and run The Blacksmiths Studio in Rosemount. They have worked on large scale installations and public art around Australia. 

Julz has worked in collaboration with Tina Cooper for over ten years, together creating some amazing sculptures. 

Julz will be showcasing multiple scale aluminium Sculptures often incorporating upcycled glass items. Her current series, Reclaimed, demonstrates the resilience of nature and its tendency to restore equilibrium. To find out more about Julz, visit julzeefuncart.com.au