Denizli Metropolitan Municipality International Denizli Glass Biennial, which is Turkey's first and only glass biennial, opened its doors for the 6th time. Emphasizing that Denizli is a city of culture and art, and inviting all his fellow countrymen to the biennial and the book fair, Mayor Zolan said, “Our cultural and artistic activities continue all over our city.”
The official opening ceremony of the 6th International Denizli Glass Biennial of Denizli Metropolitan Municipality, organized with the organization of Denizli Metropolitan Municipality and Mixed Design Workshop, was held. The opening ceremony held at the Metropolitan Municipality Nihat Zeybekci Congress and Culture Center was attended by Former Minister of Economy Nihat Zeybekci, Denizli Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Osman Zolan, Pamukkale University (PAU) Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kutluhan, guests, glass artists and many students attended. Ömür Duruerk from the Mixed Design Workshop stated that they lit the first fire of the biennial in 2011 and said, "Our biennial is 10 years old today and we are holding its 6th." Providing information about the program, Duruerk said that many glass artists from abroad will participate in the online biennial due to the pandemic. Duruerk said, “We will break new ground in our biennial with conferences, competitions and fashion shows. We will be holding the “GlassFashion Show”, the legendary glass fashion show of 15 years by Canadian glass artist Laura Donefer, with a photo presentation by photographer-poet Akgün Akova, the glass competition we named Dragon Breath, for the first time with 35 Turkish glass artists.
PAU will open a vocational school on glass
PAU Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kutluhan, on the other hand, stated that they will open a glass-related vocational school within the university and that this idea was born in the biennial, and wished Denizli Metropolitan Municipality 6th International Denizli Glass Biennial to be beneficial and auspicious. Rector Kutluhan said, “We are in a city that wants to do something and want to produce. This city is very productive and I am very happy to be here. With this event, we see how glass is transformed into an art with skillful hands. I would like to thank our Metropolitan Mayor Osman Zolan and the organizing committee for making us experience this in our city.”
Denizli, city of culture and art
Mayor Osman Zolan thanked Nihat Zeybekci, the former Mayor and Minister of Economy, for the great effort and support of this march that started 10 years ago. Stating that municipalities should not only fulfill their responsibilities with a classical service understanding, but also take part in cultural and artistic activities in the city, Mayor Zolan said, “As the Metropolitan Municipality, we both protect the values of our city. At the same time, we ensure that happiness and peace together by keeping our agenda and our city together with culture and art. When we look at our city today, we have the ongoing Metropolitan Municipality 4th Book Fair. Today we started our glass biennial. Our cultural and artistic activities continue all over our city.”
“Turkey's largest glass sculpture is in our city”
Saying that glass represents life, President Osman Zolan said, “When you say glass, it is actually life, life. Glass is both health and art. From past to present, there are many glass-related activities in Denizli. Our rooster, which is the symbol of Denizli, and our biggest glass sculpture in the open area today is in our city. It was formed by the combination of 7000 pieces of glass. This was also the result of the glass biennial, a product of the march that started.” Stating that the citizens wanted the material to be used in the rooster statue to be glass in the voting, Mayor Zolan said, “Because glass is transparent, it is healthy, it is kind and polite. It carries all the beauties on it. I am very happy to hold the 6th of our International Denizli Glass Biennial.”
“Denizli is now a city of glass”
Nihat Zeybekci, the former Minister of Economy, stated in his speech that Denizli is also a city of glass and drew attention to the fact that the steps were taken to identify glass with Denizli. Zeybekci, who stated that the glass rooster statue in front of Denizli Metropolitan Municipality was brought to life from a dream together with Metropolitan Mayor Osman Zolan, said, "Denizli is now a glass city." Former Minister of Economy Nihat Zeybekci thanked those who gave their effort and support to the 6th International Denizli Glass Biennial of Denizli Metropolitan Municipality and wished the biennial to be beneficial.
The Biennial awaits its guests until 17 October
After the speeches, the protocol, glass artists and students lit the fire of the biennial together. Participants visited the Contemporary Mixed Glass Exhibition, which was presented to the guests as part of the Biennial, and examined the works and workshops. The biennial, which will host many firsts, as well as those who are interested in glass as amateur and professional; It will be open and free of charge to anyone from 7 to 70, who is curious about how glass takes shape and turns into art, and wants to meet glass. Until October 17, the guests will be able to make their own glass beads and participate in the 'design your own glass' activities, as well as watching the artists and taking part in the events at the biennial.
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