Liberec Botanical Garden | Nature in Glass, Glass in Nature
The exhibition “Glass in Nature, Nature in Glass” will present an exceptionally diverse cross-section of contemporary glass art. It will offer visitors the opportunity to explore glass in all its technical and artistic breadth within the unique setting of one of the oldest botanical gardens in the Czech Republic. The stars of the show will be Miluše and René Roubíček, leading figures in Czech glass art, whose work has fundamentally shaped the form of modern artistic glass and continues to inspire new generations of artists to this day. A total of 25 artists, including the Roubíčeks, will be featured in the garden’s greenhouses.
Visitors will encounter a variety of techniques and approaches to glassworking—ranging from blown, cut, engraved, painted, and laminated glass, through vitrography and filigree glass, to glass sculptures, objects, mosaics, light installations, and experimental artistic creations. The exhibition will thus offer a fascinating glimpse into the technical virtuosity, creative freedom, and endless possibilities of glass as a material that can be both fragile and monumental, traditional and surprisingly contemporary.
Exhibition Curator: Lenka Patková
List of exhibitors: Antares Art, ATELIER VINU – Kopřivová Karolína, AZ-DESIGN – Zvěřinová Zlata, Zvěřina Aleš, Čambalová Pavlína, Čermáková Anna (SUPŠS Železný Brod), HALAMA ART CRYSTAL, Hoineff Ricardo, Horčičková Marie, Jabůrek Lukáš + AJETO, Jaroš Glass, JTKA SKUHRAVÁ GLASS, Kolektiv Ateliers, Kultivar, Krausová Kateřina, Martina Josífek – Glass Art, Ladislav Ševčík Bohemia Crystal, Parsi Kamila, Pačinek Glass, Polanská Anna, Roubíčková Miluše, Roubíček René, Schindler Jan, Tydlitátová Barbora, Urbanglass – Eva a Karel Urbanovi
The exhibition will be complemented by demonstrations of traditional glassmaking techniques:
Workshops at Pavilion M, Liberec Botanical Garden (9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., lunch break 12:00–1:00 p.m.)
Monday, August 24 – Anna Hanková (a student at the Secondary School of Applied Arts in Železný Brod, specializing in engraved and relief glass) will demonstrate glass engraving. There will also be a workshop for all ages, where visitors can have text or small motifs engraved on glass items of their choice. Engraved glass will also be available for purchase.
Tuesday, August 25 – Sandblasting – In her sandblasting workshop, Daniela Divišová will introduce visitors to the traditional technique of decorating glass. They can create their own stencil or use a pre-made design to try their hand at sandblasting. Workshop for all ages. Sandblasted glass will also be available for purchase.
Wednesday, August 26 – Urbanglass – Eva and Karel Urban will demonstrate working at the glassblowing torch; visitors will be able to try their hand at it and take home their first original piece or have a small item custom-made to their specifications. The event also features a sale of Urbanglass creations, including glass figurines, flowers, and jewelry.
Thursday, August 27 – Nový Bor Higher Vocational School of Glassmaking and Secondary School – Master engraver Lubomír Žúbor will lead a glass engraving workshop. The school will also offer custom monogram engraving for visitors, who will have the opportunity to try their hand at diprofil glass engraving. There will also be a sale of the school’s products.
August 28, Friday – Glass Art by Martina Josífek – Glass artist and mosaic artist Martina Josífek Zelinková will introduce you to the techniques of glass mosaic and Tiffany stained glass. Under her guidance, you’ll create your own original piece to take home. The program will also feature a sale of original micro-mosaic jewelry and glass decorations.
August 29, Saturday – Glass Jewelry – Glass artist Marcela Růžičková will demonstrate her work at the glassblowing torch. Children ages five and up can look forward to a workshop on creating pieces from glass components. Sale of original glass jewelry.
The Liberec Botanical Garden is one of the most significant botanical gardens in the Czech Republic. Visitors can explore 10 pavilions featuring tropical and subtropical plants, extensive outdoor exhibits, aquariums, and terrariums. The garden manages two national collections—one of carnivorous plants and, more recently, one of tillandsias—which are among the most significant collections of their kind in the Czech Republic. It also boasts a rich collection of orchids, including the unique Czech butterwort and the world’s largest water lily, the Victoria amazonica. The garden also offers popular educational programs for schools and the public year-round. For more information, visit www.botanickaliberec.cz.
