A big thanks go to the Pentagram Foundation for the support that enabled Annette Douglas to immerse herself in the fascinating world of glass in Venice through the scholarship in the summer 2023. A special thanks also goes to Matteo Seguso for his great support and gave her the confidence to work on his grinding and engraving machine in Murano. Matteo Seguso learned his craft from his father, Bruno Seguso. And a thanks goes to Vetreria Artistica Stefano Mattiello and his team who produced the blanks in the Hot shop.

Venice is a magical and at the same time surreal place. The lagoon with its incredibly beautiful light, surrounded by the amazing colour of the sea, creates a unique atmosphere. It is a city rich in history, charm, art and tradition.

Of course, Annette Douglas is not the first artist to be enchanted by this place and call her collection „Laguna“. With this naming, she expresses her appreciation for this magical place, as well as for the long tradition of glass art and the open doors that were received to her in Murano.

The implementation of one of the supreme disciplines of Venetian glass art was the use of the „Incalmo“ technique. This technique shows the transitions from the mainland to the sea, from dense to transparent. In two colour stories „Quarzo“ and „Smeraldo“, in stone grey for the land and sea green for the lagoon. The forms are freely blown, a play of proportions from dense to transparent, implemented in a very reduced way in glass. It symbolizes the tranquillity (incalmo) of the lagoon.

The „Inciso“ technique, the cut glass captures the play of light on the water. The light is broken by the incisions made with the engraving machine and creates a fascinating play on the glass surface, like the reflection of light in water by light and waves. The blown vessels are very neat and perfectly blown, the engraving brings in some friction and imperfection and is part of Annette Douglas's artistic intervention. Further, it is close to her work as a textile designer, working with repeating patterns and structures.

With these techniques, Annette Douglas captured the glass craft of Murano, the unique atmosphere and beauty of the Venice Lagoon in her work. Working in this inspiring environment with all the skilled glass people was for her a real pleasure.

In September 2024 «Laguna» was selected by the Jury of the Venice Glass Week to be exhibited in the Palazzo Loredan in Venice Italy. 

^{Hotglass free blown, Engraving, size small 20cm, size big 31cm}