Wolfgang Engel and Tina Cooper have been working with hot glass for over 32 years and their art glass work has been sold all over Australia and Europe.

Wolfgang’s personal and professional alliance with Tina started with their first collaboration together for the foyer of the Ramada Hotel in Hervey Bay, in 2009.

Wolfgang moved to the Sunshine Coast 12 years ago and worked alongside Tina in her main Galleries in Eumundi, demonstrating his talents blowing glass on the hot flame.

Recently the couple opened a private, exclusive studio and gallery in Montville and have not looked back.

Wolfgang is running ‘The Red Door’ Glass Studio/Gallery alongside the Tina Cooper Art Glass Gallery.

Their upcoming exhibition, ‘A Bug’s Life’, is inspired by the beauty of Mother Nature. Wolfgang creates his art glass and sculpture very close to the “real thing” but with a little twist of his own imagination.

“‘A Bug’s Life’ was inspired by the story of a little caterpillar called ‘Jenny Lala’,” Tina explained.  “I wrote the story after seeing a new piece Wolfgang had created, of a praying mantis in glass.

“I asked Wolfgang to make me a cute caterpillar that sat on a branch looking at the praying mantis, and imagining the caterpillar talking her way out of being eaten,” Tina said.

Tina decided to name this cute insect after one of their collectors, so Jenny LaLa got her name.  “That’s how the story started, with this cute bug going through life meeting insects and making a difference along the way,” said Tina.

“Jenny Lala can talk her way out of any situation, using wit and diplomacy to stay alive”.

‘A Bug’s Life’ Exhibition is a continuation of the most recent and very successful exhibition, ‘The Honey Ant Collection’.

Honey ants will be part of ‘A Bug’s Life’ as well as Jenny Lala the caterpillar, the praying mantis, dragonflies, birds, bees and more.

Some of the bugs will be on wood and Tina Cooper glass, and held in beautiful glass domes to protect their delicate state.

The opening night at the Tina Cooper Glass Gallery on the 30th of July will be by invitation only and the work can be viewed by appointment only from the 3rd of August to the 23rd of December, 2022. Phone  0417 194 329 or go to www.tinacooper.com