Glen Fredericks is making the world a better place through the strategic use of googly eyes.
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Glen has dubbed himself the Australian Ambassador for "Vandal Eyes" - an internet trend in which googly eyes are stuck on things in public to spread some joy and give people a much-needed dose of laughter.
Vandal Eyes is also known as eyebombing.
"Eyebombing is the art of sticking googly eyes onto an inanimate object in the public sphere in a way that cleverly lends the object the appearance of a living creature. Ultimately the goal is to humanise the streets and bring sunshine to people passing by," according to eyebombing.com.
Glen will hold a googly eyes meet-up at 11am on Saturday at Ka-fey cafe in the Hunter Street Mall.
Bring a pack of googly eyes [available at any $2 shop], a camera, Blu-Tack, a sense of direction and an appetite for adventure.
"As well as being a source for offbeat adventure, I feel that these micro events help inject a bit of life into the Hunter Mall precinct. Every little bit helps. It could mean a dozen extra people who otherwise wouldn't have had a reason to be there, having fun, and buying a snack and a beverage as part of their trip into town," Glen said.
Raise a Glass
Glass has been a key part of British households since Roman times.
The manufacture of raw glass in England can be traced back to 1226 at Chiddingfold in Surrey.
Until the 15th century, glass was mostly produced for windows in churches and monasteries, while some was used to make products for drinking, medicine and storing chemicals.
Quality glassware for domestic use became available in the 1570s.
The discovery of heavier and more durable glass led to the development of the English glass industry.
In 1745, the British government introduced a glass tax by weight. This led to the development of the air twist stem, which made glasses lighter and cheaper. By 1800, table glass became much more affordable.
If this kind of thing floats your boat, you might fancy checking out a Georgian Glass exhibition at Grossman House at Maitland on Sunday.
Rare and delicate glass items dating from 1700 to 1840 will be displayed, including candlesticks, serving ware, wine glasses, rummer glasses, decanters and jugs.
National Trust collections manager Rebecca Pinchin said the range highlighted "stylistic changes in English glass, driven by advances in technology and changes in the way people ate, drank and socialised".
The exhibition is part of an open day at Grossmann House from 10am to 3pm on Sunday. Entry costs $8, while National Trust members will be admitted for free.
All proceeds go towards the ongoing maintenance of Grossmann and Brough houses. Enquiries: grossmann@nationaltrust.com.au