FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 2, 2009
Media Contacts:
Susan Newsom, Communications Manager, 253.284.4732, snewsom@museumofglass.org
Julie Pisto, Director of Marketing & Communications, 253.284.2129, jpisto@museumofglass.org
Museum of Glass Calendar Highlights for September, 2009
All events are included with admission to the Museum unless otherwise noted. Calendar listings are subject to change. For updated information, please visit our website at www.museumofglass.org or call the information line at 253.284.4750 or 1.866.4MUSEUM.
SUMMER HOURS (Memorial Day through Labor Day):
Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Third Thursdays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Open Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day
FALL-WINTER-SPRING HOURS (Begin Wednesday, September 8)
Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Third Thursdays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Closed September 12, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day
NOTE: The Museum will be closed all day September 12, 2009 to prepare for RENDEZVOUS AT RED HOT 2009.
Ongoing Exhibitions
Preston Singletary: Echoes, Fire, and Shadows
Organized by Museum of Glass
Presented by Alaska Airlines
Sponsored by Leonard and Norma Klorfine Foundation, Windgate Foundation, JoAnn McGrath, Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass, The Seattle Times, City Arts Magazine, KUOW Public Radio and Tulalip Tribes Charitable Fund
Through September 19, 2010
Echoes, Fire, and Shadows is a mid-career survey of Preston Singletary's work which combines two of the Northwest's most prominent artistic influences-traditional Native American designs and the medium of glass. For nearly two decades, Singletary has melded the symbols, patterns and legends of his Tlingit heritage with the dynamism of the Studio Glass movement, creating a distinctive and powerful body of work. The exhibition comprises 54 works including icons of Singletary's oeuvre and examples of his significant collaborative experiences. The signature piece of the exhibition is Clan House, a 16 x 10 foot cast-glass triptych commissioned for the Museum's Permanent Collection.
Incoming! Selections from the Permanent Collection
Sponsored by the Guendolen Carkeek Pletstcheeff Fund for Decorative and Design Arts and Leonard and Norma Klorfine Foundation
Through June 27, 2010
Incoming! is the first in a series of exhibitions devoted to documenting the continuing evolution of the Museum of Glass Permanent Collection. It showcases twelve signature works-superlative in form, execution and concept-by both emerging and established artists. The objects are organized into categories of landscape and portraiture and reference how humankind and nature endure as powerful, universal sources of inspiration.
Contrasts: A Glass Primer
Organized by Museum of Glass
Sponsored by the Ben B. Cheney Foundation and the Gottfried and Mary Fuchs Foundation
Through October 11, 2009
A captivating introduction to the medium of glass, Contrasts includes international, historically important and visually stunning works of art that are grouped to illustrate opposing ideas, techniques and styles. The exhibition provides a visual feast of 65 objects and challenges visitors to observe and describe the artwork before making value judgments. Contributing artists include René Lalique, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Frank Lloyd Wright, Stanislav Libenský, Jaroslava Brychtová, Harvey Littleton, Dale Chihuly, Richard Marquis, Ginny Ruffner, Dante Marioni, Sonja Blomdahl, Flora Mace, Joey Kirkpatrick, Susan Plum, and Robbie Miller, among others. A multi-sensory tour experience is available, which provides audio descriptions of the artwork along with glass elements that visitors can touch to illustrate specific attributes of the glass.
Made at the Museum: The Visiting Artist Collection
Organized by Museum of Glass
Ongoing
The Visiting Artist Program brings artists from the region and around the world to the Museum of Glass to work with the Hot Shop team to explore, invent and create with glass. After each residency the Museum and the artist select one work of art to be included in the permanent collection. These objects are rotated on and off display throughout the year as new works are created.
Joseph Gregory Rossano (American, born 1962)
Mirrored Murrelets, 2008
Mirrored hot-sculpted glass, steel, mold-formed fiberglass
Through December, 2009
Mezzanine Plaza Reflecting Pool
Joseph Rossano's Mirrored Murrelets highlights the impact of a changing environment on the Marbled Murrelet, a small sea bird that nests primarily in the old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest. The installation comprises 275 mirrored glass birds, created in the Museum of Glass Hot Shop in January, 2008, that "float" just above the surface of the Museum's mid-level reflecting pool. The mirrored surfaces of the birds reflect the viewer's image, symbolically suggesting the impact of humans on the natural world. As visitors experience the installation, Rossano hopes they will "reflect on the plight of the bird as well as the beauty of its existence."
Martin Blank (American, born 1962)
Fluent Steps, 2009
Hot-sculpted glass, steel
Museum of Glass Permanent Collection
Main Plaza Reflecting Pool
Martin Blank's Fluent Steps captures the essence of water. Fluent Steps spans the entire length of the 210-foot-long Main Plaza reflecting pool and rises from water level to fifteen feet in height. It consists of 754 individually hand-sculpted pieces of glass, most of it created in the Museum's Hot Shop during Blank's 45-day Visiting Artist residency in 2008. These forms are arranged into several islands of glass sculpture that capture the fluidity, light, motion and transparency of water in clear glass. "Water can be placid, sublime and in an instant a tremendous surge of raw power. This installation is a visual exploration capturing the chase between the macro and micro qualities of water using glass as a conduit to translate my thoughts." - Martin Blank
Events
RENDEZVOUS AT RED HOT 2009
Saturday, September 12
5 - 11 p.m.
Support the Museum of Glass education, exhibition and Hot Shop programs at our annual gala and auction. Delight in a night of the exquisite and the forbidden, bid for the finest art glass with auctioneer John Curley, watch Martin Blank and his team in the Hot Shop and enjoy fine cuisine and cocktails. For more information, contact Liza Holbrook at 253.284.4711 or lholbrook@museumofglass.org.
NOTE: The Museum will be closed all day September 12, 2009 to prepare for RENDEZVOUS AT RED HOT 2009.
Public Programs
Third Thursday ArtWalk
September 17, 2009
Free admission 5 - 8 p.m. sponsored by The Boeing Company and Columbia Bank
Metal-Urge in the Museum Store
Metal-Urge http://museumofglass.cmail4.com/t/y/l/hkphy/kdtyjdkk/k is a city-wide celebration of the metal arts with 23 venues exhibiting the work of over 100 artists. In August, the Museum Store will feature the work of artists who combine metal work with glass applications.
Tisha Abrahamsen (August 20 - September 20)
Trained in glassblowing, jewelry design and fabrication, Tisha Abrahamsen's work combines hand-blown glass elements, blown beads and sterling silver to create a unique style of art jewelry.
Hot Shop
Feel the heat as you watch art come alive! Every day, artists demonstrate the intriguing process of creating works of art from molten glass on the amphitheater stage, giving visitors a birds-eye view of their activities. Expert commentary and a state-of-the-art audiovisual system enhance the experience by providing insight into the glassblowing process as well as the science, culture and historical aspects of glass.
Hot Shop Visiting Artist Program
Sponsored by Courtyard by Marriott / Tacoma Downtown
The Museum's Visiting Artist Program hosts internationally known and emerging artists in our world-class Hot Shop to create new works in glass with our professional team of artists http://www.museumofglass.org/live-glassmaking/about-the-team/ . We invite artists whose work is exhibited (or will be exhibited) in the Museum galleries or whose work is thematically or technically linked to the exhibition program. One piece created during the residency is selected by the artist and Museum staff to be added to the Museum's permanent collection.
September 16 - 20 Joe Feddersen, Lacey, WA
Joe Feddersen is a member of the Colville Confederated Tribes and has taught printmaking at The Evergreen State College in Olympia since 1989. His work infuses traditional designs with contemporary motifs. An exhibition of his work, Joe Feddersen: Vital Signs opens at Tacoma Art Museum on September 26, 2009.
September 23 - 27 Boyd Sugiki, Seattle, WA
Boyd Sugiki is known for his straightforward and technically elegant designs that integrate vibrant colors and clean lines. He creates simple, utilitarian pieces that are functional as well as decorative.
September 30 - John de Wit, Clinton, WA
October 4 John de Wit has been working with glass for nearly 30 years. He combines his skills as a glassblower and painter by using high-fire enamel paints to paint between layers of molten glass, creating intricate abstract designs inspired by the organic nature of Korean and Japanese ceramics.
Hot Shop Featured Artists
Featured artists are invited to the Hot Shop to push the limits of their work. Offering a diverse mixture of culture, style, focus and expertise, these artists create a sense of excitement and wonder as they experiment and explore new directions in their art that may not be possible in their own studios.
September 7 - 8 Samuel Decker, Seattle, WA
Hot Lunch
Fridays, 12 - 1 p.m.
Celebrate Friday at the Museum of Glass! Enjoy a box lunch from Gallucci's Glass Café while watching a featured or visiting artist at work in the Hot Shop. Cost: $10 per person plus Museum admission. Please call 253.572.9593 or email tiaunnah@galluccis.com to order your lunch by 3 p.m. Thursday prior to arrival. For more information, visit www.museumofglass.org http://www.museumofglass.org/ .
Studio
Weekdays 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Saturdays 12 - 4 p.m.; Sundays 1 - 4 p.m.
The Studio is an interactive, experiential learning space that provides visitors with creative opportunities for hands-on engagement with the ideas behind the glass. Activities are designed to engage all visitors, from toddlers to senior citizens.
Each month a new hands-on art activity is presented that relates to a particular exhibition or Hot Shop application. Summer Studio projects are inspired by Preston Singletary: Echoes, Fires, and Shadows.
Kids Design Glass
Sponsored by Key Foundation, a foundation funded by KeyBank, and the Muckleshoot Charity Fund
Ongoing
Children under the age of 12
Our Kids Design Glass program invites children 12 and under who visit the Museum or are patients at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital to design a glass sculpture. Each month, one entry is selected by the MOG Hot Shop team. Two sculptures are created-one for the child designer and one for the Museum's Permanent Collection. A selection of Kids Design Glass creatures is currently on display in Art Alley.
The selected design will be created in the Hot Shop Sunday, September 27.
Theater
Documentaries
Every day, visitors can view original documentary films to expand their understanding of the artwork in the galleries, gain insight into the artistic process of a particular artist, or review the techniques and history of glassmaking. Films repeat throughout the day.
Visiting Artist Lecture Series: Conversations with the Artists
Sponsored by PONCHO
Sundays, 2 - 3 p.m.
September 20 Joe Feddersen
The Museum of Glass provides a dynamic learning environment to appreciate the medium of glass through creative experiences, collections and exhibitions. In addition to the Hot Shop Amphitheater where visitors can watch artists work, the facilities include galleries, outdoor exhibition areas, a theater, hands-on art studio, grand hall, café and store.
The Museum of Glass is sponsored in part by ArtsFund, the City of Tacoma Arts Commission, the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and the Dimmer Family Foundation.
Hours and Admission
Open Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Third Thursdays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Store is also open Tuesdays 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Summer hours (Memorial Day through Labor Day): also open Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed September 12, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free for members, $12 general, $10 seniors, military and students (13+ with ID), $10 groups of 10 or more, $5 children (6-12) years old. Children under 6 are admitted free. Admission is free every third Thursday of the month from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Info Line 253-284-4750/ 1-866-4MUSEUM
Museum of Glass, 1801 Dock Street Tacoma, WA 98402
www.museumofglass.org http://www.museumofglass.org/
For more information about the Museum of Glass:
Susan Newsom, Communications Manager, 253.284.4732, snewsom@museumofglass.org mailto:jpisto@museumofglass.org
Julie Pisto, Director of Marketing & Communications, 253.284.2129, jpisto@museumofglass.org