Preston Singletary will translate a Kids Design Glass sketch into glass.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 24, 2008 Media Contact: Susan Newsom, Communications Manager 253.284.4732 snewsom@museumofglass.org Museum of Glass Calendar Highlights for December, 2008 All events are included with admission to the Museum unless otherwise noted. Calendar listings are subject to change. For updated information, please visit our Web site at www.museumofglass.org or call the information line at 253.284.4750 or 1.866.4MUSEUM. FALL-WINTER-SPRING HOURS: 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 Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day Museum Store also open Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. HOLIDAY HOURS: Open Christmas Eve 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Christmas Day Open New Year's Eve 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed New Year's Day Ongoing Exhibitions Dante Marioni: Form, Color, Pattern Organized by Muskegon Museum of Art Through March 8, 2009 Dante Marioni: Form, Color, Pattern is a mid-career survey comprising more than twenty exceptional glass works crafted over the past two decades by esteemed artist, Dante Marioni. This exhibition illustrates Marioni's elegant style, rooted in the centuries-long artistic conversation surrounding classical design, proportion and aesthetics, as well as the teachings of contemporary mentors such as Lino Tagliapietra, Benjamin Moore and Richard Marquis. These works demonstrate Marioni's ability to transform ancient Venetian techniques and classical forms into impressively scaled, vibrant, modern sculptural expressions, that are distinctly his own. Dale Chihuly: The Laguna Murano Chandelier Organized by the Museum of Glass Through April 19, 2009 Laguna Murano Chandelier (1996-97) is a magnificent Neo-Baroque chandelier created by Dale Chihuly in collaboration with Italian glass master Pino Signoretto. The 1,500-square-foot, five-piece installation evokes the Muranese lagoon with its glorious golden-green tangle of appendages punctuated by opalescent white spheres and fantastical sea creatures. Laguna Murano Chandelier is part of The George R. Stroemple Collection. White Light: Glass Compositions by Daniel Clayman Organized by Daniel Clayman/Montague Studios, Ltd. Through June 14, 2009 White Light: Glass Compositions by Daniel Clayman comprises seven large-scale, dense, opaque sculptures that challenge viewers' perceptions of glass art and defies the stereotype of contemporary glass. Created using the cire perdu (lost wax casting) technique, the forms appear extremely simple, yet Clayman describes his process as intensely difficult. In them, Clayman embraces the Minimalist discipline, masterfully combining it with the dynamism of the Studio Glass movement and his own fascination with the nature of light. The result is light made manifest as a seemingly tangible object. Contrasts: A Glass Primer Organized by the Museum of Glass Through October 11, 2009 Sponsored by the Ben B. Cheney Foundation and the Gottfried and Mary Fuchs Foundation 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 the 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." Events Holiday Music and Dance Performances Enjoy the holiday season at the Museum of Glass with special performances by local groups. * Suzuki Violin Students Saturday, December 6 1 p.m. * Paul Twedt Piano Students Saturday and Sunday, December 13 and 14 1 and 3 p.m. * Paul Twedt Piano Students, featuring Kaleb Sunday, December 21 1 - 4 p.m. * Fab5 Break Dancing Friday, December 26 1 and 3 p.m. * Piano Performances by Rueben Saturday, December 27 1 - 4 p.m. First Night at the Museum of Glass Wednesday, December 31 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Your First Night Button will give you FREE admission into the Museum of Glass. Tickets: $8 in advance, $10 day of. For more information on First Night, visit www.firstnighttacoma.org <http://www.firstnighttacoma.org/> . New Year's Eve Cone Head Workshop Wednesday, December 31 1 - 4 p.m. Ring in the New Year by making your own Cone Head party hat. Public Programs Family Day: Solstice Celebration Saturday, December 13 1 - 4 p.m. Learn about Saturnalia and the rebirth of the Sun Lord during this Roman mid-winter celebration of the Winter Solstice. Join artist Barb White and create a Yule candle and citrus pomander ball while enjoying a Holiday Musicale performed by Paul Twedt's piano students. Third Thursday ArtWalk December 18 Free admission 5 - 8 p.m. sponsored by The Boeing Company and Columbia Bank Illuminated Traditions Join us from 1 to 4 p.m. on selected Saturdays this fall for an enlightening tour around the world that explores diverse cultural holiday celebrations. Each session features a different holiday with unique hands-on art activities and performances to engage visitors of all ages. * Christmas around the World December 20 Mariachi Fiesta Mexicana will provide the musical inspiration while visitors create an array of traditional Christmas keepsakes from countries around the globe, including Denmark, Russia, Australia and the Philippines. 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 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. December 17 - 21 Doug Jeck, Seattle, WA Doug Jeck has taught ceramics at the University of Washington in Seattle since 1996. He is known for his large-scale figurative clay sculptures and plans to experiment by applying his techniques to glass during his residency in the Hot Shop. Jeck's work was recently on view at Tacoma Art Museum as a nominee for the 2008 Neddy Artist Fellowship. 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. December 3 - 7 Norman Courtney, Seattle, WA December 12 - 13 Joe BenVenuto, Seattle, WA December 14 Preston Singletary, Seattle, WA Preston Singletary will translate a Kids Design Glass sketch into glass. December 26 Judith LaScola, 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 gabi@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/> . Lectures Lectures are regularly offered at the Museum in conjunction with exhibitions and the Visiting Artist program. Unless noted otherwise, all lectures take place in the Museum of Glass Theater and are included with Museum admission. Visiting Artist Lecture Series: Conversations with the Artists Sponsored by PONCHO Sundays, 2 - 3 p.m. December 21 Doug Jeck Studio The Studio is an interactive, experiential learning space that provides visitors with creative opportunities for hands-on engagement with the ideas behind the glass. Hands-On Art Activities: Tag, You're It! with Jennifer Adams Explore art techniques through hands-on art activities led by regional artists. Weekdays 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Saturdays 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sundays 12 - 5 p.m. Create a tiny tidbit of tag art. Kids Design Glass Sponsored by Key Foundation, a foundation funded by KeyBank, and the Muckleshoot Charity Fund Ongoing Our Kids Design Glass program invites children 12 and under to create original designs for a glass sculpture. Each month, one entry is selected to be interpreted into glass by the Hot Shop Team. Two vessels are created-one for the designer and one for the Museum's collection. Selected designs will be created in the Hot Shop on December 14 with Preston Singletary and December 28 with the MOG Hot Shop team. 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 the Gary E. Milgard Foundation, the Bamford Foundation, the Klorfine Foundation, Gallucci's, the City of Tacoma Arts Commission, the Washington State Arts Commission and ArtsFund. 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 Independence Day, September 15, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free for members, $10 general, $8 seniors, military and students (13+ with ID), $8 groups of 10 or more, $4 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 For more information about the Museum of Glass: Susan Newsom, Communications Manager, 253-284-4732, snewsom@museumofglass.org <mailto:jpisto@museumofglass.org> ###