Create three-dimensional cardboard birds with mixed media artist Jennifer Adams

                                Martin Blank continues his extended Hot Shop residency to create components for his installation in the Museum's Main Plaza reflecting pool scheduled to open spring, 2009.  The sculpture will capture the emotive nature of water and play with the light and water echoing the Pacific Northwest's unique environment.

                                Ellen Sollod expresses herself through diverse media selected in response to her conceptual ideas and the environment.  During her Museum of Glass residency, she will create glass components for her new public art composition, Collection and Transformation, which will be installed at the Brightwater Wastewater Treatment Plant in Woodinville, opening in 2010.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 1, 2008 Media Contact: Susan Newsom, Communications Manager 253.284.4732 snewsom@museumofglass.org Museum of Glass Calendar Highlights for October, 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 September 13, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day Museum Store also open Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ongoing Exhibitions Dante Marioni: Form, Color, Pattern Organized by Dante Marioni Studio 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 installation 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 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 12, 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. Joseph Gregory Rossano (American, born 1962) Mirrored Murrelets, 2008 Mirrored hot-sculpted glass, steel, mold-formed fiberglass June 7, 2008 - 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 5th Annual Bird Lovers Weekend October 3 - 5 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday 12 - 5 p.m. Sunday Free reception Friday, 6 p.m. For the fifth consecutive year, the Museum of Glass and Finland's iittala, Inc. are teaming up for a weekend dedicated to birds and bird enthusiasts. This three-day event will feature the U.S. debut of the newest iittala Birds, Cartoon Chicks, designed by Anu Penttinen. The 2008 designs for the Birds by Toikka collection, Ruffed Grouse and Red Poll, will also be featured at the event, October 3 - 5, 2008. Penttinen and iittala master glassblower Arto Lahtinen will work with the MOG Hot Shop team creating both Toikka and Penttinen-designed birds. Additional bird lovers' activities include a panel discussion about the impact of environmental change on the Marbled Murrelet with Mirrored Murrelets artist Joseph Rossano and friends; live bird visits from Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium; bird signing sessions with Anu Penttinen; and a special hands-on art activity. iittala Birds Hatch Ruffed Grouse, designed by Oiva Toikka and created as a limited edition, will be offered for the first time, exclusively through the Museum Store. Anu Penttinen's 2008 Cartoon Chicks are also available for purchase in the Museum Store. Hands-On Art Activity: Amazing Avians Friday 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday 12 - 5 p.m. Bend and twist wire into a fantastical bird sculpture, create a bird stamp or hatch your own bird from clay with artist-in-residence Larry Calkins. Friday, October 3 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Penttinen and Toikka bird demonstrations in the Hot Shop with Anu 6 - 7 p.m. Penttinen, Arto Lahtinen and the MOG Hot Shop team 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Pale Male, the story of a red tail hawk living in New York City, produced by the NYC Audubon Society and narrated by Joanne Woodward, on view in the Theater (film rotates throughout the day). 1 - 2 p.m. Live bird visit from Pt. Defiance Zoo and Aquarium 6 - 8:30 p.m. FREE reception in the Museum Store, featuring the debut of Ruffed Grouse. Meet Anu Penttinen and see her new line of Cartoon Chicks. Penttinen will personally sign/engrave birds purchased during the event. Saturday, October 4 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Penttinen and Toikka bird demonstrations in the Hot Shop with Anu Penttinen, Arto Lahtinen and the MOG Hot Shop team 1 - 4 p.m. Hands-on Art Activity: Boxed Birds Create three-dimensional cardboard birds with mixed media artist Jennifer Adams 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Pale Male, the story of a red tail hawk living in New York City, produced by the NYC Audubon Society and narrated by Joanne Woodward, on view in the Theater (film rotates throughout the day). 1 - 2 p.m. Panel discussion with Mirrored Murrelets artist Joseph Rossano and friends Sunday, October 5 12 - 5 p.m. Penttinen and Toikka bird demonstrations in the Hot Shop with Anu Penttinen, Arto Lahtinen and the MOG Hot Shop team 12 - 5 p.m. Pale Male, the story of a red tail hawk living in New York City, produced by the NYC Audubon Society and narrated by Joanne Woodward, on view in the Theater (film rotates throughout the day). 2 - 3 p.m. Lecture and slide presentation with Anu Penttinen 3 - 4 p.m. Bird signing session with Anu Penttinen Halloween Spooktacular Saturday, October 25 1 - 4 p.m. Join us for a fun-filled afternoon of All Hallows Eve festivities. Join in our costume workshop with prizes awarded to the most creative ghouligans. Paint a mini pumpkin with artist Larry Calkins, get your face painted by Miss Lily Flamingo the Miraculous and Barb White Y'all, and watch balloon sculptor Adam Lee create a spooky display of balloon creatures. Public Programs Family Day: Foliage Filigree Saturday October 11 1 - 4 p.m. Welcome autumn with artist Jennifer Adams and explore the colors and beauty of the season by creating a centerpiece with local foliage. Third Thursday ArtWalk October 16 Free admission 5 - 8 p.m. sponsored by The Boeing Company and Columbia Bank 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. October 3 - 5 Anu Penttinen, Nuutajarvi, Finland Young designer Anu Penttinen comes to the Hot Shop for her first appearance in the U.S.A. She will be joined by master glassblower Arto Lahtinen and the Museum Hot Shop team to create her glass birds which are the latest additions to the Iittala Bird Collection. Penttinen's Cartoon Chicks are inspired by pop culture, clay animation and tropical birds. She will design a special bird during the residency to commemorate the Museum's five-year partnership with Iittala, Inc. October 8 and 11 Martin Blank, Seattle, WA Martin Blank continues his extended Hot Shop residency to create components for his installation in the Museum's Main Plaza reflecting pool scheduled to open spring, 2009. The sculpture will capture the emotive nature of water and play with the light and water echoing the Pacific Northwest's unique environment. October 15 - 19 Ellen Sollod, Seattle, WA Ellen Sollod expresses herself through diverse media selected in response to her conceptual ideas and the environment. During her Museum of Glass residency, she will create glass components for her new public art composition, Collection and Transformation, which will be installed at the Brightwater Wastewater Treatment Plant in Woodinville, opening in 2010. October 29 - Bertil Vallien, Stockholm, Sweden November 2 Swedish artist Bertil Vallien has been a leader in the glass art world since the 1960s. Vallien was the first artist to apply sand casting to glass, opening up new modes of expression for the medium, the most significant of which was its effects on light. He is known for his cast glass boats which are represented in many leading museums and collections in the U.S., Europe and Japan. His residency at the Museum of Glass will focus on sand casting applications. 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. October 10 Michael Church, 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 Sponsored by PONCHO Sundays, 2 - 3 p.m. Each Visiting Artist's residency includes a Conversation with the Artist lecture and slide presentation. October 5 Anu Penttinen October 19 Ellen Sollod Panel Discussion with Joseph Rossano and Friends Saturday, October 4 1 - 2 p.m. Discussion on the impact of environmental change on the Marbled Murrelet 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: Amazing Avians with Larry Calkins Bend and twist wire to create a fantastical bird sculpture. Weekdays 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Saturdays 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sundays 12 - 5 p.m. 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 October 26. Theater In the Museum Theater, visitors can view original documentary films that will expand their understanding of the artwork in the galleries, look inside the artistic process of a particular artist, or review the techniques and history of glassmaking. Films repeat throughout the day. White Light: Glass Compositions by Daniel Clayman An in-depth study of Daniel Clayman's unique casting process. Run time: 13 minutes The Time of Lino This Museum of Glass-produced documentary will take viewers on a journey through the life and career of Lino Tagliapietra, "the greatest glassblower that has ever been." Filmed on location in Murano, Italy and at the Museum of Glass. Run time: 48 minutes. 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 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. to 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> ###