With an hour to spare before closing I decided to take in the exhibition at the Tacoma Glass Museum. Mount Rainier was in full view – not a cloud in sight or threatening to cover the peak.
The above sculpture (about 4′ high) was the first to capture my attention. I apologize for the glare – the iPhone has its limits… I love the interplay of translucency and color. Despite its weight this sculpture communicates movement and vitality to me.
Remember his style? This is another of Martin Blank’s glass sculptures.
A second view of the sculpture. Blank states that his focus is on mass and marrying it successfully with the translucency of glass. Success? I think so…
Another dynamic glass sculpture – depicting the human figure.
Viewed with the light from a different angle.
This is Preston Singletary, introduced in yesterday’s post as discovered in the Hotel Murano. This piece is recent work and yes, it is all glass!
This bust was also created by Preston Singletary – a talented North West First Nations Artist.
Links: Australian Glass and the Pacific Northwest is the feature exhibition until January 2014. It is the first American museum exhibition dedicated to the wide spectrum of Australian studio glass and the connecting between artists and institutions in Australia and the Pacific Northwest.
Due to the time constraints of my visit I did not take close enough notes to identify each artist by name. Let your eyes do the feasting and if you are in the Tacoma area make sure to visit this stunning exhibition.
Dante Marioni was also represented at the Hotel Murano – here is some of his newest work. I tried to capture the movement the cobalt blue and clear striations created as I moved past the exhibit case.
These oversized perfume vessels were eye-catching. Each its own sculpture, continuity between all four was achieved by the tapering ends and the “dancing” movement of the stoppers.
Glass blower Benjamin Moore’s exhibit titled “Translucent.” This grouping is “Exterior Fold Trio”, as study of light, and translucency. Muted lighting demanded the onlooker’s full attention on the subtle changes of shape, form and glass quality.
“Interior Fold Set” accentuates the geometric shapes of the vessels with a stretched-out horizontal plane.
My favorite set was “Palla Set”. It concentrates on the addition of an opaque sphere at the center of each piece, giving the sculpture weight and adding a definite focal point.
A visit to the Tacoma Glass Museum cannot be topped by any other activity or vista – except capturing an image of Mount Rainier in the glow of the setting sun.
Thank you for virtually traveling to Tacoma with me. My time was limited therefore I focused on the glass culture this city is centered around. I hope you have enjoyed my personal views and insights. Comments are always welcome…
