Incoming: Museum of Glass Permanent Collection
May 16, 2009 – June 27, 2010
Organized by Museum of Glass

Tacoma, Wash. (March 25, 2009)— The Museum of Glass will introduce its Permanent Collection with the exhibition, Incoming! Selections from the Permanent Collection, opening on May 16, 2009.  This is the first in a series of exhibitions devoted to the Museum’s collection. It will showcase signature works—superlative in form, execution and concept—by both emerging and established artists while recounting the continuing evolution of the Museum’s Permanent Collection.  Incoming! will remain on view until June 27, 2010.

In 2007, the Museum refined its mission to concentrate solely on the medium of glass. Along with this new mission, the Board of Trustees committed to building a permanent collection of historically significant glass art.  The basis of the collection includes international studio glass works of the 20th and 21st centuries with particular attention given to pieces that represent the Studio Glass movement of the Pacific Northwest.  “The unifying criteria for inclusion in the collection are significance within an artist’s or designer’s oeuvre and 20th- and 21st-century glass history,” states curator Melissa G. Post.  “We also pay close attention to excellence in quality, concept, design and execution in the pieces we select for the collection.”

“A collection is the DNA of a museum,” explains Timothy Close, Museum of Glass director and CEO.  “The Museum of Glass is the only institution west of the Mississippi devoted to the medium of glass.  By solidifying our mission and amassing significant works of art that support this mission, the Museum of Glass will become a leader in the contemporary glass art milieu.”

Since January 2008, Close and Post have acquired donations of important works—ranging from early American Studio Glass to contemporary European glass jewelry—from private collections nationwide.  “We are deeply grateful for the generosity we have received from these collectors,” comments Close.

Incoming!, the first exhibition of these works, will include eleven stellar objects that have been accessioned or promised to the Museum of Glass’ Permanent Collection—including  Dale Chihuly’s early Jumping Horse Cylinder (1976), Stanislav Libenský and Jaroslava Brychtová’s The Second Queen (1991-1992), and Finnish jewelry designer Tarja Lehtinen’s Cameo Brooch (1996)—and one work that is on long-term loan.  “One of the purposes of this exhibition is to explain the selection and approval process of adding a work of art to our collection,” explains Post.  “By including examples of works we are in the process of acquiring, we can tell the complete story. Loosely organized into the categories of landscape and portraiture, the works reference how humankind and nature endure as powerful, universal sources of inspiration.

“As the collection grows, we may choose to develop concentrations of works by particular artists, schools and art historical movements,” continues Post.  “Commissions and exhibitions will also provide unique opportunities to build our collection.  For example, renowned glass sculptor Martin Blank’s 754-piece installation, Fluent Steps, will open in our Main Plaza reflecting pool in April.  Preston Singletary’s recently completed triptych, Clan House, his most significant work to date, will be featured in his solo exhibition opening at the Museum on July 11.  Both of these monumental works were commissioned for the Permanent Collection.”

The first piece in the Museum’s Permanent Collection was Lino Tagliapietra’s Manhattan Sunset (1997), acquired prior to the Museum’s opening in 2002.  Since then, other site-specific pieces, such as Mildred Howard’s Blackbird in a Red Sky (a.k.a. Fall of the Blood House) (2002) have been accessioned.  The Permanent Collection currently comprises 128 objects including 94 pieces created in the Museum’s Hot Shop by artists participating in the Visiting Artist residency program.

Sample images:

Image Credits:

Dale Chihuly (American, born 1941), Jumping Horse Cylinder, 1976. Blown glass, cane drawing pick-ups; vaporous metallic application, 11 3/8 x 7 1/8 x 7 inches. Collection of the Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington, gift of Elizabeth H. and Heinz K. Wolf (2008.10.3). Photo by Duncan Price.

Tarja Lehtinen (Finnish, born 1983), Cameo Brooch, 1996.  Recycled and sandblasted glass, silver and stainless steel, 1½ x 3 x 3 inches. Collection of the Museum of Glass, Tacoma Washington, gift of Susan and Bill Beech (2008.4). Photo by Duncan Price.
Stanislav Libenský (Czech, 1921-2002) and Jaroslava Brychtová (Czech, born 1924), The Second Queen, 1991-1992. Cast glass, 32 x 21¼ inches.  Collection of the Museum of Glass, Tacoma Washington, gift of Lisa and Dudley Anderson (2008.8). Photo by Duncan Price.