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Chihuly in Tacoma Event Scheduled for August 8 – 13, 2006
Tacoma, Wash. (June 7, 2006)— Chihuly Studio and the Tacoma Museum District have teamed up to present Chihuly in Tacoma, a 6-day event celebrating the career of Tacoma native Dale Chihuly, scheduled for August 8 – 13, 2006. A number of special events and activities are scheduled at the Museum of Glass, Tacoma Art Museum, William Traver Gallery and other downtown venues during the week. Chihuly in Tacoma coincides with the tenth anniversary celebration of the Washington State History Museum.
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, Chihuly and his team will work with an impressive rotation of talented and highly accomplished artists in the Museum of Glass Hot Shop as part of the Museum’s Visiting Artist Summer Series. The 2006 Summer Series marks the third year of collaboration with the acclaimed Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, WA, which was co-founded by Chihuly, Anne Gould Hauberg and John Hauberg. Through this partnership, the Museum and Pilchuck offer a unique opportunity for museum visitors to view the creative processes of these glass masters who do not regularly work in venues open for public observation.
The artists will create signature works from several of Chihuly’s well-known series, including Baskets, Seaforms, Venetians, Macchia, and Persians. The overall residency will be a retrospective of Chihuly’s design and creative process.
“I’m very excited about the opportunity to return to my hometown in August, to work with a great group of talented artists on some of my favorite series here at the Museum of Glass,” stated Chihuly.
In addition to the live glassblowing demonstrations, a number of special events are scheduled to pay tribute to the artist. William Traver Gallery will present a Solo Exhibition featuring a large selection of Chihuly’s major historical works. The Third Annual World Glass Exhibition, comprising glass works by artists who have worked on Team Chihuly throughout the years, will also be on display. Many of these artists, including Flora Mace, Joey Kirkpatrick, Benjamin Moore, Martin Blank, Richard Royal, Dante Marioni, Pino Signoretto and William Morris, are among the featured artists demonstrating Chihuly’s designs at the Museum of Glass. Both exhibitions run August 5 – September 10, 2006.
At Tacoma Art Museum, visitors can view the permanent collection of Chihuly vessels and Ma Chihuly’s Floats, an installation of Niijima Floats on Richard Rhodes’ stone wave sculpture at the center of the museum. Visitors can also take a walking tour of Chihuly’s artwork in downtown Tacoma while listening to the artist’s commentary on their cell phones. A family-oriented Chihuly shoe painting activity is scheduled at the Museum of Glass on Saturday, August 12, and a number of artist lectures, panel discussions and presentations are scheduled at both the Tacoma Art Museum and Museum of Glass during the week (schedule attached).
About Dale Chihuly and Tacoma:
Dale Chihuly was born in Tacoma in 1941. He began working with glass in the mid-1960s, and in 1965 enrolled in the University of Wisconsin’s hot glass program, the first of its kind in the United States. After receiving a degree in sculpture, Chihuly was admitted to the ceramics program at the Rhode Island School of Design and established its renowned glass program in 1969. Two years later, he co-founded Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, WA, the premier international school for glass artists, and served as artistic director until 1989.
In 1994, Chihuly worked with Tacoma Public School District students and officials to found the Hilltop Artists in Residence Program, a not-for-profit organization that uses the privilege of working with molten glass to motivate students (ages 12-20) to stay in school. He was instrumental in the early planning stages of the Museum of Glass and contributed much of the artwork for the Chihuly Bridge of Glass, a public art installation which opened in conjunction with the Museum in 2002. Permanent installations of Chihuly’s art can be seen in many venues in Tacoma including the Tacoma Art Museum and Union Station. His work and collections have been included in exhibitions at all three downtown Tacoma museums and at the William Traver Gallery Tacoma. His studios, which include facilities in both Seattle and Tacoma, have become a mecca for artists, collectors, and museum professionals involved in all media.
Chihuly in Tacoma Schedule of Events
August 8 – 13, 2006
All events are included with regular venue admission unless otherwise noted.
Daily
Live Glassblowing Demonstrations
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Museum opens at 9:30 a.m.)
Museum of Glass Hot Shop
Dale Chihuly and an impressive rotation of other artists who have played major roles on Team Chihuly over the years will create work from molten glass in the Hot Shop. Each artist will focus on a different style; the overall residency will be a retrospective of Chihuly’s design and creative process. These luminaries of Northwest glass will create signature works from each of his well-know series, including Baskets, Seaforms, Venetians, Macchia, Persians and more. Please refer to the daily schedules for specific information.
Note: The Museum will issue timed tickets for the Hot Shop demonstrations with a special event fee of $5 plus regular admission (children under age 6 are free). Each demonstration will last approximately 45 minutes and tickets will be issued on a first come, first served basis. Museum of Glass members will be given first priority to Hot Shop seating and will not be charged the special event fee.
Ear for Art Chihuly Cellphone Walking Tour
Ongoing
Tacoma Art Museum
Tacoma Art Museum’s new Ear for Art Chihuly Cellphone Walking Tour allows visitors to stroll through Tacoma’s revitalized downtown and learn more about Chihuly’s installations. Visitors can listen via their personal cellphones to Dale Chihuly’s commentary on his work and downtown Tacoma. The tour is provided free of charge and includes twelve separate stops. A brochure with a map and object stops is available to download from the Museum’s website, www.TacomaArtMuseum.org. To access the Ear for Art Chihuly Cellphone Walking Tour, call 888.411.4220.
Dale Chihuly Collection
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday; 12 – 5 p.m. Sunday
Tacoma Art Museum
The Museum’s permanent display of Dale Chihuly’s glass artwork is the premier collection of the artist’s work on public long-term display, dating from 1977 to present. The collection features examples from many of the artist’s major series including Baskets, Sea Forms, Cylinders, Macchia, Persians, and Venetians.
Ma Chihuly’s Floats
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday; 12 – 5 p.m. Sunday
Tacoma Art Museum
Dale Chihuly brings his Niijima Floats home to Tacoma, installed in memory of his mother, Viola Chihuly. The stone sculpture in the form of a wave at the center of the museum was created by Seattle-based artist Richard Rhodes. Forty of Chihuly’s Niijima Floats—balls of glass resembling glass spheres used on Japanese fishing nets—are placed on this metaphorical wave.
Video Featuring Ma Chihuly’s Floats + Richard Rhodes’ Untitled (Stone Wave)
Times TBA
Tacoma Art Museum, Murray Family Event Space
Produced by Chihuly Studios’ Scott Mitchell Lean, this video leads viewers from creation to installation, to artist and curator interviews.
Solo Exhibition
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday; 12 – 5 p.m. Sunday
William Traver Gallery Tacoma
This exhibition features a representation of major historical works by Dale Chihuly from throughout his 40-year career, traditionally marked by intense, vibrant color and by subtle linear decoration.
Third Annual World Glass Exhibition
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday; 12 – 5 p.m. Sunday
William Traver Gallery Tacoma
This exhibition features major pieces by many of the gaffers featured in the Chihuly in Tacoma demonstrations at the Museum of Glass, including Flora Mace, Joey Kirkpatrick, Benjamin Moore, Martin Blank, Richard Royal, Dante Marioni, Pino Singoretto, and William Morris.
Tuesday, August 8
Live Glassblowing Demonstrations
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Museum opens at 9:30 a.m.)
Museum of Glass Hot Shop
Dale Chihuly with Joey Decamp and Team Chihuly creating Fiori
Dale Chihuly Book Signing
1:30 – 2 p.m.
Museum of Glass Store
Wednesday, August 9
Live Glassblowing Demonstrations
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Museum opens at 9:30 a.m.)
Museum of Glass Hot Shop
Dale Chihuly with Benjamin Moore, Martin Blank and Team Chihuly creating Seaforms and Persians
Dale Chihuly Book Signing
1:30 – 2 p.m.
Museum of Glass Store
Thursday, August 10
Live Glassblowing Demonstrations
10 a.m. – 1 p.m. (Museum opens at 9:30 a.m.)
Museum of Glass Hot Shop
Dale Chihuly with Joey Kirkpatrick, Flora C. Mace, Richard Royal and Team Chihuly creating Black Cylinders
Live Glassblowing Demonstrations
1 – 5 p.m.
Museum of Glass Hot Shop
Dale Chihuly with Richard Royal and Team Chihuly creating Niijima Floats
Dale Chihuly Book Signing
1:30 – 2 p.m.
Museum of Glass Store
Artists’ Talk: Joey Kirkpatrick and Flora Mace
2 p.m.
Tacoma Art Museum
Joey Kirkpatrick and Flora Mace have worked collaboratively for more than 25 years after meeting at the Pilchuck Glass School in 1979. Together, they have created a diverse body of work that includes both blown glass vessels with applied imagery and sculpture fabricated with wood, glass and other media.
Friday, August 11
Live Glassblowing Demonstrations
10 a.m. – 1 p.m. (Museum opens at 9:30 a.m.)
Museum of Glass Hot Shop
Dale Chihuly with Dante Marioni, Paul Cunningham and Team Chihuly creating Piccolo Venetians
Live Glassblowing Demonstrations
1 – 5 p.m.
Museum of Glass Hot Shop
Dale Chihuly with Martin Blank, Robbie Miller and Team Chihuly creating Pilchuck Stumps
Dale Chihuly Book Signing
1:30 – 2 p.m.
Museum of Glass Store
Studio Glass Lecture with Martin Blank
2 p.m.
Museum of Glass Theater
Join Studio Glass artist Martin Blank for historic and critical reflections on his career and experiences.
Showcase Tacoma Arts & Culture Celebration
12 – 7 p.m.
Pacific Avenue Outdoor Venues
Raise a glass to Tacoma native Dale Chihuly and his contributions to the city! Enjoy food, drink, art and live entertainment at venues throughout the Tacoma Museum District. Planned activities include a wine and art garden in the new Pacific Square, chalk art ground murals, a martini bar and beer garden, live music, performance stages, and more. Organized by Metro Parks Tacoma, the City of Tacoma, UW Tacoma, Tacoma School of the Arts, the Hilltop Artists’ Coalition and other local organizations.
Saturday, August 12
Live Glassblowing Demonstrations
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Museum opens at 9:30 a.m.)
Museum of Glass Hot Shop
Dale Chihuly with Pino Signoretto, Amber Hauch, Paul DeSomma and Team Chihuly creating Sealife
Chihuly Shoes Community Workshop
1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Museum of Glass Plaza
Dale Chihuly’s style is unmistakable, including his wild painted shoes! You bring the shoes, the Museum will provide the paint, and Dale Chihuly will paint shoes for the first 100 children 10 and under from 1:30 – 2 pm. Guest artist Diane Kurzyna will guide visitors of all ages through the activity from 2 – 4:30 p.m.
Note: Tickets will be issued to the first 100 children in line to have their shoes painted by Mr. Chihuly. Tickets will be distributed beginning at 12 p.m.
Studio Glass Lecture with Sarah Nichols
2 p.m.
Museum of Glass Theater
Join Sarah Nichols, former chief curator from the Carnegie Art Museum, for historic and critical reflections on the Studio Glass movement and her career and experiences.
Hilltop Artists in Residence
Times TBA
Tacoma Art Museum
Throughout the day, the Museum will feature talks by graduates of the Hilltop program, displays of student work in the atrium, and student demonstrations of glass-bead making.
Showcase Tacoma Arts & Culture Celebration
10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Pacific Avenue Outdoor Venues
Raise a glass to Tacoma native Dale Chihuly and his contributions to the city! Enjoy food, drink, art and live entertainment at venues throughout the Tacoma Museum District. Planned activities include a wine and art garden in the new Pacific Square, chalk art ground murals, a martini bar and beer garden, live music, performance stages, and more. Organized by Metro Parks Tacoma, the City of Tacoma, UW Tacoma, Tacoma School of the Arts, the Hilltop Artists’ Coalition and other local organizations.
Sunday, August 13
Live Glassblowing Demonstrations
10 a.m. – 1 p.m. (Museum opens at 9:30 a.m.)
Museum of Glass Hot Shop
Dale Chihuly with William Morris, James Mongarin and Team Chihuly creating Macchia and Baskets
Live Glassblowing Demonstrations
1 – 5 p.m.
Museum of Glass Hot Shop
Dale Chihuly with William Morris, Joey Kirkpatrick, Flora C. Mace and Team Chihuly creating Soft Cylinders
Dale Chihuly Book Signing
1:30 – 2 p.m.
Museum of Glass Store
Panel Discussion: What is the Future of the Studio Glass Movement?
2 p.m.
Museum of Glass Theater
Moderated by William Traver. Panelists include Sean Albert, glassblower; Sarah Nichols, former chief curator at Carnegie Art Museum; Matthew Kangas, art critic; Patricia Watkinson, Executive Director of Pilchuck Glass School; and John Price, art collector.
Showcase Tacoma Arts & Culture Celebration
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Pacific Avenue Outdoor Venues
Raise a glass to Tacoma native Dale Chihuly and his contributions to the city! Enjoy food, drink, art and live entertainment at venues throughout the Tacoma Museum District. Planned activities include a wine and art garden in the new Pacific Square, chalk art ground murals, a martini bar and beer garden, live music, performance stages, and more. Organized by Metro Parks Tacoma, the City of Tacoma, UW Tacoma, Tacoma School of the Arts, the Hilltop Artists’ Coalition and other local organizations.
