Tacoma, Wash. (August 29, 2007)— Finland’s Oiva Toikka returns to the Museum of Glass Hot Shop October 12 – 14, 2007, for the Fourth Annual Bird Lovers’ Weekend dedicated to Iittala’s  Birds by Toikka.  This three-day event will feature the U.S. debut of Toikka’s 2007 limited edition Red-winged Blackbird.  Each year, Toikka designs several new bird species—one of which is created specifically for the Museum of Glass.  This bird, along with iittala’s 2007 signature bird, Pale Male, will be introduced in the Museum Store beginning October 12.  Previous species created for the Museum include American Goldfinch (2004), Pacific Water Fowl (2005), and Spotted Towhee (2006).

In the Hot Shop, Toikka will be joined by Iittala’s master glassblower, Arto Lahtinen, and the Museum’s Hot Shop team to create a number of favorite bird species including owls, roosters and bluebirds.  Visitors can meet Professor Toikka on October 12 at a special public evening reception that will include bird signing by Toikka and ongoing demonstrations in the Hot Shop.

Additional bird lovers’ activities are scheduled throughout the weekend.  Zookeepers from Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium will bring birds of prey to the Museum on Friday and Saturday.  Saturday’s Family Day will include bird-inspired art activities, story telling sessions and screening of Pale Male, a documentary presented by the New York City Audubon Society.  Sunday’s activities include an interview with Professor Toikka followed by a book signing session.

Toikka is known internationally for Birds by Toikka, a collection of over one hundred glass bird species designed exclusively for Iittala, Inc. over a 30-year period.  Birds by Toikka are collected worldwide, and each one is individually sculpted from molten glass.  His work can be seen at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, The Corning Museum of Glass in New York, The Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art in Japan and in many museums in the Scandinavian countries.  This visit marks his second Hot Shop residency at the Museum of Glass.

FOURTH ANNUAL IITTALA BIRD LOVERS’ WEEKEND
October 12 – 14
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 12 – 5 p.m. Sunday

Red-winged Blackbird Hatches
Red-winged Blackbird, designed by Oiva Toikka and created as a limited edition, will be offered for the first time, exclusively through 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.
Let your imagination soar by bending and twisting 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 12
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.    Birds by Toikka glassblowing demonstrations in the Hot Shop
1 – 2 p.m.    Live bird of prey visits from Pt. Defiance Zoo and Aquarium
5 – 7:30 p.m.    FREE reception in the Museum Store honoring Professor Oiva Toikka and introducing Red-winged Blackbird.  Professor Toikka will personally sign/engrave birds purchased during the event

Saturday, October 13
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.    Birds by Toikka glassblowing demonstrations in the Hot Shop
1 – 4 p.m.    Family Day:  Birding Bonanza
Decorate and print your own bird-themed block print, watch Pale Male, the story of a red tail hawk, produced by the New York City Audubon Society and narrated by Joanne Woodward
1 – 2 p.m.    Live bird of prey visits from Pt. Defiance Zoo and Aquarium
2 p.m.    Bird-themed storytelling with Rebecca Hom (family friendly)
3 p.m.    Bird-themed storytelling with Rebecca Hom (adult)

Sunday, October 14
12 – 5 p.m.    Birds by Toikka glassblowing demonstrations in the Hot Shop
2 – 3 p.m.    Oiva Toikka Interview (with Anki Lofgren)
3 – 5 p.m.    Oiva Toikka Book Signing