Tacoma, Wash. (October 3, 2007)— The Museum of Glass will welcome Lino Tagliapietra for a 5-day Visiting Artist residency in the Hot Shop October 24 – 28, 2007. Lino Tagliapietra is revered as the maestro of glassblowing, an inspiring teacher and the elder statesman between the glass centers of Venice, Italy and the Pacific Northwest. This residency is a prelude to the Museum’s upcoming exhibition, Lino Tagliapietra in Retrospect: A Modern Renaissance in Italian Glass, opening in February, 2008.

Now age 72, Tagliapietra began working in the glassmaking industry at the age of 11 in Murano, Italy. He first came to Seattle in 1979 in response to an invitation to teach at the young Pilchuck Glass School. After a decade of excitement and experimentation, American glassmakers were hungry to expand their technical knowledge and skills, both by traveling to Europe and by bringing European masters here. Defying bitter criticism from the Murano glass community, Tagliapietra unhesitatingly shared what he knew with artists in the United States and worldwide, universally elevating the art and craft of glassmaking and changing the course of contemporary glass. His artistic mastery and vision have continued to influence Studio Glass artists for nearly three decades.

NOTE: The Museum of Glass will open at 9 a.m. October 24 – 27 for this residency. Tagliapietra will work from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Wednesday – Saturday and 12 – 5 p.m. on Sunday.

About Lino Tagliapietra In Retrospect: A Modern Renaissance in Italian Glass
February 23 – August 24, 2008
Organized by the Museum of Glass
Sponsored by Rebecca and Jack Benaroya. Also sponsored by Paul G. Allen Family, Russell Investment Group, Windgate Charitable Foundation, The Boeing Company, Click! Network, The Seattle Times and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer

There has never been a retrospective look at Lino Tagliapietra’s art and career in its entirety. The Museum of Glass is undertaking this challenge in an exhibition that will represent not only pivotal and renowned series of artistic work covering a period of approximately thirty years, but also designs made for industry and private objects that have never been exhibited.

The exhibition is curated by Susanne Frantz, former curator of 20th-century glass at The Corning Museum of Glass. The accompanying catalogue will document the unparalleled contributions of Tagliapietra to the history of the visual arts and glass, as both art and superlative craft. In addition, a DVD of Tagliapietra demonstrating his signature glassmaking techniques using the facilities of the Museum of Glass is planned for production by the Museum. In addition to selected American venues following Tacoma, a world tour is planned for the exhibition.

About the Visiting Artist Program
The Museum of Glass Hot Shop Visiting Artist Program hosts internationally known artists and emerging artists from the region and around the world—some who are masters of glass and some who are experimenting with the medium for the first time. They work with the Museum’s resident Hot Shop team to explore, invent and create with glass. With a diverse mixture of culture, style, focus and expertise, each artist offers Museum visitors the chance to experience a distinct creative style.