Tacoma, Wash. (March 26, 2008)— The Museum of Glass welcomes Martin Blank, one of America’s most significant figurative sculptors, for an extended Visiting Artist residency to create components for Fluent Steps, a new permanent installation designed for the Museum’s Main Plaza reflecting pool and scheduled to open in early fall. The sculpture will capture the emotive nature of water and play with the light and water echoing the Pacific Northwest’s unique environment.

Blank and his glass sculpting team will fabricate the elements for Fluent Steps in the Museum Hot Shop on numerous dates from March through June (see schedule below), providing Museum visitors ample opportunity to see the large-scale installation take shape. The public can also watch Blank by accessing the Museum’s new live streaming video of the Hot Shop from the Museum of Glass website (www.museumofglass.org).

Fluent Steps will span the entire length of the 210-foot-long reflecting pool and will rise from water level to fifteen feet in height. It will consist of individual islands of glass sculpture that will interact with one another to portray Blank’s interpretation of water in its various forms. Transition Between Planes is an expansive 60-foot swell that will bisect the open body of the pool, forming a uniquely sculpted space between the surface of the water and the fluid glass components suspended above it. Transitions will taper into Wisps, a field of hundreds of small glass forms breaching the surface like rising mist. An open plane of resting water will separate Transitions from The Cascades, a massive arch of glass that will envelope the viewer in the mist and surge of falling water. Lastly, Echo, a vibrant and colorful grouping, will languidly flow across the surface of the pool, creating an intimate dance of color, texture and reflective light.

“My intent with this installation is to awaken the viewer’s eye to keenly observe, interact and respond to the emotive nature of water,” states Blank. “Water is the vehicle for capturing light, motion, time, fluidity and transparency. It can be placid, sublime, and in an instant a tremendous surge of raw power. Glass is the only material that can truly convey the brilliant complexities of this simple, life-sustaining substance.”

The Museum of Glass entered its sixth year with a renewed concentration on the medium of glass and a commitment to establishing a permanent collection, which includes artwork for the outdoor exhibition spaces. “The Museum of Glass strives to enhance community spirit through artistic experiences,” comments Museum of Glass director Timothy Close. “Our tradition of providing engaging outdoor art installations has been popular with Museum visitors and the residents of Tacoma, and we are delighted to feature Martin Blank’s work in this next iteration of the program.” Fluent Steps will become part of the Museum’s permanent collection.

Martin Blank Visiting Artist Residency Dates:
March 26, 27, 28*, 29
April 2, 3, 9*, 10*, 11*, 16, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25*, 26, 30
May 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 28, 29, 30
June 4, 5, 16, 17, 23, 24
* Indicates Martin Blank’s team only (Martin Blank will not be present).

About Martin Blank
Martin Blank has admired the grace and flow of the human form since his childhood when he dug into clay at the Boston Museum of Fine Art at age thirteen, and his work reflects the subtle yet powerful resonance of human landscapes. After earning a BFA at the Rhode Island School of Design in 1984, Blank began his professional career as a member of Dale Chihuly’s glassblowing team, where he was an integral member of Team Chihuly for eleven years before opening his own studio in Seattle. He has since emerged as one of North America’s premier figurative sculptors. His work is exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide.  Artist’s websited: www.martinblankstudios.com
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.