Tacoma, Wash. (August 28, 2008)— For the fifth consecutive year, the Museum of Glass and Finland’s iittala, Inc. are teaming up for a weekend dedicated to birds and bird enthusiasts.  This three-day event will feature the U.S. debut of the newest iittala Birds, Cartoon Chicks, designed by Anu Penttinen.  The 2008 designs for the Birds by Toikka collection, Ruffed Grouse and Red Poll, will also be featured at the event, October 3 – 5, 2008.

Penttinen’s Cartoon Chicks currently include six designs, each with a distinct personality, that owe much to pop culture and cartoons.  “I took my inspiration from the hand-crafted forms found in clay animation and tropical birds,” states Penttinen.  “I’m fascinated by the colors and very graphic shape and startling nature of tropical birds like toucans.  Their strong beaks and very individual eyes provided the input for some of the most important details of my glass birds.”

Penttinen and iittala master glassblower Arto Lahtinen will work with the MOG Hot Shop team creating both Toikka and Penttinen-designed birds.  Penttinen will design and the Hot Shop team will make an exclusive bird to commemorate the fifth year anniversary of this event.  Penttinen will personally sign her birds for visitors on Friday evening and again Sunday afternoon following her lecture in the Museum Theater.

The weekend will also feature the 2008 limited-edition Ruffed Grouse, designed specifically for the Museum of Glass by acclaimed iittala glass designer Oiva Toikka.  Each year, Professor Toikka designs several new bird species for his Birds by Toikka line.  Ruffed Grouse, along with the 2008 signature Red Poll, will be introduced in the Museum Store beginning October 3.  Professor Toikka designed both birds during his October 2007 Visiting Artist residency in the Museum Hot Shop.  Previous species created for the Museum include American Goldfinch (2004), Pacific Water Fowl (2005), Spotted Towhee (2006) and Red-winged Blackbird (2007).

Additional bird lovers’ activities are scheduled throughout the weekend.  Mirrored Murrelets artist Joseph Rossano will participate in a panel discussion about the impact of environmental change on the Marbled Murrelet on Saturday afternoon.  Zookeepers from Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium will bring birds of prey to the Museum on Friday, and a special hands-on art activity is scheduled for Saturday afternoon in the Grand Hall.

About Iittala Birds:
Professor Oiva Toikka designed his first glass birds at iittala’s Nuutajarvi, Finland glassworks in 1972.  These designs laid the foundation for what has become the iittala Birds collection, known worldwide.  In 2007, iittala Birds’ flock was extended with a new line of birds designed by Giorgio Vigna.  Young Finnish designer Anu Penttinen’s Cartoon Chicks are the latest addition to the family.

5TH ANNUAL BIRD LOVERS WEEKEND
October 3 – 5
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 12 – 5 p.m. Sunday
Free reception Friday, 6 p.m.

iittala Birds Hatch
Ruffed Grouse, designed by Oiva Toikka and created as a limited edition, will be offered for the first time, exclusively through the Museum Store.

Anu Penttinen’s 2008 Cartoon Chicks are also available for purchase in 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.
Bend and twist 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 3
10 a.m. – 5 p.m., 6 – 7 p.m.
Penttinen and Toikka bird demonstrations in the Hot Shop with Anu Penttinen,  Arto Lahtinen and the MOG Hot Shop team

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.  
Pale Male, the story of a red tail hawk living in New York City, produced by the NYC Audubon Society and narrated by Joanne Woodward, on view in the Theater (film rotates throughout the day).

1 – 2 p.m.
Live bird visit from Pt. Defiance Zoo and Aquarium

6 – 8:30 p.m.
FREE reception in the Museum Store, featuring the debut of Ruffed Grouse.  Meet Anu Penttinen and see her new line of Cartoon Chicks.  Penttinen will personally sign/engrave birds purchased during the event.

Saturday, October 4
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Penttinen and Toikka bird demonstrations in the Hot Shop with Anu Penttinen, Arto Lahtinen and the MOG Hot Shop team

1 – 4 p.m.
Hands-on Art Activity:  Boxed Birds
Create three-dimensional cardboard birds with mixed media artist Jennifer Adams

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.   
Pale Male, the story of a red tail hawk living in New York City, produced by the NYC Audubon Society and narrated by Joanne Woodward, on view in the Theater (film rotates throughout the day).

1 – 2 p.m.
Panel discussion with Mirrored Murrelets artist Joseph Rossano and friends

Sunday, October 5
12 – 5 p.m.
Penttinen and Toikka bird demonstrations in the Hot Shop with Anu Penttinen, Arto Lahtinen and the MOG Hot Shop team

12 – 5 p.m.
Pale Male, the story of a red tail hawk living in New York City, produced by the NYC Audubon Society and narrated by Joanne Woodward, on view in the Theater (film rotates throughout the day).

2 – 3 p.m.
Lecture and slide presentation with Anu Penttinen

3 – 4 p.m.
Bird signing session with Anu Penttinen