It’s no coincidence we invited Martin Blank to be the summer series visiting artist this week. It’s the Museum’s 5th anniversary celebration, and it is a party down here! Martin is an animated guy, always cracking jokes and very enthusiastic about making glass. And the forms he is working on are HUGE. There is a lot of energy on the Hot Shop floor. We’ve fired up our biggest glory hole furnace and Martin has brought half a dozen of his own crew to help sculpt hot glass into forms inspired by steam.

All the pieces Martin is making are basically a prototype for an enormous installation in the Museum’s main reflecting pool. He’s considering the residency like a “sketchbook” mocking up pieces he will combine in the pool to create a composition.

So come down and check it out. The whole Museum is hopping this weekend, we’ve dropped the admission price to $5, set up the brand new Mobile Hot Shop outside on the plaza; there will be break dancers, dramatic readings, special art projects and more. Get the details on our 5th anniversary events.