From the Director

Dear Friends,

It continues to be a busy year at MOG! Please join us in celebrating the anniversary of one of the Museum’s most impactful programs: Kids Design Glass has now ignited children’s creativity and put their imagination on display for 20 years. This collaboration has created more than 150 glass sculptures inspired by kids’ drawings, all of which have a place in our Permanent Collection. To commemorate this milestone, we developed a mini exhibition titled Earthlings and Extraterrestrials: 20 Years of Kids Design Glass. This curated selection is displayed in the Grand Hall, in conversation with a collage of paintings that highlight the impact of climate change and the challenges that await the next generations of artists, designers, and creatives.   

This fall, the Museum will open two major exhibitions: Nancy Callan: Forces at Play and Field Notes: Artists Observe Nature. Callan’s exhibition is her first major solo show – well-earned after years of residencies in our Hot Shop and contributions to other Museum of Glass exhibitions. We are proud to honor one of the preeminent practitioners of our medium, and an artist who has been a valued friend to this institution since we opened. Field Notes, curated by Linda Tesner, showcases artists inspired by the natural world, including Vittorio Costantini, Joey Kirkpatrick, Flora C. Mace, and William Morris. 

In the Hot Shop, Visiting Artist residencies are in full swing. Over the course of my tenure, I have not seen a more diverse (in both background and style) group of artists invited to our Hot Shop floor. In addition to those joining us through our partnership with Pilchuck Glass School and artists connected to current exhibitions and community partnerships, we selected four newcomers who applied through our Visiting Artist Application – no easy task, as the pool of 75 submitted applications was the largest in the past five years. What struck me most from this group of applicants was their geographic breakdown: about a quarter were from abroad and another half were not local to the Pacific Northwest. Notably, Visiting Artists accepted through this process are not provided travel, lodging, or artwork shipping by MOG. Many of them are emerging artists without established safety nets. Put simply, it takes a lot for them to come here. This dedication speaks to the strong reputation the Museum has earned within the artist community – that of a highly sought-after space to test the boldest ideas. Even artists who do not primarily work in glass are telling others: “You have to be at Museum of Glass”. 

Through its diversity of programming and exhibitions, Museum of Glass is uniquely positioned to be a leader in this art form and serve as a pillar for everyone in its community. On behalf of the Board of Trustees and staff, thank you for being an integral part of that story and for thinking of this place as “home.” We hope to see you again soon. 

Debbie Lenk
Executive Director