Into the Deep

September 24, 2016 - August 20, 2017

Exhibition Overview

Into the Deep introduced visitors to the similar properties between glass and water, taking them on a journey through the wide possibilities of glass and the beauty of marine life.

The pieces in the exhibition reflected the movements, textures, shapes, and colors associated with being underwater through the medium of glass. "By creating artwork inspired by the ocean, each artist has captured both the fragile beauty of the marine environments and the delicate nature of glass,” shared Into the Deep curator, Katie Buckingham.

Buckingham hoped that visitors would not only enjoy seeing the variety of marine-inspired glass art in Into the Deep, but also connect what they saw to their natural surroundings.

Artists in the exhibition, whose work is traditionally inspired by the ocean or animals, felt similarly. Kelly O’Dell, who created a glass clam and mussel with barnacles for Into the Deep during her 2015 residency at Museum of Glass, does not consider herself an animal rights activist or expert but understands that her work has the power to influence how people view their natural surroundings. From rhinoceros and elephant busts to clams and mussels, O’Dell often works with animal forms. “As I get to know the animal, I learn of its fragility. I experienced this with the barnacled pieces. As I researched the idea, the shells, the barnacles, I learned about the reality of ocean acidification, and how it can drastically affect the ocean’s life forms,” shared O’Dell.

Into the Deep included more than 55 pieces, 15 of which were made at Museum of Glass. Alfredo Barbini, Dale Chihuly, Shayna Leib, Kelly O’Dell, Kait Rhoads, Raven Skyriver, and Hiroshi Yamano were among the 16 national and international artists featured in the exhibition. Three digital tours, using STQRY QR codes, accompanied the exhibition.

Exhibiting Artists: Alfredo Barbini, Jennifer Caldwell, Dale Chihuly, Vittorio Costantini, Marsha Blaker-DeSomma/Paul DeSomma, Taliaferro Jones, Benjamin Kikkert, Shayna Leib, James Minson, Kelly O’Dell, Kait Rhoads, Jane Rosen, Raven Skyriver, Ellen Sollod, Hiroshi Yamano

Kait Rhoads (American, born 1968). *Red Polyp,* 2007. Blown glass, coldworked and fire-polished; copper and steel; 45 x 49 x 19 in. Collection of the artist. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Featured Images

Image Credits

Kait Rhoads (American, born 1968). Blue Dome, 1995. Single strength plate glass, cut, drilled and fired with glass enamels; then hung by steel wire onto a steel form. Collection of the artist. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Raven Skyriver (American Tlingit, born 1982). Descend, 2015. Blown, off-hand sculpted and sandblasted glass; 30 x 42 x 15 in. Collection of Museum of Glass, Tacoma, Washington, gift of the artist. Photo by Duncan Price.
Shayna Leib (American, born 1975). Cove, 2013. Glass, gold leaf, mica; 30 x 16 x 6 in. Collection of the artist. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Photo by Duncan Price.
Kait Rhoads (American, born 1968). Red Polyp, 2007. Blown glass, coldworked and fire-polished; copper and steel; 45 x 49 x 19 in. Collection of the artist. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Photo by Duncan Price.