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On our trip home from Seattle, we stopped at the glass museum in Tacoma. This is the home of glass artist, Chihuly, who was involved in founding the museum. There were exhibits in the museum that were not glass related. One was an exhibit of work by Joyce Scott who does mixed media work and included some quilts and lots of bead work ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äù all making a political statement. I enjoyed it.
No photos were allowed except in the Hot Shop where a guest artist was blowing glass with the help of a crew of glassblowers. Mr C and I enjoyed this so much that we did not want to leave. Here are some photos of the action. The end result was to be a glass beach ball. They start with a rectangle of fused glass in different colors that is shaped into a cup-like object. Then they heat it up and blow away.
This woman donned this fireproof outfit and carried the finished ball to an annealing oven. Amazing!
Here is a finished beach ball.
Some of Chihuly’s work was on display in the Hot Shop:
Some shots from outside:
A bridge of glass connects the museum with downtown Tacoma. There are cases of glass objects and is a ceiling
made of 2,364 objects from Chihuly’s Seaform and Persian series. It was a visual delight.
Click for a larger view.
I also enjoyed the chalk drawings on the bridge:
If you are ever driving through Tacoma, I recommend stopping for the Museum of Glass.
To see the complete set of photos from the Museum of Glass or our Seattle trip, click here.
After reading this post, I was thinking – hmm, doesn’t my brother work in some glass place way out west?? Turns out it’s Bullseye, right there in Portland! He’s the top pic if you click here!
http://www.bullseyeglass.com/hr/
Gerri,
Did you lay on the floor and look at the ceiling? It was hilarious when the Chihuly exhibit was at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art – one had to walk through that room very carefully so as not to step on all the adults laying on the floor. I must admit I was one of them, it was magical. Lora
You had such a wonderful trip…I have always wanted to go to the glass museum…my parents went a few years ago and keep saying how we should go…last time I was in Seattle I went to the art museum…I enjoyed that!!Ginger
Thank you for introducing me to Joyce Scott! I enjoyed reading about her.
The Atlanta Botanical Gardens celebrated “Chihuly In the Gardens” last year and it was truly incredible…especially at night! Some very nice folks got together and purchased several of the pieces to remain as permanent sculptures here, so we get to see them frequently. I didn’t realize that his glassworks were in Tacoma. You never cease to amaze and delight me!!!
xo
I LOVE Chihuly! He is so amazing to me! I mean, the man is blind and he can still create…talk about dedication!
Sonji introduced me to Joyce Scott the end of last year. Very interesting work.
I can sit and watch glassworks forever too! Its hypnotic.
Oooooh, beautiful ceiling!
I love the chalk artists who share their art in such a public and temporary forum.
Actually, joyce scott is very well known for her beadwork (and beads are made of GLASS), so we like to think of her work as related to glass…;)
The ceiling feels magical even in a photo. It must be amazing in real life!