Into the Deep, opening at Museum of Glass on Sept. 24 and running through next September, will introduce 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 reflect—through the medium of glass—the movements, textures, shapes and colors associated with being underwater. “By creating artwork inspired by the ocean, each artist has captured both the fragile beauty of the marine environment and the delicate nature of glass, along with the similarities in movement of water and glass,” says Katie Buckingham, Into the Deep curator.
Buckingham, who has been a member of the museum’s curatorial department for four years, is hopeful that visitors will not only enjoy seeing the variety of marine-inspired glass art, but also connect what they see to their natural surroundings. “I hope that visitors learn about the many different ways the medium of glass can be used to make art, but also feel inspired to observe, celebrate and protect natural environments in their own communities.”
Artists in the exhibition, whose work is traditionally inspired by the ocean or animals, feel similarly. Kelly O’Dell, who created a glass clam and mussel with barnacles for Into the Deep, 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. “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,” says O’Dell.
Into the Deep includes more than 55 pieces, 15 of which were made in the Museum of Glass Hot Shop. Alfredo Barbini, Dale Chihuly, Shayna Leib, Kelly O’Dell, Kait Rhoads, Raven Skyriver and Hiroshi Yamano are among the 16 national and international artists featured in the exhibition, in addition to O’Dell.
Digital tours, using STQRY QR codes, will accompany the exhibition. The first, written by University of Washington Tacoma professor and biologist Bonnie Becker, will offer a scientific supplement to the artwork in Into the Deep. The second will detail how specific pieces in the exhibition were made. The third digital tour will provide information about each featured artist and their personal connection with the ocean.
“We are excited to see how the public engages in the exhibit— there are so many wonderful connections to ocean life and art in the Pacific Northwest,” says Buckingham.
Experience Into the Deep yourself starting on Sept. 24.
LEAH GROUT
For additional information:
Museum of Glass
1801 Dock St Tacoma
253.284.4750
museumofglass.org