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<font size="+1">Google News Alert for: <b>glassblowing</b></font>
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<p style="width: 600px;"><a style="color: blue;"
href="http://thetartan.org/2007/4/30/pillbox/glass">
Summer of glass</a><br>
<font size="-1"><font color="#666666">CMU The Tartan Online -
Pittsburgh,PA,USA</font><br>
After spending time in the world-famous glass factories of Venice,
Chihuly
returned to the United States to help establish <b>glassblowing</b> as
an
art form, <b>...</b><br>
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<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://thetartan.org/2007/4/30/pillbox/glass">http://thetartan.org/2007/4/30/pillbox/glass</a></b><br>
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<h1>Summer of glass</h1>
<h2>Blowing up in the ’Burgh</h2>
<p class="info"> <span class="section">Pillbox</span> | <span
class="byline"> Selena Beckman-Harned </span> </p>
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<p>Before
steel and coal jump-started its economy and darkened its skies,
Pittsburgh was known as the Glass City — shipping plate glass,
tableware, and lighting fictures across the nation. If not for the
influence of barons like Andrew Carnegie, Pittsburghers might be
cheering on the “Glassers” at Heinz Field today.</p>
<p>But glass is making a comeback in Pittsburgh, in the form of glass
art. 2007 has been dubbed the “Year of Glass” in Pittsburgh, and this
summer features many exciting glass-related exhibitions and events.</p>
<p>Richard Piacentini, director of the Phipps Conservatory, set this
summer’s events in motion in 2002, when he visited an exhibition of
glass artist Dale Chihuly’s work in Chicago. Immediately, Piacentini
knew he wanted Chihuly in Phipps. Piacentini contacted Richard
Armstrong at the Carnegie Museum of Art to see if the museum would
consider holding a glass exhibit as well. Armstrong called Karen
Johnese at the Pittsburgh Glass Center, who asked the Glass Art Society
to consider holding its 2007 conference in the former Glass City — and
the foundations were laid for a “Summer of Glass.” Read on for a list
of four exhibits of glass art coming this summer to Pittsburgh — from
Venice to Japan.</p>
<p><strong><em>Garden & Glass</em></strong></p>
<p>On May 10, Phipps Conservatory will be transformed into a splendor
of glass, leaves, and light in an exhibit called <em>Chihuly At
Phipps: Gardens & Glass</em>.
The show is sure to be an “incredible centerpiece” for the summer, said
Sarah Nichols, curator of the Carnegie Museum of Art’s parallel
exhibit, <em>Viva Vetro! Glass Alive!</em>. Phipps is showcasing glass
artist Dale Chihuly, known for his elaborate multicolored pieces. After
spending time in the world-famous glass factories of Venice, Chihuly
returned to the United States to help establish glassblowing as an art
form, in particular the use of collaborative teams in glassblowing. By
using teams to blow glass, Chihuly is able to produce huge, elaborate
pieces like 40-foot towers of glass or room-sized installations.</p>
<p>Chihuly’s work is especially fitting in a natural environment like
Phipps because of the organic look of his art. His pieces often take
the form of natural objects like shells, reeds, or seeds, and according
to Michael Sexaver, Phipps’s director of communications, one of the
goals of the exhibition is that the glass pieces “look like they grew
there.” Sexaver said that Chihuly’s crew visited the conservatory
several times to plan the show, and the conservatory has replanted and
rearranged several plant beds to better complement the art. Sexaver
expects the exhibit to more than double the conservatory’s visitors;
tickets can be reserved online at <a
href="http://thetartan.org/2007/4/30/pillbox/www.phipps.conservatory.org">www.phipps.conservatory.org</a>.</p>
<p><strong><em>Viva Vetro! Glass Alive!</em></strong></p>
<p>Chihuly would be nowhere without the Venetian glass art tradition.
Venice has been a center of glassmaking for centuries, but Americans
didn’t study there until after the Second World War, when Italian glass
was first exhibited in America to help boost the country’s economy.
After Americans learned about Venetian glass, American designers and
artists — Chihuly among them — began visiting factories in Venice in
order to learn glass-making techniques and design glass items.</p>
<p>The Carnegie Museum of Art’s exhibit, <em>Viva Vetro! Glass Alive!</em>,
focuses on the connections between Venice and America since the 1950s.
Beginning May 12, the exhibit features 100 works from Venetian and
American glass artists, in addition to illustrating many Venetian
techniques and the American art they inspired. The show highlights all
kinds of glass art, from works based on practical pieces, like chess
sets, bowls, and chandeliers, to abstract sculptures.</p>
<p><strong><em>Allure of Japanese Glass</em></strong></p>
<p>The Pittsburgh Glass Center attracts glass artists from all over the
world, but its main exhibit this summer features emerging Japanese
artists, many of whom have never had their work shown in America.
Beginning May 4, the exhibit includes work ranging from delicate
sculptures that would fit in the palm of your hand to large
installation pieces.</p>
<p>Until the Glass Center came to Friendship in 2001, glass artists in
Pittsburgh had nowhere to work. Heather McElwee, director of education
and exhibitions, said that the Center has four studios: the hot shop,
where artists blow glass; the flameworking studio, where beads and
marbles are made; the casting studio, where stained and fused glass is
made; and the cold shop, where artists grind and engrave glass. In
addition to studio space, the Glass Center hosts exhibitions,
workshops, and tours.</p>
<p><strong><em>Metamorphosis: The Life Cycle of a Glass Bead</em></strong></p>
<p>The Heinz History Center, which also features a permanent exhibit on
the history of glass in Pittsburgh, will hold an exhibit of glass
jewelry starting May 5. Marianne Filiaggi, a bead artist whose work is
part of the exhibit, said in an e-mail that the exhibit’s purpose is to
“explain the creative process of going from a focal bead to a finished
piece of jewelry.”</p>
<p><em>Metamorphosis</em>, explained Leslie Kaplan, the president of
the Three Rivers Glass Beadmakers, will also include loose material so
visitors can see what glass beads feel like. The Three Rivers Glass
Beadmakers is an organization for glass artists interested in
beadmaking which sponsors workshops and supports local artists.</p>
<p><strong><em>Pittsburgh’s glass community</em></strong></p>
<p>The Glass Center has revitalized Pittsburgh’s glass art community.
Filiaggi said in an e-mail, “The success of the Pittsburgh Glass Center
has been a catalyst in bringing many master glass teachers to this
area.”</p>
<p>Since the Glass Center came to town, 2000 glass artists have moved
into the Pittsburgh area, and McElwee and her peers at the Center hope
that members of the Glass Art Society, in town for the conference, will
decide to relocate to Pittsburgh. The city’s history with glass, low
cost of living, and growing art community could entice enough artists
to make Pittsburgh the Glass City once again. As Filiaggi said, “It’s
an exciting time to be a glass artist!”</p>
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<p><strong><em>Allure of Japanese Glass.</em></strong> Pittsburgh Glass
Center. May 4 through September 21. <a
href="http://www.pittsburghglasscenter.org">www.pittsburghglasscenter.org</a>.</p>
<p><strong><em>Metamorphosis: The Life Cycle of a Glass Bead.</em></strong>
Heinz History Center. May 5 through July 14. <a
href="http://www.pghhistory.org">www.pghhistory.org</a>.</p>
<p><strong>*Viva Vetro! Glass Alive! Venice and America 1950–2006. *</strong>Carnegie
Museum of Art. May 12 through September 16. <a
href="http://www.cmoa.org">www.cmoa.org</a>.</p>
<p><strong><em>Chihuly At Phipps: Gardens & Glass.</em></strong>
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. May 10 through November 11.
Entry fee $11.50. Reserved tickets required. <a
href="http://www.phipps.conservatory.org">www.phipps.conservatory.org</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Artists Judi Charlson, Chris Clarke, Kaley Finegan, Brian
Frus and Lindsay O’Leary.</strong> Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. June
1 through August 20. <a href="http://www.pittsburgharts.org">www.pittsburgharts.org</a>.</p>
<p><b><i>Transformational Matter</i>: Glass Art Society 37th annual
conference.</b> Omni William Penn Hotel. June 7 through 9. Register by
May 17, or at the conference. <a href="http://www.glassart.org">www.glassart.org</a>.</p>
<p><strong><em>Glassnost.</em></strong> Regina Gouger Miller Gallery,
Purnell Center for the Arts, Carnegie Mellon. June 8 through July 13. <a
href="http://millergallery.cfa.cmu.edu">millergallery.cfa.cmu.edu</a>.</p>
<p><strong>GlassWeekend ’07.</strong> Morgan Contemporary Glass
Gallery. July 13 through 15. <a
href="http://www.morganglassgallery.com">www.morganglassgallery.com</a>.</p>
<p><strong><em>Transformation: Contemporary Works in Glass.</em></strong>
Society for Contemporary Craft. September 7 through January 12, 2008. <a
href="http://www.contemporarycraft.org">www.contemporarycraft.org</a>.</p>
<p><strong><em>Shattering Notions.</em></strong> Permanent exhibit.
Heinz History Center. <a href="http://www.pghhistory.org">www.pghhistory.org</a>.</p>
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