Glass and Friends 8/10/2011

Fluid Steps

Our first stop today was Denny's in Arlington, WA, just as we were leaving the general area of the North Cascades and starting down the interstate back to "civilization--the city.  Our next destination was the Museum of Glass  in Tacoma, a beautiful building with fantastic art glass on display both outside and inside the building. We first explored the "exhibits" outside--an interesting installation called "Fluid Steps" by the artist (maybe a distant relative?) Martin Blank. This has formed glass pieces arranged on a framework over a water tableau. Arresting, for sure, and fascinating how different it looked as the sky changed and reflected in the water.

Museum of Glass Building

One panel of the Chihuly glass ceiling on the bridge

We then walked around the building to a walkway that was lined with all types of fantastic art glass, including two huge columns made up of rough blocks of blue glass. Continuing on, we walked on the Dale Chihuly Bridge of Glass, whose ceiling is covered with Chihuly pieces with the skylight passing through them. Walking beneath the Chihuly glass was like walking into a kaleidoscope--so incredibly beautiful.

The inside of the museum had a mind-blowing installation of a glass forest. We were not allowed to take any photos, and they did not have any postcards showing the glass forest, called "Glimmering Gone". See it here. There are hundreds (perhaps thousands?) of pieces of clear glass in many shapes and hung individually from clear wires that together look like a mountain setting of trees and waterfall. You really have to see it to appreciate the crazy creative talent it took to conceive of and execute this.

There were many other VERY cool pieces that each deserved individual inspection for the thought and artistry involved in each creation.

In addition, there is a theater in the museum in which you can sit and watch the artists in action as a narrator explains what the artists are doing. Great visit.

A teacher whom Ray had mentored had moved with her family to Washington last year. Ray has stayed in touch with her, and she and her husband met us for drinks and dinner. We had a wonderful time.

Then we headed for our hotel, where we offloaded our luggage and cleaned out the car for its return to the rental company. The hotel sent a shuttle to pick us up. Tomorrow we fly back to NH. We can't believe that 2 1/2 weeks have blown by so quickly!