Post Time：May 21,2010Classify:Industry NewsView：1152
The Flint Institute of Arts will be hosting two new exhibitions this summer — unique to the Midwest region, but arguably timeless and widespread in appeal.
“There is something about glass that’s beautiful,” said Janice Henry of the FIA about the museum’s upcoming shows, “Lino Tagliapietra in Retrospect: A Modern Renaissance in Italian Glass” and “Tiffany Lamps: Articles of Utility, Objects of Art.”
Lino Tagliapietra is a world-renown Italian glass-blower
“You can always look at a painting or sculpture and two people can have different views of it, but glass ... glass is universal,” she said. Kicking off Sunday and running through Aug. 15, the exhibitions will feature more than 160 works by Tagliapietra — a revered Venetian maestro of glassblowing, and 40 of the finest works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, the foremost American glass-maker of the 20th century. Pegged as the “second summer of glass,” following last year’s glass shows and stunning reveal of Dale Chihuly’s commissioned chandelier for the entry of the FIA, Henry promises this year’s launch party and exhibitions will be even better.
“We have one of the greatest glass artists of all times,” Henry said about Tagliapietra, who will not only fly in from Italy to attend “The Party,” FIA’s fundraiser and launch of the exhibitions, but also will guest lecture at the FIA at 4 p.m. Sunday. Tagliapietra is known as both an artist and a mentor in the world’s finest glassblowing scene. “He’s one of the rare individuals who shines his expertise on people. Dale Chihuly is one who studied with him,” Henry said. The artist began his career at the age of 11 in Murano, Italy, working his way up from a student of Italy’s greatest glassblowing leaders to mentor aspiring glassblowers across the world. His work ultimately led him to Pilchuck, a Studio Glass center outside of Seattle, Wash., and after numerous awards and honors — including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City — this is his first retrospective show to highlight his lifetime of work. With the Tiffany exhibition, the name says it all for many people, signifying an icon in glassblowing and a family name also well-known for the New York jewelry empire, Tiffany & Co.
“I think the name of the exhibition suits it perfectly — ‘Tiffany: Articles of Utility, Objects of Art.’ His objective was to present things that were beautiful and he often derived inspiration from things in nature,” Henry explained, noting his use of dragonflies, flowers and vines. “And, not since him has glass in America dominated the art scene, until the times of Chihuly and Tagliapietra. It is phenomenal work of the medium.” Tiffany also was an accomplished jeweler, painter and an interior designer. But, his revolutionary work in glass was what established his legacy. “Favrile,” an opalescent glass that allowed for more color, texture and three-dimensional effects, was his discovery. “What’s great about this exhibition is that just about everyone knows Tiffany and artists everywhere have attempted to replicate the design,” Henry said. This chance to see the real, timeless work of Tiffany is one of the things the FIA is most proud to display.
“This exhibition affords the viewer a rare opportunity to see what an authentic Tiffany lamp looks like”, John Henry, director of the FIA, said in the press release. “We are particularly proud to have the work of two glass-making masters at our museum. The magical power and beauty of the objects in these complementary exhibitions is certain to captivate our audiences.”
Endeavor (installation 35 boats) 1998-2003, designed and made by Lino Tagliapietra 
Dragonfly Hanging Shade (about 1905) Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass
Wisteria Library Lamp (about 1900-06) Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass
Source: www.mlive.comAuthor: shangyi
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