Resonances in Glass @ MoNA (review)

Photo Credit: ABJ

The Museum of Northwest Art is in La Conner, Washington.  The lamp-worked glass show currently on is a continuation of the entire museum's theme right now, "Resonances: Contemporary Echoes Modern," in which a modern artist was paired with a contemporary inspired by their work.  What makes the glass show featuring three contemporary artists, Ginny Ruffner, Masami Koda, and James Minson, in Benaroya Glass Gallery a part of the overall theme?  Kathleen Moles, Curator of Exhibitions, says in her notes to the show that Minson and Koda "both remember being struck in particular by Ginny's work" when it was featured at Tama Art University in Tokyo in 1988 where they were students.  As such, her work from the 1980s and 90s is shown in the middle of the room between Minson, whose displayed pieces are dated 2007, and Koda, whose pieces are from 2009.

With the exception of Koda's work on loan from Traver Gallery, most of the show is owned by Anne Gould Hauberg.  "The Queen of Everything" glass-jeweled crown which Ruffner made for the founder of Pilchuck is shown.  It's restrained, a child coloring within the lines.  It's different from "The Juggler of my Heart in Person" or "Balance Series: A Balanced Diet."  In these, her exploding crayola box of harlequin, checkered, and gilded symbols (cats, hearts, bones, tropical fish, wings) may have inspired Koda and Minson, but these two younger artists have what can only be described as a cooler contemporary feel compared to Ruffner's warm and open work.  Alki vs. Freemont.  Or, it's as if a way-out-there mom who baked pot brownies raised two children and they rebelled by being part of the mainstream.

Minson is pulled in two directions.  On one hand there are the very literal underwater scenes of anemone and coral, and on the other, the abstract 22 panels of black wood crawling with clear squiggles and the perfectly arranged green, orange and white mobile.  The mobile made of glass rods is amazing and well-balanced. 

Koda's "Still Life" (2009) is the best piece in the show.  Though it doesn't employ her beautiful silver and glass bead/berry technique found on "Red Dew 6" and "Spring Blow," and it does have the delicate cage look of a lot of lamp-worked pieces now, it contains the most perfect squared-off taper at the top of the bell-jar.  You'll can view it on Traver's website. 

I would have taken a picture, but there were no photos allowed.  (I did draw it, but my sketch is ugly.  There was a fascinating article somewhere recently about photography permission in museums, I'll try and find it.)  So here are a few photos of other things in and around La Conner instead.  La Conner is fun, the museum is only $2 for students $5 for adults, and Clayton Beach is not far away (from Seattle)...it's worth the trip.

Photo Credit: ABJ

Ries Niemi's Fish Bridge, the artist who once said "Glass art makes me wish for earthquakes."

Photo Credit: ABJ

La Conner Weekly News: "Full Jail Means Criminals (like this bad bad baby owl) Roam Free."

 Photo Credit: ABJ

close up of a Sandstone Boulder, Clayton Beach