2009 Micheline Anderson:
"In a time of economic fragility, what else might one
better relate to then, well . . . glass?
That’s how William Hennessey, director of the Chrysler
Museum of Art, sees it. Hennessey claims that the
Chrysler’s attendance rates have been up this year from
last, and he thanks the economic downturn.
"In times of stress, people often look to art as a
source of comfort," Hennessey said. "These are relics of
the past, many of which were created in times of
scarceness, that have lived to tell the tale. People
want to see beauty that harkens to survival."
These numbers bode well for the upcoming Art of Glass 2,
the second-coming of the 1999 regional sensation, "The
Art of Glass," set to hit Hampton Roads in mid- April.
Unlike its predecessor, The Art of Glass 2 was an easy
sell to potential donors. "Ten years ago, this was a
high-risk investment," said Andy Fine, steering
committee co-chair of Art of Glass and Art of Glass 2.
"It all started from a dream, and arts are hard enough
to fund in reality."
Suzanne Mastracco, Norfolk resident and Fine’s co-chair
on both steering committees, knows that dream all too
well. In 1998, Mastracco dreamed of a Hampton Roads
covered in Dale Chihuly glass and became preoccupied
with bringing glass art to the area. She began broaching
board members, directors and chairs from local arts
facilities about her concept. Mastracco recalls with
irony the dubious stares she faced when she first
beseeched city council and arts commissions to approve
the project.
"Only when one council member recounted a firsthand
experience with Chihuly’s work did anyone pay attention
to the concept, let alone think it was feasible,"
Mastracco said.
Indeed, the cost of the glasswork exhibition was of a
magnitude foreign to any regional facility for the time.
In 1999, the Contemporary Arts Center of Virginia spent
an average of $26,000 per exhibit. That same year, a
Chihuly exhibit would cost nearly six times as much.
Inevitably, the "big dream" caught on among local arts
organizations and when it came time for the Art of Glass
to open at various locations in the area in mid-April
1999, nearly $400,000 of the estimated $430,000 in cost
had been raised. As the Art of Glass commenced, the
festival attracted more than $1 million – including
in-kind and money donations – and 11 affiliate
organizations hosted exhibits and events at their own
expense to create a collaboration unlike Hampton Roads
had ever seen. What came as a completely unexpected
boon, however, were the tertiary gains.
During the months of the exhibition, the Chrysler
Museum’s attendance rose by 65 percent and the
Contemporary Art Center’s grew seven-fold. Including
events with the Virginia Arts Festival, Art of Glass
drew a total of 150,000 visitors. Additionally, the
region saw a 44 percent increase in its out-of-state
party expense and a general increase in visitors from
outside of the region, as well as from outside of the
state.
So what can Hampton Roads expect from Art of Glass 2 in
what many perceive to be a fiscally lean time? A
positive outcome seems imminent for several reasons.
First, Art of Glass 2 is, as Mastracco puts it, "bigger,
more exciting, and with more sponsors." With 21
affiliates, including the Suffolk Center for the Arts,
the festival will include events in nine cities,
widening its berth and potential regional appeal.
Buttressing the region’s vested interest, the CACV will
host "1999-2009: A Region Collects," which will showcase
pieces from the collections of locals whose fascination
with art glass was precipitated by the original Art of
Glass.
The Virginia Arts Festival will interweave local
artisans with nationally recognized performers by
holding "Hot Shops" glassblowing demonstrations before
and after various concerts throughout the festival. In
addition, the Virginia Arts Festival’s Chamber Music
Concerts and Organ Concert Series will hold performances
in local churches and synagogues to display the historic
spectrum of regional stained glass.
To parallel the grandiosity of the Chihuly exhibit in
1999, the Chrysler Museum will open "Lino Tagliapietra
in Retrospect" in April. Tagliapietra himself, who
Chihuly has called an "extraordinary master," will make
an appearance at a members-only event. The Chrysler’s
"Contemporary Glass Among the Classics" and the CACV’s
Dante Marioni, Hank Murta Adams, and "Ashes to Ashes:
Life and Death in Contemporary Glass" exhibits confront
timely economic, environmental and spiritual issues
through both glittering and stark displays of the glass
medium.
The increased collaboration and the fortitude of the
festival’s sponsorship offer a glimmer of hope in what
seems to be dim fiduciary times. On par with the
financial time line of Art of Glass, Art of Glass 2, as
Fine puts it, has "transcended the economy." Festival
leadership attributes the resilience to a bear market
and to both timing and fidelity.
"We were fortunate to be ahead of the curve," Hennessey
said, "and we have very loyal and faithful sponsors.
Everyone is honoring their pledges."
In a time where "trust" and "economy" seem
counterintuitive, the Art of Glass 2 may have just the
right combination of regional stake and investment to
charm local crowds again as it does international allure
and acclaim to entice out-of-towners. At its best, Art
of Glass 2 may be the finest stimulus package Hampton
Roads can get. At the very least, the glass will be
dazzling. "
Anderson, Micheline. "Art of Glass show returns after a decade." Inside Business. Issue Date: Week of March 9 2009, Posted On: 3/6/2009. accessed from a pdf file on the Art of Glass website and reproduced in totality here, May 4, 2009. http://www.artofglass2.com/
"In a time of economic fragility, what else might one
better relate to then, well . . . glass?
That’s how William Hennessey, director of the Chrysler
Museum of Art, sees it. Hennessey claims that the
Chrysler’s attendance rates have been up this year from
last, and he thanks the economic downturn.
"In times of stress, people often look to art as a
source of comfort," Hennessey said. "These are relics of
the past, many of which were created in times of
scarceness, that have lived to tell the tale. People
want to see beauty that harkens to survival."
These numbers bode well for the upcoming Art of Glass 2,
the second-coming of the 1999 regional sensation, "The
Art of Glass," set to hit Hampton Roads in mid- April.
Unlike its predecessor, The Art of Glass 2 was an easy
sell to potential donors. "Ten years ago, this was a
high-risk investment," said Andy Fine, steering
committee co-chair of Art of Glass and Art of Glass 2.
"It all started from a dream, and arts are hard enough
to fund in reality."
Suzanne Mastracco, Norfolk resident and Fine’s co-chair
on both steering committees, knows that dream all too
well. In 1998, Mastracco dreamed of a Hampton Roads
covered in Dale Chihuly glass and became preoccupied
with bringing glass art to the area. She began broaching
board members, directors and chairs from local arts
facilities about her concept. Mastracco recalls with
irony the dubious stares she faced when she first
beseeched city council and arts commissions to approve
the project.
"Only when one council member recounted a firsthand
experience with Chihuly’s work did anyone pay attention
to the concept, let alone think it was feasible,"
Mastracco said.
Indeed, the cost of the glasswork exhibition was of a
magnitude foreign to any regional facility for the time.
In 1999, the Contemporary Arts Center of Virginia spent
an average of $26,000 per exhibit. That same year, a
Chihuly exhibit would cost nearly six times as much.
Inevitably, the "big dream" caught on among local arts
organizations and when it came time for the Art of Glass
to open at various locations in the area in mid-April
1999, nearly $400,000 of the estimated $430,000 in cost
had been raised. As the Art of Glass commenced, the
festival attracted more than $1 million – including
in-kind and money donations – and 11 affiliate
organizations hosted exhibits and events at their own
expense to create a collaboration unlike Hampton Roads
had ever seen. What came as a completely unexpected
boon, however, were the tertiary gains.
During the months of the exhibition, the Chrysler
Museum’s attendance rose by 65 percent and the
Contemporary Art Center’s grew seven-fold. Including
events with the Virginia Arts Festival, Art of Glass
drew a total of 150,000 visitors. Additionally, the
region saw a 44 percent increase in its out-of-state
party expense and a general increase in visitors from
outside of the region, as well as from outside of the
state.
So what can Hampton Roads expect from Art of Glass 2 in
what many perceive to be a fiscally lean time? A
positive outcome seems imminent for several reasons.
First, Art of Glass 2 is, as Mastracco puts it, "bigger,
more exciting, and with more sponsors." With 21
affiliates, including the Suffolk Center for the Arts,
the festival will include events in nine cities,
widening its berth and potential regional appeal.
Buttressing the region’s vested interest, the CACV will
host "1999-2009: A Region Collects," which will showcase
pieces from the collections of locals whose fascination
with art glass was precipitated by the original Art of
Glass.
The Virginia Arts Festival will interweave local
artisans with nationally recognized performers by
holding "Hot Shops" glassblowing demonstrations before
and after various concerts throughout the festival. In
addition, the Virginia Arts Festival’s Chamber Music
Concerts and Organ Concert Series will hold performances
in local churches and synagogues to display the historic
spectrum of regional stained glass.
To parallel the grandiosity of the Chihuly exhibit in
1999, the Chrysler Museum will open "Lino Tagliapietra
in Retrospect" in April. Tagliapietra himself, who
Chihuly has called an "extraordinary master," will make
an appearance at a members-only event. The Chrysler’s
"Contemporary Glass Among the Classics" and the CACV’s
Dante Marioni, Hank Murta Adams, and "Ashes to Ashes:
Life and Death in Contemporary Glass" exhibits confront
timely economic, environmental and spiritual issues
through both glittering and stark displays of the glass
medium.
The increased collaboration and the fortitude of the
festival’s sponsorship offer a glimmer of hope in what
seems to be dim fiduciary times. On par with the
financial time line of Art of Glass, Art of Glass 2, as
Fine puts it, has "transcended the economy." Festival
leadership attributes the resilience to a bear market
and to both timing and fidelity.
"We were fortunate to be ahead of the curve," Hennessey
said, "and we have very loyal and faithful sponsors.
Everyone is honoring their pledges."
In a time where "trust" and "economy" seem
counterintuitive, the Art of Glass 2 may have just the
right combination of regional stake and investment to
charm local crowds again as it does international allure
and acclaim to entice out-of-towners. At its best, Art
of Glass 2 may be the finest stimulus package Hampton
Roads can get. At the very least, the glass will be
dazzling. "
Anderson, Micheline. "Art of Glass show returns after a decade." Inside Business. Issue Date: Week of March 9 2009, Posted On: 3/6/2009. accessed from a pdf file on the Art of Glass website and reproduced in totality here, May 4, 2009. http://www.artofglass2.com/
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