Saturday, May 30, 2009

Smithsonian Tours Seattle Glass

From the Smithsonian Journal website:

August 5-9, 2009
(about $2,500 per person)

"On the Cutting Edge: Glass Art in Seattle"

"Seattle has become a vibrant center for Pacific Northwest glass artists whose inventive works have drawn accolades worldwide. Art historian Margery Aronson examines this exciting artform and accompanies you on exclusive tours to studios, galleries, museums, and private collections."

August 5— Welcome Reception in Seattle
Arrive individually at the hotel and then gather with fellow travelers in the hotel lobby to depart for the Ballard neighborhood for a welcome reception and opening lecture on Seattle’s glass art scene by your Study Leader followed by dinner at one of the city's culinary hotspots. (R,D)

August 6— Seattle's Cultural Legacies
Begin the morning with a driving tour of downtown Seattle, including Pioneer Square, Pike Place market, the Space Needle and the Experience Music Project, designed by Frank Gehry. Enjoy an extensive visit at the new Olympic Sculpture Park. Tour Seattle City Center, where you can see the work of some of the region's most distinguished glass artists; Benaroya Hall, home of Dale Chihuly’s grand chandeliers, Foster/White Gallery, and the critically acclaimed Seattle Public Library designed by Rem Koolhaas. After lunch on your own at the museum cafe, tour the Seattle Art Museum. The day concludes with a reception at the William Traver Gallery, where the work of Dale Chihuly and other internationally acclaimed glass artists are on exhibit; Return to the hotel for an evening at leisure. (B,R)

August 7— Museum of Glass and Tacoma Museum of Art
Enjoy an exclusive visit to the Dale Chihuly Ballard Studio, where Chihuly's large-scale architectural installations are composed. Experience the studio's private gallery that includes a unique Chihuly Sealife Aquarium. Continue to nearby Tacoma and tour the fascinating Museum of Glass: International Center for Contemporary Art. View works by prominent and emerging glass artists, including Chihuly's 500-foot pedestrian Bridge of Glass, connecting the museum with the cultural center. Enjoy a "hot" lunch while watching glassblowing demonstrations in the Hot Shop Amphitheater where visitors learn about the creative challenges of working with molten glass. Return to Seattle and visit the home of a prominent glass collecting couple. (B,L)

August 8— Pilchuck Glass School
Depart the hotel by motorcoach for an excursion via ferry to the picturesque Whidbey Island. The Pacific Northwest has become synonymous with glass art, so it's no surprise that many of them have gravitated to the islands. Whidbey Island, often referred to as the "Isle of Murano" of Puget Sound, is particularly known for its glass artists. Enjoy a scenic day of touring the studios of a number of well-known Whidbey Island glass artists, including glassblowing demonstrations. Return to Seattle via the quaint seaside town of Mukilteo. Enjoy a festive farewell dinner at local celebrity chef Tom Douglas's Dahlia Lounge, which put Northwest cuisine on the map by embracing the region's bounty of fresh ingredients and incorporating them with global flavors and styles. (B,L,D)

August 9 — Depart
Individual departures from the hotel. (B)

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