South Whidbey's glass artists showcased in Museo exhibition

"South Whidbey is home to many of the most prominent glass artists in the United States, with 10 running hot glass studios and more than 30 glass artists. It's a distinction that continues to attract both the well-known and accomplished masters as well as emerging artists.Many of them will be showcased In a major exhibition running from July 1 through August 2 at Museo in Langley. The Whidbey Island Glass Invitational III is a celebration of local talent, featuring work by 32 of Whidbey's nationally known and emerging artists. Accompanying the wealth of glass art in the gallery's expansive space are a series of oil paintings by Langley's Lane Gwinn depicting the artists at work.Now in its third year, the Whidbey Island Glass Invitational attracts collectors from all over the country, who come to view the cutting edge, museum quality glass art in the artists' home town. Opening night is July 1 from 6-9 p.m., when patrons are invited to meet the artists while examining the collection. To add to the celebration, there will be demonstrations at Island Glass studio the following day, Sunday, July 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when many of the show's participants can be seen in action -- blowing, frameworking, fusing, casting, and cold working glass. Tickets for the demonstration at $5 per person and directions to the studio are available at Museo.Participating artists for this show include:* Richard Marquis: Credited with influencing an entire generation of glass artists, Marquis was featured in a 1997 retrospective at Seattle Art Museum and biographied in 'Richard Marquis Objects.* Robert Adamson: One of Pilchuck's early formative figures and founder of The Glass Eye in Seattle.* Jon DeWit: Known for cutting edge work in painted and blown glass and frequent instructor at many European glass studios.* Richard LaLonde: Pioneer in the technological advancement of fusing glass and creator of a fused glass mural at Sea-Tac Airport.* David Levi: Considered one of the finest glass blowers on the island by many peers, with work in The White House Collection and numerous museums across the country.* Eric Leiberman: A fixture in most glass art galleries across the country.* Jeanne Brennan: Featured in the June/July 2000 edition of American Craft.* Alicia Lomne: Emerging artist working in Pate du Verre and well received at the SOFA exhibition.* Danny Perkins: Featured in galleries, collections and museums across the country.* Katja Fritzsche: Emerging artist profiled in the UrbanGlass Art Quarterly.* Donald Niblack: A leading practitioner and teacher of flameworked glass.* Charlie Parriott: A key member of the Chihuly team, known for macabre glass figures, swords and crosses.* David Gignac: Emerging glass artist featured in Metalsmith Magazine and gaining national recognition.* Dimitri Michaelides: Collected internationally with work in The White House Collection and numerous museums across the country.Other glass artists showing their work will be Robert Hodges, T.C. and Lin Robertson, Buffy Cribbs, Dan and Joi LaChausee, Katrina Hude, Tacy Bigelow, Susan O'Brien, Callahan McVay, Donald Singleton, Joe Thomas, Takuya Tokizawa, David Leonard, and Natalie Hahn-Bradley.For more information, contact Kelley Choate at Museo, 221-7737. "

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