Museum of Glass: The Hot Shop (photo diary)

by Ojibwa for Museums

Community

(This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019 Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019 at 7:34:03am PST

The Museum of Glass (MOG) opened in Tacoma, Washington, in 2002. In the Hot Shop visitors can watch glassblowing in action.

The Museum’s Mission Statement:

“The Museum of Glass provides a dynamic learning environment to appreciate the medium of glass through creative experiences, collections and exhibitions.”

The Museum’s Vision Statement:

“It is the vision of the Museum to engage the broadest range of visitors; to foster an environment of innovation, creativity, and learning; and to be a steward of the story of glass. This vision is realized through the Hot Shop, as well as exhibitions in the galleries, art installations, and diverse educational programs. Visitors immerse in the creative process of making art from glass will understand and be able to share the importance of art in their lives and communities.”

Since the Museum opened, more than 350 artists have had an opportunity to experiment and explore aspects of their work in the Hot Shop. The museum residency program at MOG has an average of 40 Visiting Artists per year. According to a Museum display:

“As a glass artist, it is not always affordable to find a studio to produce work. Glass, especially color bars, can be expensive. Production is often devoted to making commercial work, leaving precious little time for artistic development.”